The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
ldence The Washinrton Herald.

Shakespeare's tragedy, which many peo-
pie remember for the famous scene in
which Hubert attempts TO burn out
Prince Arthurs eyes and is dissuaded by
the boys entreaties and tears from carry
ing out the heartless order OF the King,
was the play that followed the giddy
English comedy Of Kitty Grey at the
New Amsterdam Theater on Monday
evening. with Robert ManteH in the title
role. The performance was received with
conflicting opinions by the critics, but all
agreed that william A. Brady has gone
out Of his way TO provide a splendid
production and 20 give II an acting cast
as good as can be assembled. There was
present a very large audience, which
seemed prepared 10 accept the effort 20
revive this seldom-acted old tragedy, IN
the best Of spirit Mr. Manteu hardly
added anything OF distinction 10 his per-
formance Of the title role. but it remains
to be seen what the general public will
think
This happens. 10 be the ''Zaza" season.
There has not been play since Ca
mile" that is used so much 10 exploit
the virtuosity Of emotional stars as this
play OF Pierre Berton. Mrs. Carter has
revived II since her engagement began
at the Liberty; Marietta Oily has just
shown us the German Zaza, and now
Mimi Aguglia (say A-yul-ya). the Sicilian
actress, IS making us acquainted with
the Italian Zaza. Mrs. Carter's Zaza diff
fers from both Of these, though the
American version is so little different
from the original as reflected through the
German and Etruscan q admit ! did
not see Rejane) that ono stops to wonder
why It was necessary to make the old
concierge so fond OF her tipple the aunt
OF Zaza instead Of her mother. Thus the
American Zaza has been made 10 repudi-
ate her own flesh and blood except IN
the second degree. Mrs. Carter makes
her fighty lady of thirty-twO or there
aboits; Oily makes her a sensible wo-
man, but with charming undercurrent
OF devotion. so that you really feel in
tensely sorry for Zaza and confess 10 a
degree Of respect. But Aguglia makes
her all fire and flame. Zaza practices
every art and strategy in the dressing
room scene behind the curtain Of the cafe
chantante 10 make Dufresne surrender.
She is a perfect little fiend with her tricks
OF cOqUetry her swishing Of skirts. and
flirting Of lingerie and concealed laces.
mirror and practices her ankles in pretty
fiexions and curves, and casts bewitching
glanCes over her bare shoulders 10 notice
the effect OF her amOrOus diplomacy or
the fiattered but unbending Dufresne.
She is a small volcano on the brink OF
a blow-up. Her Zaza altogether Is a
wild forest bird. and you instinctively
pity Dufresne as you wonder what viii
happen 10 him when Zaza learns the
truth about his duplicity TO her. Your
opinion of her increases when she shows
such commendable restraint in her meet
ing with Nine. Dufresne and Toto. and
from an utterly miserable wretch she re-
wives like a dropping flower after a rain,
in the next act. when hope again gets
the upper hand. and she figures that after
all DUfresne might prefer her TO his
lares and penates. Her misery Is COM
plete when she is disillusioned. and she
sinks down Cn the floor with a piteous
moan when the parting comes
I was rather proud myself TO read in
the papers the day after the Aguglia
Zaza at the Criterion-the Sicilians are
giving a series of special matinees-Opin-
ions supporting my own lonely Judgment
IN prOnOuncing her great actress Her
Sicilian peasant roles were caviar. and.
after the first performance. none Of the
critics went to see her again. or
yours truly" sat through six perform
ances without understanding a word that
was spoken. and called attention to her
exceptional powers. which. through her
"Zaza," are now pretty well acknowl-
edged
Three Of the plays which have recently
been put on are already scheduled for re-
tirement. Carlotta Nelson closes in
This Woman and This Man" at the
Maxine Elliott Theater on Saturday
night. TAis is really a play worth sec
ing. and deserved a better fate II Il
goes on the road It will surely interest
the average public, which likes a play
with a sex problem. Perhaps It was not
the psychological moment for this play
10 appear. There has been so much out
cry against immoral plays that plays
which teach a moral are often ignorantly
cOnfounded with the real offenders. Ones
judgment gets muddled. Anyway l would
go to see this play again If had leisure.
Its place at the Maxine Elliott playhouse
viii be taken by THE Bachelor" clyde
Fitch's latest comedy.
Meyer & Son" is also drawing TO
close, though the date OF its retirement
from the stage of the Garden has not yet
been announced, That event however, IS
not much over a week of, and in its
place will come THE Conflict" a play
founded On Balzac's story Of the wild
ASS Skin" sometimes called 'The Mag
ic Skln,' dealing with a metaphysical
subject
"A Woman OF Impulse" closes az the
Herald Square on Saturday evening, bur
nesday night, when Bertha Calland
comes to town in The Return OF Eve"
with a new third act written since the.
piece was seen in Washington and else
where, and which was lacking TO round
off sundry rough corners.
Julia Marlowe VIII close her engage
ment in Mary Johnstons metrical play
OF The Goddess Of Reason at Daly's
Theater March %. and will be followed
by Z H. Sothern In a repertoire of
classic plays, although it is not improb-
able that he will revive Lord Dundreary"
for a week
Fannie Ward brings her engagement in
The New Lady Bantock," at WalIack's
Theater, TO a close tonight. and on Mon
day her place will be taken by the Eng
lish suffragist play, Votes for Women. g"
in which Miss Matthewson appeared in
London more than a year ago. and which
is thought to be Of timely interest lust
now. Mary Shaw viii be seen in the
principal role.
Vaudeville events are again rendered
dignihed and illustrious by two or three
features Of interest this week At the
American Music Hall Laurence Irving.
son Of the late Sir Henry, and his wife,
Mabel Hackney, opened this week in The
King and the Vagabond." which is Mr.
Irvings own adaptation Of Banville's