The Washington herald., 1914-01-13
BELAScO.

The first metropolitan production OF the
English version OF Angel Guimera
maria Rosa" given last evening IN tne
Belasco Theater. is the most notapie
OF the present season, marking MISS
Dorothy Donnelly's advent as star
Lou-Tellegen's first appearance In Eng
lsh. as well as the second play from
the pen of the Spanish Iitterateur to
have been produced in English, or on an
Engiish-speaking stage, the first having
been Marta of the Lowlands," in which
Mime. Bertha Kallch was seen several
years past.
One day the Spanish poet and play
wright heard from one of his guides the
recital OF a tragedy of the Catalonia
Mountain peasants, a tale OF love ana
hate, and revenge of such dramatic In
tensity that straightway he wove the
hber OF the. lives involved into play
with a vividness and faithfulness which
leaves the auditor entirely credulous.
Maria Rosa" is the young wife OF a
grape presser of the mountains of Cata-
lonia. While very poor they are happy
until, through the treachery of Ramon.
n fellow-worker and professed friend,
Andres, the husband. is accused OF a
murder which he did not commit, and is
sent to prison where he dies. News OF
his death brings joy TO the heart OF
Ramon, who proceeds to WOO Maria
Rosa. whom he has always loved with
primeval intensity. Then follows the
fight Of the girl between the whisperings
Of her mental and spiritual self against
the man who would win her, and his
physical attractiveness which calls to
her heart Through further strategy
and deception Ramon wins his purpose
and We come to the wedding supper
when the bridegroom drinks too much
wine and becoming more garrulous than
c Nod fNr hsr,a l.
and brave deeds TO his wedding guests,
awakening, through his subtle insinua-
tions, all the old spiritual struggle
against him in the girl Maria Rosa
sends them all away, and when she is
alone with Ramon extracts from him
the whole pitiful story of his treachery
TO Andres, with a tragic climax.
Guimera reveals himself in Maria
Rosa" with broad and tragic sweep of
manner, preserving the simplicity, and
Poetry, and color Of his characters with
Vividness which is little short of
witchery. The story itself is an intense
iy tragic romance. with just hint Of
The authors strong socialistic ideas, and
Mr.. +. c. Whitney has chosen a thor
oughly sympathetic and capable COM
pany for the portrayal of the striking |
characters. |
Miss Donnelly's work last night in the |
title role was revelation of technical !
skill and expert delineation. Her lights |
and shadows were an artistic contrast in |
Ter suffering conflict against her un-
scrupulous lover. In the title role of |
Madam X'' she long ago proved her |
right to be designated as one of the |
most intense emotional actresses OF |
America, but there is depth TO her |
Maria Rosa which is not born of the |
emotions alone-a quality OF brain: of /
human understanding: an inherent |
N--la III.
nical skill and intensity of emotion |
furnish the materials for a great crea-
ton, and one that will go down with /
Miss Donnelly's name in the history of |
the stage
Supporting the star is Mr.. Lou-Telle-
gen, who was last seen here with the
Divine Sarah in repertoire. He comes
to US now for the first time in English,
speaking with that delicious little ac-
cent which seems a part of Ramon. the
character which he creates in Maria
Rosa" Mr.. Lou-Tellegen is an artist of
great fnesse, fine discernment and ex-
quisite taste. His picture of the man
who considered all things fair in love
as presented to the Belasco audience last
night was as clear cut as cameo, and
won enthusiastic approval.
Aside from the two dominant char
acters in the story of Maria Rosa"
there are a half dozen others, all Of
WnlCn are preSenltu Dy Cdpdult
George Graham is picturesque in the
role of Hunch, an old peasant with
keen brain; Geoffrey C. Stein, as SAL
yador the rival of Ramon, is excellent
Enrico Fernandez plays the role of
Maria Rosa's brother with admirable
sympathy and understanding, John
arthur extracts from the only comedy
role its fullest possibilities, and Charles
Ashley completes the coterie of male
in minor part.
The only woman in the cast except
Miss Donnelly is Miss Maude Odell, who
makes the wife of Maria Rosa's brother
a vigorous sort of young woman with
r.sore Drawn than brain.
The English translation of the Guimera
tragedy has been made by Wallace Gill;
patrick and Guido Marburg without the
loss of any of its classic beauty or its
poetic spirit The setting further en-
nance these qualities, making the play
pt the Belasco this week one which can
be missed only with an after regret.
j. c. NJ. ]