Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-08
THE L0UNCER IN THE LOBBY.
The Rivals and THE Heir-at- Law at
the Grand,
}T FRACTIONS FOR THE CURRENT WEEK.
"a Huge Joke on Charles Hoyt While
Doing the west-A Students
Rccital-Musical and
Dramatic.

-
assemblage of the wealth and fashion of
Omaha, present at Mr.. Jefferson's initial
performance of the part of DR. Pangloss in
Col mans comedy, "The Heir at Law" which
occurred at Laura Keene's theatre in New
York in August, 1851,
a good long time ago thatl
In former days the piece was great
favorte and the names OF John Sleeper
Clarke, William Warren, John Brougham
and others equally famous, occur in the
history of the play, but OF late years IL has
not been seen.
For that matter mighty few Of the good old
comedies remain on the boards, Possibly be-
cause the people have outgrown them and
then again there are so few actors now enjoy
ioying the smiles of the public who have the
ability to dominate the roles which were
successes generation ago, made so by the
ability OF the men who have since quietly
dropped from the Dough.
The play itself affords fair sample of the
A-A>, stations and arti localities OF the comedyof
q hundred years ago.
Designed to satirize the existing system of
education among the rich the play presents
broad surface for the work of
the actor and the part of DR.. Pangloss,
Ii D., AS. ). Oxon, can be done much less
daintily than Jefferson does it and with much
less refined effect without doing violence to
any apparent intention of the author. 1t is
fortunate that Jefferson's conception OF the
part con fines itself within the limits OF seri-
Gus study, for how easily could it be made
burlesQue or broad farce, just as the humor
of theactor might suggest. The part itself is
one little in sympathy with modern times and
unless invested with something more OF
human interest than It's author perhaps in
tended, would appeal but feebly to our feel
ings today
We are almost too far removed from the
times of which IL treats to fully appreciate
the satire as a satire only and it needs some
thing to- awaken our sympathy in order that
the impersonaton may hold our attention.
And this is exactly the quality that Jeifer-
lh hn nf
Pangoss. He makes him real man actu
ated with real impulses within the narrow
line of his training. 1t requires no great
stretch of the Imagination TO picture the
actual mental condition of the worthy pro-
fessor, stunned into hepessness by the CO
lossal ignorance of his noble patron, and his
scene with Daniel Dowlas bring him to a
knowledge of the true position which he
holds toward his employers.
OF course Pangloss is very weak and very
flexible creature, but one cannot help but feel
that If he lived today his rewards would have
+ been ampler, his position one OF much greater
dignity.
1t is in these points that Jefferson's con-
cepton of the part approaches greatness
1t is to this spring, high up in the noun
tains that we must go for that consummate
art of which this great comedian is master
In all the details of Jetlerson's work,
whether shown in Rip, in Mr. Goghtly, in
Bob Acres or in DIR Pangloss, we recognize
the master hand that has lost nothing of it's
/Inning, though its owner may be
"Standing with reluctant feet
Where the brook and river meet"
Florence has a thr0ughly congenial part in
Zekial Homespun; nothing half so gooo has
been done in the line OF character work in
the past decade
Until saw him as the farmer / thought
Billy F'lorences Capn Cutie the most de-
lightful impersonatiOn had ever seem now
don't know which like best.
There was no sophstication or obtruson
of the individual in F'lorences Homespun.
He was actually the honest yeoman him
self.
There was a heartiness In the personation,
n naivete SO unconscious Of the actor so des-
titute of the set device, so clearly and un-
mistakablv played out of the heart, that on o
could not help but wonder where the actor
was who could take up the mantle of Flor
ence when he lays it tenderly down at the
signal OF Old Age
Mr. f. C. Bangs, another of the old timers,
played Lord Dauberly, and played 1T very
well Sowell indeed, that one could not
help but congratulate ones self in being
present to witness his success
Frederick Pauldng, who is to become a
star next year, gave clever bit of acting as
Dick Dowlas, while Viola Allen invested the
part of Ccely with interest.
\ Nine; Ponisi who played Lady. Dauberly
Ss to Philadelphians, the most de,
lightful old lady in the world Hei
presence in "A bill is. sure of bringing out
housefull of friends, who applaud her en-
-
star.
Her performance was delightfully."- pleasing g
and it was a real treat TO see her in so thor
oughly congenial part
The rest of the cast were quite in keeping
with this rare copartnership Of art.
Yesterday afternoon the Grand h Id no
table audience, assembled to witness the pro
duction OF ''rhe Rvals,n by the Jefferson
E'loren ce company.
The company is much the same as it wa:
last year, and the performance as highly en-
joyable as that of ayear ago
- Mr.. Jefferson was an inimitabe Bob Acres
not only representing the Bob of Richard
Sherdan's cabinet but the world he lived in
AS critic once said; There is lavender il
his clothes, canary on his lips and chIvary
in his boots, though all imaginary"
MIR. Florences portraiture of Sir Lucus
O'Trigger grows more mellow and more
unctuous with the years.
There is no question that MIR. Florence
fully illustrates the spirit of Sir Lucius, as
futtered in the mind of Sheridan.
What more need be saidi
or MrI. Drew's highly seasoned
Mrs, Malaprop nothing better cal
be said than what has been sal,
by the critics of this country
1t is so great portraiture that one canno
help but marvel at the versatility Of this, tn,
youngest old woman on the stage.
Mr. Bangs played Sir Anthony in a YER,
refined manner, probably he is not so humor
- GUS rs his predecessor in the role, Mr. Var
lightful character study.
The Lydia of Miss Allen could have beer
more ianguid and yet not in the least have de
tracted from her piquant loveliness.
Mr.. Paulding plays Captain Absolute re
markably well and emphasizes his claim t,
being one of the very best young actors nov
on the stage.
One can hardly believe it. but Mrs Drey
and Mr., Florence played together in
stock company at Providence forty years age
Yes and Mrs, Drew played in '1he Hci
ut Law" with Joe Jetfersons grandfather.
This grandfather of the present comedian
another Joseph Jefferson, from whom tn
present takes his name, was born in l774 an
died in 1882. He was native of Plymouth
England, and came to America in 1895.
Mrs. Drew was also born In England JAM
airy 10, 1918. She was therefore sevent,
three years old last month AS child o,
tress she was known as Louisa Lane Sh
came TO this country when a mere baby wit
her mother Mrs. Kinlock, who, up till he
death which occurred in Philadelphia thre
years ago, was great first nghter an
never missed an opportunity OF seeing he
daughter on the stage.
After 0 tour as ajuvenile star Louisa Ian