Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-15

At last local patrons OF the theater have
had the opportunity OF Judging Of the merits
OF "Cyrano de Bergerac" for themselves. and
at each Of the four performances given by
the Woodward company last week as many
people as the Boyd theater could possibly
seat availed themselves of this opportunity
Few went there expecting TO see produc-
tion that in any way compared with Richard
Mansfelds. Those who did. IL there were
any, were disappointed. But the Woodward
production was a most creditable one, and
to the company and especially MIR. Enos,
under whose personal supervision the piece
was put on, much praise is due.
The piece was we'll acted well staged and
more than usually well costumed, and those
who saw It only can appreciate what these
excellences imply. Some Of the stage set
tings were even elaborate. There can be
nothing but words Of praise spoken OF so
honest, so faithful and so successful an at
tempt to give Omaha people an adequate
representation Of this great play.
Mr. Enos visited Chicago less than a month
ago and sat through two Of Manfeld's per-
formances, after which he returned to Min
neapolis, where the Woodward company was
playing, and put the members Of the COM
pany in rehearsal for the piece, producing 1t
two weeks later while Manifold spent nearly
half a year preparing for his production.
There were a number OF things to find
fault with in the Woodward production II
one went there for that purpose, but II. on
the other hand, enjoyment was the object,
there were few disappointed.
To many the play itself was trife dis
appointing. as, after the columns and COL
umns Of praise that have been given 1t by
the eastern press, people here naturally had
90 iuh
is no denying that it Is deep, yet lucid, and
has many of the elements OF poetry and
dramatic art which go toward making it a
masterpiece. There Is trace OF Shake
spearianism about 1t, and such wit, humor
and sarcasm as 1t possesses cannot be found
in any outside OF Shakespeare's plays. Yet
this great writer never was guilty OF such
a confused introduction OF his characters as
Mr.. Rostand has been guilty OF In his first
act. In the attempt to Introduce the local
color OF the time and create atmosphere, ne
has lost sight Of the fact that the main
thing in a play is the plot.
The story should commence within few
minutes after the rise Of the curtain. 1t
Is well enough to give the people IN the
house a chance to settle themselves In their
seats, but there Is no reason to keep the
spectators waiting almost through an en-
scene-it IL next to impossible to hear, or,
for that matter, see Cyrano when he fights
the duel with the marquis and composes
a ballad at one and the same time. when
a crowd of we'll nigh a half hundred super
numeraries and others encircle the actors
completely.
Mr.. Rostand seems to have forgotten, and
Mr.. Enos, too the old rule OF the stage,
that a scene can only have three sides'
The fourth must be left open to the audi
ence. It would be almost as sensible 70
drop the curtain when the fight begins and
tell the audience about 1t after 1t Is all over
for the crowd on the stage almost COM
pletely shuts out sight and sound from the
people who sit in tront.
One might 60 on and write column aitei
column Of criticism and praise on "Cyrano.
but this is true Of any play ever written
and as people have neither the time no.
inclination to read It, sufice Is to say tha'
the play is among the pest "r''en Jul 'e
the present century.
An to the individual work Of the members
Of the Woodward company In "Cyrano
there would be quite a lot to crricize II
one wanted to be harsh. Mr.. Enos speaks
his lines too fast, 80 much 80 at times tna'
they are hardly audible back OF the nttn
row in the parquet. Whether this Is aoht
because Of the great length OF the part OF
not IA not known. II this be the case, now
aver. II would be much better for him &c
speak louder, even though 1t be necessary &c
talk fast, Cyrano does most OF the talk-
ing and Enos must be given credit lot pe'ne
letter perfect in the part but II the lines
be not spoken plain and distinct almost tnt
entire play is spoiled. This fault Is par
to- khA Arok
third and last acts there can be no com
nIsint made. and It is In the last act, the
death scene, that Mr.. Enos shows to adVan-
tage. Miss Creighton has improved mucf
since she was seen in Omaha last summer
or else the part OF Roxane fits her better
than any she has had before. In the mrs
two acts Of "Cyrano" she Is not so good
perhaps, because she Is not given mucf
4 chance. but In the second act and the las
ono she rises to high plain Of acting. Hel
emotional work In this play Is certainly
commendable in every way.
The part of Christian does not seem to sui
Mr.. Montague as we'll as others he has beer
seen here In. yet he makes the most OF 1t
Neither 10 Mr.. Greene's part, Comte az
Guiche, suited to him. His work in th'
battle scene merits praise. however. Al
Ragueneau, Will Davis has very congenia
role, while MrS. EnOS, OF 1eTtiuuc beiN
ley as she appears upon the program. makes
the most OF the two small parts given her
Now that "Cyrano de Bergerac" ha
proved an International success, of proper
tions which are not generally understood II
this country, where the cult has Just takel
hold recently. It Is not surprising that
controversy over the authorship OF the piec
should develop. Such is the history O
nearly all popular successes. either On lit
erary or dramatic fields. and the filing OF
suit by one. s. e. Gross. said to be prom
inent Chicago real estate dealer, to stop 1t
production In this country Is not supris
ing. The mere fact that Edmond Rostand
from a comparatively poor and unknown
Partisan writer. has been transformed b.
the success Of this one play into com
paratively rich man. as we'll as one OF tn
most widely read and generally praises
dramatic poets Of the century. Is sufflcien
incentive for the shafts OF malice and de
traction. In short It looks like the effort
Of Mr.. Gross to prove that "Cyrano' wa
stolen from a piece claimed to have bee
written by himself some twenty years ag
called the Merchant Prince OF Cornville,
ds merely q way OF trying to get his piec
before the public, and 1t 10 said that dozen
OF managers and actors are negotiating 10
the piece already, and despite the fact tina
Mr.. Gross only sprung his little claim tw
weeks ago 1t must be admitted that ther
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