The sun., 1919-02-05
MRS. FISKE AT HER
BEST IN DUAL ROLE
Scores New Triumph in "Mis'
Nelly Of N'Orlcans'' at
Miller's Theatre.
MARDI GRAS AIDS PLAY
Irene Haisman and George
Renevant and Model Priest
Give Good Support.
The return Of Mrs. riske to New York


last night in Laurence Eyre's play Nils
Nelly of N'Orlsans'' was a triumphal
one. A friendly audience received the
play and the actress with delight To-
play. indeed. seemed TO DO an assured
success and Mrs. Flsks was at her best.
The scene, laid In the New orleans Of
few years ago" brought to mind the
old Creole days Of George W. Cable.
with a wealth Of local color that was
abundantly vsracious for the purposes
Of theatrical art. and ably supported the
theory that authors need not go outside
America for the exotic and picturesque.
The play Itself. besides being skilfully
constructed. had freshness. charm. witty
lines and an ever rising interest
The character Of Ms Nelly was OF
the order which in real life IL described
as "a real person." which means of
course psrson far above the average in
force, individuality and magnetism. The
quality Of the character that made II
most compelling a. = role was It's two
fold nature. Me- Nelly came back to
New Orleans after an absence OF twenty
years. as an old lady. II suited her
purpose to be old. and to be grabbed.
Just as II had suited her grandmother
to be an old lady for some score of
years. and Il was reasonable enough
she should be fairly we'll along In years
upon returning to the scene OF her
conquests In the eightieA But when It
suited her purpose, az Il presently did.
l-A -
and reRssert her sway over the masou-
line heart. The old belle discovered
somehow the fountain of youth which
Ponce Do Loon sought so vainly in those
Southern chimes.
Ready With Plenty 81 Plots.
It was the season OF the Mardi Gras
that Nelly Daventry chose for her home
coming. perhaps because OF the dangers
Of that romantic festival for hearts 70
young as that OF her niece, Delphlne
PdIoise She had heard in Paris Of the
growing fondnsss OF Delpht~S for Felkr
DWund. the son OF the man who had
Tilted her. and she returned 10 be q
mother to the girl or. in other words
TO break OF the match. II was . large
contract to control the dest!niss of two
hot headed young Creoles who were 30
plots and counterplots. The mystery OF
her own past. ono was ready to believe.
might have been anything. for M
Nelly, with her cane and her ear trumpet.
was to all Appearances such q cranky
cussed and bedevilled old beIdame that
II nature had made her a man she would
have had all the qualifications OF a buc-
cancer.
George Drrund. tho young mans
father. was as strongly opposed to the
match az Ms Nelly. and when h,
brought to light tho alleged secret mar
riage OF Folio to . French Adventures
the sweet DelphIne also was Of the OPP
position. This was where NJ Nelly
swung over and took the lead from the
younger Juliet. quoting Modjeska as
authority for the statement that no one
is old enough to play Juliet until she Is
too old to play the role. Just here was
foreshadowed Mo Neuys transforma-
ton, and, sure enough, the night OF the
Mardi Gras the old belle came back"
The clearing up OF the mystery en-
shrouding Ms, Nelly's past was soon to
follow. and It was artfuHy contrived
with a dramatic withdrawing OF the
wells There were other elements OF her
spelibindins that held over for tho Anal
curtain. but II 10 not necessary TO be-
Charming in Both Roles.
The successive stages OF the play 90
cupied an afternoon, the evening and the
succeeding dawn. Perhaps some spectA-
tors were slightly dubious as to the
charms of the rejuvenAted coquette
under the light OF the Chinese lanterns
but the growing dawn must have re-
assured them, trying as II is for q
woman Of any ago TO sit up all night to
say nothing OF undergoing an elope-
ment and travelling many leagues by
carriage.
Mrs Fisie was as charming IN nor
second phase as In her first Irene
Haieman and Georges Renevnnt were
capital as the young lovers. and Hamii-
ton Revelle was notably successful as
the "builhead" Creole father. Fred
erick Burt carried of with credit the
quiet role Of Pc .indre Clement, q
priest who aided Ms Nelly In her
Vaccinations