Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-21
...AMUSEMENTS...
"The Royal Box

drama by Alexander Dumas. Adapted
remodeled and rewritten by Mr.. Coghlan
THE CAST.
Clarence. an actor .......... Charles Coghlan
Prince of Wales afterwards George w
Count Fesen Swedish ambassador sac 'oSO to
England ................Th Thomas MacLarney
Lord Bassett ....;............; Henry Warwick
RRh WRnch andord Of the asd
Montmorency of the Theater Royal ~
Marmaduke of the Theater Royal .....
,,;;;................;...... Edward Davis %
Wdgets an acrobat Tayl9r s Granyif nyna,
Countess Helen, wife of Count Fels,ea
Lady Robert ................Grace F.; Wolvin
juliet louise Trey
Monday night served to introduce to
Omaha play-goers a new star to this sec
tion of the country in the person Of Mr..
Charles Coghlan, the eminent English actor
and successful dramatist. 1t has been nearly
twelve years since Mr.. Coghlan appeared in
this city, and then in the support of Mrs.
Langtry in LAS in a Looking Glass"
"A Royal Box is a drama in which the
interest is cumulative.
The story of the play was published in
Sundays issue of The Bee, therefore its
reiteration here Is unnecessary. Suffice it
to say that the piece is an interesting study
in olden manners and character contrasts
and is not assertive in action except in a
brief scene or two. One of these has tho
attraction of positive novelty. 1t is that
in which one of the prcscenium boxes Of
the theater is made to represent the royal
box of the Drury Lane theater in London.
with the Prince OF Wales and the Swedish
ambassador and his wife as occupants. The
darkening of the balance of the theater and
the illumination of the royal box" serve
to establish a clear connection between the
stage and appropriated portion of the audi
torium. In this scene Clarence, who Is play
ing scene from Romeo and Juliet" driven
to desperation by the attention of the prince
to the woman upon whom the actor has
bestowed his affections, delivers his lines
more to the occupants of the box than to
the balcony upon which Juliet sits. He at
last discards all mimicry, advances toward
the footights and shouts violent denun-
citation at the amazed prince, his remarks
being particularly captious and critical when
upon the subject of his royal highness' con-
duct with the ladies. Then the stage
hands seize upon Clarence and the
royal party fees from the box, while the or
chestra, commanded by the stage manager,
plays God Save the Queen" The scene
is intensely dramatic and its remarkable
power is a great tax upon Mr. Coghlan's
acknowledged ability to carry strong stua-
tion without ranting or OVERRIDING the char
acter he plays.
Mr.. Coghlan is a handsome actor. with
voice of purity and fulness. He possesses
dignified repose in a large degree and one
feels the strength of his grasp on every
situation. His supporting company just a
trifle weak in the feminine portion, is other
wise good Miss Gertrude Coghlan, the 49,
year old daughter of the star, made sweet
sympathetic Celia Price, a stage struck
maiden, who looks upon Clarence for as
sistance and advice. James w. Bankson
makes handsome prince, Thomas Mac
Larney a digniied ambassador Charles
Chappelle offers an interesting character
study in the part Of Tipps, a constable, and
looks the typical John Bull as pictured in
the illustrated comic papers. Others deserv-
ing of mention are William p. Spragues
Winch, the Marmaduke of Edward Davis,
the Widgcts of Taylor Granville and the
Lord Bassett OF Henry Warwick The seen
cry is exceptionally beautiful, the costumes
handsome and the entire production praise
worthy. The engagement continues tonight
and closes with a matinee and evening per-
formance Wednesday