Evening star., 1912-07-09
ADJUSTMENTS
Columbia.

Frances Nelson, at the Columbia Thea
ter last evening, in the leading role in
J. Hartley Manners and Henry Miller's
four-act drama of heart interest, 'Zira.
role that made Margaret Anglin ia
nous as an emotional actress, won the
laurels of success with the artistry of an
actress of telling power and impressive
ness. AS the Boer war nurse, against
whom the world seemed to have turned
because Of a misstep in her childhood,
when she had been abandoned by dlsso-
lutte father, an almost hopeless woman,
who was always reaching out for some
thing higher and better and yearning
with heart hunger for a sympathy which
even her own sex denied her, Miss Nell
son gave q characterization that was In
tense in its impressiveness and estab-
lished for herself a niche in local theatri-
Gals that is hers alone. Her scene with
Lady Claver1ng and the Rev. Gordon
with the woman whose place she had
usurped. thinking her dead. and from
which she was tearing herself by an
honest but heart-breaking confession.
gripped her audience and drew tears from
the eyes of many sympathetic hearts.
1t was a superb bit Of emotional work
and perhaps the best Miss Nelson has
ever done since her stay in Washington.
No less interesting was the splendid
work of Julia Blanc as the Lady Claver-
ing. It was one of the most appealing
character studies Of it's kind that Miss
Blanc has yet presented in her long list
of artistic characterizations. And there Is
q great deal to be said in praise of Aline
McDermott's Interpretation of the role of
Ruth Wilding, the young orphan from
India, whose place was usurped by
'zira," the pet name given Hester Trent,
the BOer war nurse.
: Edward H. Robins, as the young clergy
man. who was willing to sacrifice his pro-
10 ni0hf Rnnfinua
in the uplift of fallen humanity in the
east side of London, and whose strength
of chaacter and breadth Of mind and
heart enabled him in her darkest hour to
pressed Hester to his heart as his prom
ised wife, was strong in natural por
trayal. wherein his art concealed itself.
Godfrey Matthews did his best work yet
In the role Of Capt. Sylvester.
In the roles which offered less of oppor-
tunity. but which nevertheless were vital
to a successful performance. George w.
Barber shone as Sir Frederick Knowles.
the army surgeon; Carson Davenport as
the Lord Bishop Of Mapping, and John
M. Kline, as Mark Trent. the father of
Hester. The remainder of the cast sup
ported and helped in the general excel
lence of the performance.
Zira" tells the story of young girl
who, abandoned by her father at the age
Of sixteen, was deceived by a married
man under the promise Of marriage.
When her fault became known all the
blame was laid upon her and she was
forced to fly from the haunts of civiIi-
zation to the English camp in the Boer
war. where as a nurse she sought to pro-
long existence and work out her saliva
ton by good deeds. A young woman
who was on her way to her fathers
family in England, whom she had never
seen. was struck by flying fragments of
an exploding shell while waiting pass
through the lines The young Boer nurse,
to whom she had confided her story.
thinking her dead and believing it would
be no harm to her, appropriated her
passports and papers, made her way to
the English home Of Lady Claver.ng. the
young womans aunt, where. after she
had won the hearts Of all with her gentle
and lovable qualities. she was finally con-
fronted by the woman whose place she
had usurped. 1t is a story of great hui
man interest, and its dramatic unfolding
requires true art, not merely players.
Last nights audience, by its manifesto
ton OF interest and applause. placed the
stamp Of high approval upon the per-
formance.