Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-26
NINE. NAZIMOVA SCORES
IN SCHNITzLER'S PLAY
The Fairy Tale Daring, but 1t
breaches a Lesson for
Mature Minds

It's O. case of one law for the man
Fairy Tale" Arthur Schnitzler's play
which was made known to Los An
geles last night at the Majestic thea
ter by Nine. Nazimova and her asso-
ciates. When the play was done we
were almost convinced that the wide
ly varying judgments of men and wo-
men are immutable for life seems to
be governed more by physiology than
psychology, as Oscar Wilde has said.
Though Fanny Theren had expiated
her sins~a thousand times, she was
denied and cast aside; and though
Theodore Denner preached, and almost
convinced himself that he believed,
woman who makes false steps is not
wholly damned, he had not the cour-
age to stand up by his own apparent
convictions. Fou know there are
thousands of Fannies in this world, and
all men are more or less alike.
1.-THE Fairy Tale" is wonderful
play, for it is 95 per cent absolute
truth. Plain words are used in dis
cussing what some call forbidden sub
jects. ii the theatergoer is of ma
ture mind he will md much of bene-
fit OF action there is much in the
play. By this is not meant physical
action or the running on and off stage
by various characters. Rather Is the
action dramatic for it is shown by the
mental conflict between the various
persons of the play, Those who go
to the theater for mental pleasure and
spiritual betterment will find "A Fairy
Tale to their liking, for there is a
real argumentative trend of the play
which must surely appeal to all think
ers.
Rarely has the writer seen a more
vivid portrayal of human emotion by
means of mere pantomine than that
displayed by Nazimova in the last
scenes of the first act. 1t was Won
derful to behold her reveal Fanny s
soul changes while Theodore was tell
ing the congregated persons his views
on women who have strayed from the
narrow path In the second act, when
she was on the merciless rack, telling
the story of Fanny's past, NazlmoVa
was the picture of agonized and abb
iect despair. Brandon Tynan's Theo-
dore Denner was exceptionally artis-
tic. He rose Vialiantly to the second
act climax, giving his spectators an
opportunity to measure his ability and
his art exactly. Elsie Esmond played
Emmy Werner, a rattle-brained crea-
ture with all her giggling might, Miss
Esmond made a most distinct impress
sion and was heartily applauded for
her efforts. Others in the company
seemed to fit their roles to a nicety.
S. o.
The story of how the "old Soldier
Fiddlers," who will appear at the Or
pheum theater next week, became a
vaudeville attraction makes interesting
reading.
About two years ago Col. John A.
Pettee of Huntington. w. Va, vet
eran of the Civil War and lifelong
fiddler conceived the idea of getting
up a fiddling contest of old men. The
contest was arranged, prizes were Of
fered, and the competition was re-
stricted to men over so years of age.
The thing was unusual and it drew
a big crowd, so big a crowd that all
could not find room and a second per-
formance was given. The success of
the scheme led Col. Pettee to arrange
a tour and, with seven or eight old
fiddlers, he visited the resorts of Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, giving con-
certs.
Last February member of a well
known eastern vaudeville firm hap
pened to be at Old Point Comfort, Va.
and he heard a quartet of gray-haired
musicians who were stirring up quite
O. bit of enthusiasm by playing patrio-
~ music He hunted up the four vio-
1inists, whom he found fiddling before
a wildly enthusiastic crowd of Con-
federate veterans in a soldiers home
He watched the tears run down the
cheeks of the old soldiers as they lis
tened to the strains of "Dixie" and
"Old Black joe" and concluded that
any act that produced such effects
must possess the subtle influence that
moves audiences. 1t was quickly ar
ranged that all concert dates should
be cancelled and the act shifted into
vaudeville. opening at the Colonial
theater, Norfolk. The vaudeville au-
diences were just as enthusiastic as
the concert audiences had been. and
week after weel- the old f1ddlers have
been received with enthusiasm.
5000 1S3.G9.>1a44 11S.S.1&H&%%1
December 9, some books of the sea-
son will be shown and discussed un-
der the direction of Mrs. Anstruther
Davidson of the book committee. The
third rrogram December 16, will be
given by Purd V. Wright of the city
library. Owing to the proximity Of
Christmas the meeting of December
23 will be Cancelled. For the closing
meeting of the year as elaborate ope-
ratio concert is to be given by Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Balfour.
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CITY BRIEFS