The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1910-09-13
Mrs. Fiske at Cincinnati

Mrs. Fiske America s foremost drs-
matte artist, will be seen in the
greatest role Of her career, Becky
Sharp" and also in the latest addition
to her repertoire of lbsen plays "The
Pillars of Society,"" at the Grand
Opera House, Cic:nnnati, during the
week beginning Monday evening, Sep
TENDER l9, the former play being the
medium throughout the engagement,
with Saturday matinee. with the
exception of two special performance
of pillars OF Society," the latter to
be given on Wednesd afternoon and
Saturday night.
Beck Sharp" in which Mrs.
Fiske's realization of 1.-The immortal
Becky" stands as one of the most sig
nal contributions that the American
stage has known, is a dramatization
of Thackeray's famous novel, VANITY
Fair" made by Langdon Mitchrel
With its various groups of strongly
differential characters and its multi
plicity Of incidents, VANITY Fair
has always been held to be replete
with dramatic material. Many plays
have been made from it, but none
other than that by Langdon Mitchell
ever scored any appreciable amount of
success. Mr.. Mitchell. in making his
play, put every important incident in
which Beck predominates, into his
work. He displays remarkable ap-
probation of the dramatic values of
the novel, and an equal pronounced
ability in assembling them in dram attic
sequence. In the play, as it stands,
the readers of Vanity FAIR" will find
that peculiar satisfaction that flows
from the picturing of favorite novel
on the stage-the living embodiment of
its chars cters and the actually of its
scenes--while one acquainted with
Thackeray's story, if there be such a
one, will enjoy the play as a perfect
narrative in itself
Becky Sharp" is the most popular
play in Mrs. Fiske's comprehensive re-
pertoire, and the Installation of
Thackeray's brilliant figure is a stage
creation which will be remembered as
long as the history of dramatic art in
America endures. Every nuance OF
"Becky's" volatile character is
brought out through Mrs. Fiske's deli,
cately moulded art. and there is a
buoyancy about her portrayal of the
role that is delightfully."- infectious.
The production of the play has called
forth the most enthusiastic CONNIE
dation for its beauty, completeness,
atmospheric fidelity and historical &C
curacy, while the various important
roles bring the best efforts of Mrs
Fiske's supporting company, the ia
nous Manhattan Company into play.
In "Pillars of Society,"" Mrs. Fiske
again. as she has often done before,
stands sponsor for Hondrik Ibscn,
whose influence upon the modern dra-
ma has been so incalculable. 1t was
though Mrs. Fiske's appreciation of
the almost magical qualities of the
wonderful Norwegian that he first be-
came kno IN to the American stage,
and the debt the Literary world owes
t, Mrs. Fiske is one which will per-
haps never be repaid. ''Pillars of So
ciety" contrary to what might be the
preconceived idea, is not a drama of
oppression. but on the contrary a
pleasant play with strong purpose
and yet at the same time it is a scath-
ing arraignment of modern business
and social hypocrisy.
The Manhat an company iIclrdes
Holhrook Blinn, whose wonderful
characterization of "Jim Platt'' the
regenerated Bowery sot in Salvation
Nell" is dobtless wildly remembered !;
Henry Stevenson, Edward Mackey,
Wilfrey auckland, Harold russell,
Robert Ferguson, Sheldon Lewis, r.
Owen Mech, Gregory Kelly Alice
Join, Floine Arnold, Merle Madern
and numerous others.