The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12

hMrs. Leslie Carter in "vasta Herne."
Mrs. Leslie Carter-she of the red hair,
the famous emotional actress-has a new
play this year, the first play of contem-
poraneous life that she has yet had.
'vasta Herne'' is the name of the new
drama, and 1t was written by Edward
Peple, author of THE Prince Chap"
success of few years ago Mrs. Car
ter comes to the Jefferson theatre to-,
morrow night for one performance.
''vasta Herne." the character enacted
by Mrs. Carter, Is q young woman who at
the time the play opens has already
achieved wonderful reputation as
writer Of brilliant and weird short stories.
Her literary work is done under mys-
terious influences, Influences as mystic
as those which swayed Du Mauriers
s-Trilby." These influences, II persisted in.
would mean the absolute destruction of
"vasta Herne.'' and much OF the dra-
matte interest of the play lies In her
struggle for the right and the worlds APP
plause. i,
OF course, there is a love story. Two
men are In love with Vasta Herne, one.
Hartley Bailliere, has had Vasta Herne
In his power and because he has won a
fortune from her literary work, desires
her to keep on with it, at whatever cost
Maury, loves Vasta for herself alone.
and soon comes to recognize the evil and
danger of the influences that surround
her He. too, joins with her in a battle to
save her soul. and it Is In the struggle be-
tween these two men, one seeking to lift
her up and the other seeking to drag
her down. that the real crux of the drama
lies.
"vasta Herne" is in four acts; the first
takes place in the library of Vasta Herne
in her home in New York city. The Sec
ond shows villa at Ardesley- on-Hudson.
The third act shows reception room at
the Ritz hotel, Alexandria. Egypt, and
the last act, the same IS the first. For
this new play Mrs. Carter has provided an
elaborate and entirely new production.
and the scenes will be found to be mar
veis of artistic beauty.
The players engaged by Mrs. Carter for
her support are all well known and prom
ansnt In the theatrical world. The cast
includes e. ]. Radcliffe, w. H. Shay, Jo-
seph Graybill Louis Nyll, Alice Butler,
Florence Malone and Lily Cahill.
The play was produced for the first
time on any stage In the Davidson thea
tire, Milwaukee, and 1t scored an instan-
taneous success. In producing this mod
ern play Mrs Carter has made a marked
departure from the artistic canons that
have signalized her career since she be-
came her own manager. In her new play
she has left behind entirely the atmos-
phere Of "Zaza," "DuBarry' and THE
Heart Of Maryland" and has devoted
herself to portraytng the character Of a
modern New York woman.
Edward Peple, the author of "vasta
Herne." was born in Richmond some 80
years ago, and was educated at the Uni
versity of Virginia
The first play he wrote, 1.-THE Prince
Chap" was Immediately successful. Then
came 1.-THE Love Route and his third.
and what he believed to be his strongest
play, lie the one which Mrs. Leslie Car
ter has chosen to be her principal pro-
duction this season Mr.. Peple n a MEM
Der OF the Authors' club. the Dramatists'
club, the Players. the Friars and the
Lambs; and Is also prominent member
Of the Southern society.
Madame JomeIIi.
When Nine. Jomelli faced her first
audience at the Metropolitan opera house
three years ago she was throwing down
the gauntlet to the whole world. 80
this was the new Elvira and MarBuer-
itef And in the stronghold OF the great
est opera singsrs which the word has
known! She was practically unknown,
yet 1t il doubtful II anyone in that vast
assemblAge was a. unconcerned ~ she.
Here was the court favorite Of the cap-
itals OF Europe. prepared to present her
art to that unknown quantity, the great
American public. There were before
those who had remembered the great
Nilssohn and the great Patti, the Gap
tivating Sembrich, the beautifully voiced
Nordica. Melba and Calve, all Of whom
had given their own presentation Of the
great opera to the New World Wher
the curtain fen on the nnale Of ths