Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-11

The weeks engagement Of Richard Mans
field. too long for our poor purses yet no
long enough for our desires, serves but t
define more distinctly the limitations o.
that actors greatness. Some of the plays
which he presented here are the round!
OF the ladder by which he rose and are
no longer worthy Of his ripened genius
His portraiture OF Baron Chevrial and Mr.
Hyde Is character work - superlatively
good character work, but no more; and
thereto the characters portrayed are CHASTITY
and hdeous to such a degree TO render
them well nigh unfit for public representa-
tion. His Brummell is likewise a character
study, and a marvellous one in its delicacy
and softness of tone So is his Shylock
80 is his Richard, so is his Arthur Dimmes-
dale II these things be true. Mr.. Mans
field Is essentially character actor, albeit
great one; and this is the conviction that
forces itself upon thoughtful minds after q
retrospect OF the week.
He brought us magnificent scenery. be-
wilderment of stage properties, furniture
from Italian palaces bric-a-brac from
French salons, novel effects OF lighting,
genuine antiques and all that goes to make
up correct ard costly stage picture. He
brought n company which without being
Inadequate wholly incompetent, certa nly
has heretofore attended him. And he
brought himself, who. without company or
accessories would alone constitute gift Of
price.
The company contains some clever peo-
pie, but 1t leaves the impression, after a
weeks observation, of pretty even medi-
ocrlty. Only Mrs. Mansfield Mr. Andrews
Mr. Johnson, Miss Walker, Miss Evelyn and
little Alice Pierce rise above the dead level
and most OF them only in certain parts
Mrs. Mansfield seems to be relinqushing the
lighter roles in which she is admirably
qualihed to shine and aiming for distinc-
tion in heavy tragedy which, with her
equipment, she is not likely ever to attain
She Is thoroughly good as Porta less so
as Hester Prynne and Marcella, and not
at all good as Lady Anne. She used to
play the linen Diapers daughter in Drum
NELL charmingly, but she has given that
up now in reaching after the unattainable.
The member OF the company who gives
most certain promise of substantial achieve
ments in the future Is beyond question Alice
Pierce, whose naive Jesslca and boyish
Prince Henry will llnger in the minds when
more obtrusive things are forgotten. This
little maid-she is only 15-was here last
season with Charles II. Hoyt and that beau
tiful wooden doll, Caroline Miskell and
played newsboy and did some specialties
Her voice Is extraordinarily mature for
her years and her manner Is that of
grown woman. She has gift of mimicry
hardt and Rejane very c1everly speaking
sort OF glbberish entirely without meaning
but sounding very much like French or
Italian, as the case may be. 1t is hard to
Know how to characterize such child as
this or what measure of praise it is judicious
to bestow upon her. She deserves a great
deal Of commentator, and 1t Is ones i'm
pulse not to withhold it; but 1t may be
questioned whether overmuch adulaton Is
good for bright and precocious youngsters
Here Is one with genius written in every
line or her earnest face, one who with
proper training and under right influences
may rise 20 great heights; one who, on
the oth,r hand. can without difficulty make
shipwreck of her hopes from unskillful
guidance through the dangers of forward
youth. 1t Is hoped that no fatal mistake
may be made with Alice Pierce Given
symmetrical development, there are triumphs
in store for her.
The coming weak gives ne Joseph -JamA,,-
son and Otis Skinner--the former advanced
In years and more widely known than any
actor OF his time the other young, and.
at least in this field untried. Mr.. Jeffer
son Is like good wine which needs no bush
He will have very large house on the
occasion OF his single appearance, and he
will deserve it, as he has been getting 1t
and deserving 1t any time this quarter of
a century and more Mr.. Skinner, heralded
as the best romantic actor Of the day and
the most human Hamlet who ever trod the
boards. will bow as a star to an audience
which only knows him as leading man, but
which has very pleasant memories of him
in that capacity. "The Gay Parisians,"
Trilby." Lillian Russell and Madame
Sans Gene'> will fill out the month.
The inclcment weather had very little ef-
feet upon the greeting that Buffalo Bill re
ceived yesterday from the citizens OF Omaha
on tho occasion of his Homecoming 1t was
raw and cold and raining, but despite the
disaBreeahle elements the canvas covered
seats were almost filled. The old frontiers
man had looked forward to his omaha's
greeting with an anxious heart and when the
morning appeared with overcast and threat
ening skies his heart sank, but all his mis-
glvings vanished as the amphitheater filed
almost to its capacity In the afternoon in
the face of the disagreeable weather condi-
ttons. The audience in the evening was also
an excellent one. portion OF II consisted
OF the Shriners. who attended in u body
At both performances the old plainsman
received an ovation. The performance was
opened by grand review OF the 300 or more
who appear in the show. After they were
assembled before the people Colonel Cody
himself rode 10 the front. His appearance
was the signal for almost unanimous
obesance. Men lifted their hats and the
women waved handkerchefs in honor OF
Nebraska's most famous scout he rode
before the pageant which he has gathered
together In the years past.
IT is thirteen years since Buffalo Bill first
exhibited in this city in the first performance |
OF the wild west show. Old residents re-
member the occasion we'll. Some of them |
rode in the cid Deadwood stage. the same
which appeared In yesterdays performances
and were almost frightened TO death when II !
ran away. Since that time the old plains |
man has hobnobbed with the royalty OF the |
world and he has come back with a mag
nlfcent success in the place OF the pcrilous |
venture with which he set out,
The performances Of yesterday well repaid |
the audience for their audaclty in venturng |
out in the threatening weather. Despite the |
conditions the entire program was performed |
without single exception. Colonel Cody |
himself was of course the feature OF the
show and he was greeted With cheers and
cries whenever he appeared and he seemed
to appreciate the ovation he was receiving. |
The old thrilling stories of the plains, which |
do not appeal to western hearts as to others
OF the world. were exemplifed In various
scenes In the course OF the show The attack |
on the emigrant train, the pony express, the |
attack on the Deadwood coach--the same old |