The San Francisco call., 1910-02-01
''VASTA H[RNf" IS.
WEIRD AND FRANK
Mrs. Leslie Carter Scores Big
Success Because of Her
Wonderful Genius
Wins Approval by COnsummate
Skill in Powerful Scenes OF
Brutal Drama
CAST OF CHARACTERS
In Edward Peple's Drama,
"VaSfa Herne'
By WALTER ANTHONY

As weird as a De Quincy dream, as
shiVery as a Poe story, but otherwise
utterly unlike anything else in the
world, is "Vasta Herne,' the play at
the Van Ness theater this week 1t is
soaked in laudanum. This tincture or
opium percolates through Edward
Pepte's dialogue, splashes on the sofa
pillows and supplies an atmosphere
through which Mrs. Leslie Carter, with
her flaming hair, wanders in woe.
1t is a powerful play. to which you
will not take your children. 1t is not
immoral. 1t is just frank. 1t dis
cusses spades as such, and in the third
act climax there are words that-Well,'
they not often heard on the stage.
They are not Objectionable, either, any
more than ''damnation" is when the
preacher says it. Besides, Mrs Car
ters wonderful-it is all of that-por-
trayal of the woman on the rack is
picture the vividness and reality of
which will dwell in the observers
minds for many and many day.
THE plot of the play is not involved: F:
the characters are all clearly drawn
and not of complicated nature. There
is the doctor who loves Vasta; there is
the publisher who fattens from the
the drug she was driven to take be-
cause of his wickedness. There is
Vasta Herne herself who struggles
tremendously in the mists that the
opium exhalations have smothered her
soul in There are three or four other
personages in the play more or less
remotely attached to the central
theme but of little consequence save
to bring on the silver platter of COM
rF he
comes a necessity. But the play as
such has merely to do with the strug-
giles of Nasta to escape from Hartley
Bellaire, whose viciousness has ex-
plotted her, and from the drug that is
killing her, and to reclaim herself to
become worthy the love of Doctor
Maury
1t is a heartrending story and re-
markable exhibition of emotional pow
ers. which apparently, Mrs Carter
still possesses in undiminished meas
ure The ethical message of the play
may be mot to take drugs or 1t may
be that the wages of sin is death.
For Vasta dies in the final act, refusing
the drug that her nature needs. She
dies fighting to regain the confidence
of the man she loved.
PepIe's lines are frequently orator
ical and elocutional; but Mrs Carter's
reading of them could scarcely be i'm
proved upon. She makes them ring
with truth, even though they might
otherwise sound like an echo from the
Central.
The large audience al the Van Ness.
forgetting it's fashionable conventions
last night. frequently interrupted her
in her play and at the conclusion of
the third act broke out into a storm
of approval. That was where Bellaire
having tracked Vasta. tells Doctor
Maury of her single sin, and he de-
nounces the victim. Her cry for pity
for belief, for confidence and for love
was supremely thrilling outburst;
such as only actresses touched with
genius would be capable of. She held
her, audience in the hollow of her hand.
One might wish that Mrs. Carters
gifts as ira agedian had led her to
happier, wholesomer play; but "Vasta
Herne" will remain as one of the most
startling. vivid and tragic characters
that Mrs. Carter has ever placed, fuI
blooded, on the stage.
The support is good
VAN NESS
This is the second and last week of
Marie Cahill in "The Boys and Betty"
at the New Columbia theater. The
musical play has caught the fancy of
playgoers and the comedy of the star
is the most refreshing and spontaneous
seen since she was here before. Large
audiences demonstrate their approval
of the star and her support. Helms
music is of the catchy variety and
many popular songs out of the score
are being whistlsd all over the city. !.
PRINCESS
"The Music Master in it's burlesqued
form continues in high favor with
Princess audiences. 1t is now in its
second week, while sHiggledy Piggle-
dy.'' the curtain raiser, is rounding out
its fourth. Both bills have won great
popularity with the Kolb and Dill fol-
lowing.