The Story of Helena Modjeska, (Madame Chlapowska) |
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actors actress Adelaide Neilson admirable Adrienne Lecouvreur afterwards America appearance artistic audience beautiful became Bochnia brother burlesque Camille Carpathian Mountains character charming comedy Cracow Czerniowce Dame aux Camélias delight dramatic dress engagement English enthusiasm excitement face farm favourite feeling Felix Benda felt friends Galicia gave German girl give Helcia HELENA MODJESKA husband idea Imperial Theatre impossible Jasinski jeska Juliet knew lady language laughed Lemberg lived London looked Madame Mod Madame Modjeska played Madame Opid Madame Thespis manager Marie Stuart ment Modrzejewska Monsieur Chlapowski morning mother never night once patriotic peasant Peg Woffington performance Poland Polish Posen recited rehearsal Romeo Romeo and Juliet Rosalind roused Russian San Francisco scene seemed Sergent sing stage strange success talent talked theatrical thought took tour town tragedy Victor Hugo Warsaw woman wonderful young
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Page 259 - ... placed her at once before the public ; but they knew too little of her to make the venture. They did not read Polish or American newspapers ; her name was almost unknown to them. This indifference hurt her as it must hurt those who suffer from it, however excusable it may be in those who manifest it. In a thousand forms she met with these stabs and sneers. People asked her whether she really meant to play in London ; and if so, what language she meant to play in? This seemed to be a very cruel...
Page 263 - ... of the play was nearly at its end, and he was ready for a new venture. He showed a readiness to help a foreigner, and to introduce a new artist to the London stage, which encouraged Madame Modjeska very much in the midst of her disappointments. Mr. Boucicault and Mr. Coghlan had both spoken to him of Modjeska, whom they had seen in America, and he was prepared to appreciate her talent, and to believe that she held the secret of success. He told her that he was willing to take the risk of some...
Page 242 - His writings are marked by a strong moral and patriotic tendency, and it is well known that his aim is to raise his country and stimulate his compatriots, rather than to earn money or success for himself. On the fiftieth anniversary of his birth the Poles determined to show him that they appreciated the productions of his laborious life. They determined to organise a great fete in his honour at Cracow ; this city was chosen for many reasons. For one, Kraszewski was -exiled by the Russian Government...
Page 280 - ... it takes some time to bring back popular favour when once it has been thoroughly displaced. The house did not fill again as it had filled before " Juana." At the end of a week .of disheartened playing to a scanty house, Madame Modjeska fainted dead away during the raving scene. When she recovered, all she could say was, " I can't — I can't act any more ! It is not worth while ! " The disappointment of the failure of
Page 270 - Heartsease " in the evening. On her first appearance at night the house was full of celebrities ; Gustave Dore, Bastien Lepage, Alma Tadema, Joachim, Madame Trebelli — all sorts of artists and people of consequence, including Mdlle. Sara Bernhardt, who brought an immense bouquet to throw to the new Constance. Then followed three months of the greatest possible success and of great excitement. Everybody petted and spoiled the new actress ; those of her own profession were generously kind to her...
Page 279 - Sterling for pronunciation and the reading of the part. She trembled at the idea of playing Shakespearian tragedy in London. At first the houses for " Romeo and Juliet " were not good ; but by degrees they improved ; and when Madame Modjeska at last saw full houses again, her pronunciation became very much better. Encouragement gave her confidence. " Romeo and Juliet " ran two months, and then Madame Modjeska desired again to make a change ; she was very anxious to produce Mr. Wills's " Juana." The...
Page 199 - The pompous advertising of the new actress had so disgusted him, that he had determined not to go and see her. Now, meeting her by chance, he saw a quiet lady, dressed modestly, and exhibiting none of the airs of the actress who thinks herself too good for anything but to be looked at. She was not at all what he expected ; and that night he went to the theatre to see her. He became one of her most enthusiastic admirers, and afterwards, when he made her acquaintance, he told her why he had so long...
Page 266 - ... the original, only that engagements and marriages are talked of in such a manner as to make the plot really very difficult to follow. To those who knew the story well, this did not matter, as these small changes which satisfied the licenser made no difference to the general character of the play. But to •those who had never seen it before, and desired to discover what it all meant, the confusion must have been great indeed. On May 1, 1880, Madame Modjeska appeared for the first time in London...
Page 274 - No, not much," is the answer. "Yes, it 's beautiful !" from someone else of authority in the stalls. "It's perfectly charming!" from another part of the house. "Is it right or not?" says someone on the stage, in despair at the conflicting opinions. "Yes, I think it will do"— this from the manager. Then the author refuses to allow...
Page 6 - The woman took no notice, but went through the doorway. Madame Opid rushed after her ; but she was not there — she had vanished. " Did you not see her?" she asked of the children. "Where has she gone?" None of them had seen her except Helcia. Madame Opid remembered, now the vision had passed, that the woman wore the peasant dress of the mountaineers ; all day long she wept bitterly, expecting to hear some terrible news of her husband, and on the morrow came intelligence that he had died at the...