Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-16
WOMEN IN MEMS ROLES.

| Triumphs of Great Actresses When
Wearing Sock and Buslsin.
| Miss Ada -Rehan's appearance in the part
of Prince Hail. ShaKespeare's madcap hero Of
| Henry WILL" marks the revival of actresses
in male characters. 1t is also announced
that Miss Vera Beringer, who was the orig
inal Little Lord Fauntleroy in London. and
her sister, Miss Esme Beringer, are studying
the parts of Romeo and Juliet This is the
lrst time since the days Of Charlotte Cush-
man that these famous roles haev been as
sayed by two sisters.
AS early as 1888 Miss Cushman played the
male part of Rolf in "Pocahontas," drama
by George Washington Parke Custis, and her
career at the Park theater, in New York, as
utility actress Developed her capacity in
this direction. 1t was when she began her
second London engagement at the Haymarket
in 1S45 that she appeared as Romeo, selecting
the origips. play instead Of the acting version
then in vogue. Her idea of playing this
tragic lovers part was chiefly to bring out
her sister Susan. She met with great sue
cess, for the play ran eighty nights. then
wonderful length, and had an extended tour
in the provinces.
The London Times said: at is enough to
say that the Romeo of Miss Cushman is far
superior to any Romeo we have ever had.
The distinction is not one Of degree; 1t Is one
of kind. For long time Romeo has been
creation, a living, breathing, animated, ar
dent human being. Miss Cushman
looks Romeo exceedingly well; her deport-
ment is frank and easy; she walks the stage
with an air of command; her eye beams with
animation. In word, Romeo Is one or her
grand successes"
Although Nine. Sara Bernhard has never
appeared as Romeo in this country, she is
said to both look and act the part Of that
passionate young lover with consummate art.
mt I1kN r,,nI, sr atota Il
chiefly with Lady Macbeth and Meg Mer-
rifles she achieved great renown as Cardinal
Wolsey. On few occasions she played
Hamlet, which her biographer. Emma Steb-
bins, says "give her intense pleasure" Miss
Cushman alludes to 1t in some of her letters
as the very highest effort she had ever made,
and the most exhausting Of all her parts,
this one seemed to I'LL out most completely
the entire range OF her powers. Miss Mar
riott appeared as Hamlet at Sadlers Wells,
London, under her own management In 1864,
and in 1870 appeared In New York In the
same role.
Another woman who gained early distlnc-
ton in this line was Mrs. John Drew. who
began her career sixty-eight years ago as
the Duke Of York to the "Richard ILL.," of
Junius Drutus Booth. She played also Ham
let as we'll as Dr. Pangloss in the Heir at
Law" The latter character she appeared
in about 1929.
Pretty Peg Wellington, the heroine of
Charles Reade's novel, was famous for her
mans characters, ana Sir Harry Wudalr, In
the Constant Couple" will always be as
ISOLATED with her name She first played 1t
in 1888 in Dublin, taking the town by
Storm and it is said one maiden refused to
believe that 1t was played by a woman and
offered her hand in marriage to the hand
some Peggy. She made great sensation
when she appeared in London in this char
acter in 1740, which had never before been
acted there by a woman. ut was ad-
mitted." says Macklin, that Peg wofngton
represented the gay, good-humored. dissi-
pated rake Of fashion with an ease and ele-
ganoe OF department that seemed almost out
Of the reach Of female accomplishment"
1t is interesting, too, TO remember In this
connection that Julia Marlowe began her ca
reer as Sir Joseph Potter in "Pinafore," with
a juvenile opera company, billed as Fanny
Brough. though her real name was Fanny
Frost. Then she attempted Parthenia, Ju-
liet and Imogen. meeting with success. One
OF her best parts was that Of Chatterton,
the sad young poet, who pershed In garret