The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-11

TN tho portrayal Of the great emo.
tional roles of the drama. it is
doubtful If there be, on the Eng
disappearing stage, an exponent
who is the equal of Madame Nazlmoya.
An actress to the tips of her fingers,
whose wori, is invariably finished and
highly polished this talented Russian
player is The rcipcarnation OF every
rart sue plays This season Madame
Nazinoya il presenting, under the di"
rection OF Charles frohman and her
third season a Il Frohman star, The
strongest play in which she has ap-
pcarcd since she became ono of thc
greatest figures on the English-speak-
ing stage-'. Bella Donna. the dra-
matte version Of Robert Hichcns's $ ia
nous novel OF the same name.
James Bernard Pagan ma L. the
adaptation and has told his story IN
four acts, following the II;chens plot
vory closely and only maxi Y trans
position of scenes when necessary Tor
dramatic harmony. The heroine Of both
I.ay and novel is Mrs. Chepstow. who
has been nicknamed Bella Donna
(beautiful lady).
vt one time Mrs. Chepstow wIi i
valued member of London society,". but
she has fallen from her high estate and
Bella Donaa has become a by word OF
the London cisbs At the time OF tho
oucr ing of the play. as in the novel,
he beauty has begun to waun; the
freshness is gone and Mrs. Chepst1y is
said to bo very material woman
Madame Nazimova is nothing if not
o: gina! and her Interpretation OK Mrs.
Chcps.ow is said to bring out every
particle Of latent wickedness the char
acter possesses, for Bella Donna is as
bad woman from every standpoint as
one could find. Her attempt TO poison
her husband was only frustrated by the
timely arrival of the doctor. who was
her husband 5 friend Three men fig.
ure in the story Of Bella Donna. The
Honorable Nigel Armine. who loves
Mrs Chepstow and who marries her.
but who does not understand her. DR..
Never Isaacson, the husband 5 friend
understands the woman but does not
love her Mahmoud Baroudi, who is
fascinated hy the woman and who I'M.
dcrstands her. vet nc casts Der off for
the reason that men of the east are
accustomed 20 being obeyed, and when
she fails IN her obedience the psy-
ebo,ogical moment arrives for "the
parting of the WAYS.
~. Ill
ling aud fascinating. and IL is beau
tifully put upon the stage. The action
Of the first get is placed in the con.
sulting room OF DR.. Meyer Isaacson in
London. where the love story Of Nigel
Arminc and Mrs. Chepstow is devei
opcd.
The cscoud act shows the newly mar
ried couple in the drawing room OF
their villa near Luxor on the Nile. and
II also introduces the beginning Of the
intrigue between MahmoUd Baroudi and
the newly.made Mrs. Armine TIE
plot 20 poison the husband is also for
muiatei in this act
The third net has for its scene the
deck OF the houseboat Loulia" on the
Nile itself. The plotting and schem
inc OF Baroudi and Bella Donna i.
working out 20 the eminent satisfac
tion Of both and would have unquNs
tionably been successful had not DIR
lsaneson arrived at n most opportunC
moment. There is splendid duel be
tween Mrs. Arminc and the doctor at
the end OF this act. with the doctor
Triumphant and the plot frustrated.
The last act shows the gardens of tn,
villa Androud. Armine is almost T
well man and happy. but when Isaac
son tells him OF the plot against nj!
life he refuses 10 believe and il is only
when his wife admits her wrongdoing
and, turning on him tells him that II
is all true and that he is fool, thai
he believes and his eyes are opened
Bella Donna goes TO find Baroudi but
be casts her off when she tells hin
that she has confessed. and so this ZOO
deserted woman goes ont at night int
the desert alone 10 her end. Charlie,
Bryant plays DIR. Isaacson; Herber
Percy, Nigel Armine. and Robert Whit
worth, Mahmoud Baroudi Charlie
Frohman will present Madame Man
nova in "Bella Donna at the Sal