The San Francisco call., 1909-05-06
NAziMOVA SCORES
IN FRENCH COMEDY
Russian Actress in .'COmtesse
Coquette" Sprinkles Per-
fume on Ibsen Odors
CAST of CHARACTERS
In Roberto Bracco's Comedy,
"C0mfesSe COqueffer
BY WALTER ANTHONY


1t all depends upon the point of
view. l suppose. To me "Comtesse Co.
quette' was at once Joy and dis
appointment 1t exhibited Nine Nax-
imova's quite unusual genius in a vein
of delicious comedy and so sprfnkled
perfume over the Van Ness stage,
which, hitherto, during her engage
ment, has reeked with Ibsen's patho-
logical unwholesomeness. Only Com
tesse Coquotte" is not good play. 1t
is funny, because 1t is bright with the
wit of the Frenchman; but it is f1eshly
and vulgar in spots. 1t is capillary,
and at times 1t is as blunt as ZoIa.
The comtesse seeks excitement. She
loves her husband, no doubt but he Is
engrossed with his newspaper and pays
little attention to the bea autiful woman
who yawns on the seat beside him.
Naturally, from Bracco's point OF view.
she is enticed Thus Ii happens that
she is discovered in the second act in
the apartments of the friend of her
husband. Gina Ricardi Now go on
and tempt me-" she says to him. after
1t is perfectly plain that her husband
is not within earshot
Accordingly he tempts her stupidity
by reading poor poetry and declaiming
inanities. Quite naturally. too. the
husband happens to arrive and the
adventurous wife discovers that, after
all, she is better OF at home. She
leaves the apartments while the would
be lover spouts extravagances
Nine. Nazimova disclosed a new side
of her art in the role of the comtesse
She was vixenish, adroit, subtle and
convincing. Her Characterization was
at all times reasonable. even when the
comtesse was unreasonable. Bracco
might have written the role for her. so
completely was she identified with it.
The comedy will hardly appeal last
ingly in America. 1t is too strong
with the suggestiveness that even a
translation from the French could not
entirely hide. However, it gave the
Russian star a chance to show herself
in the open work of French comedy
and thus was a relief from the band
ages of Ibsen.
Brandon lyman as the husband, Per-
cy Lyndal as Ricardi and the other
a uniformly effective way. The play
will be repeated tonight.
Good Bill at Garrick
Everyman' Will be given by the
Greet players at the Garrick theater
this afternoon, commencing at a quar-
ter past 3. Preceding the morality
play the Russian symphony orchestra
will give the Good Friday Spell" the
Introduction to "Parsifsr' and the pre-
fude TO The Deluge," by Saint-Saens
The Tempest will be given in the
evening. Friday nights bill will be
'As You Like It. and Saturdays, '.Ro-
meo and Juliet" On Sunday afternoon
"A Midsummer Nights Dream will be
given. On Saturday afternoon at 2
O'Clock The Tempest" will be given
at the Greek theater in Berkeley
TraveIogue on Paris
Paris will be the subject OF the
Burton Holmes travelogue at Christian n
Science hall tonight, Friday night and
Saturday afternoon. The same subject
will be given tomorrow afternoon at
Ye Liberty playhouse in Oakland. Sun
day night the Paris pictures Will be
given at the Garrick theater and
thenceforward the travelogue will be
given at that playhouse.