Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-03

eX-Emperor Napoleon, disguised as
G Charles, servant of the Countess
oficer of Dragons Mr.. cassius {. C Quinby
Footman :;i,;;::::;.iMr ,,,;;. Clarence M, Love
Leonie de Vilegoutier, Niece of the
Countess. .............. Miss Kate Dalglish
and
Cecile, the Countess d'Autreval. Modest
For the first time on any stage Modjeska.
assisted by three of her company, appeared
in THE Ladies Battle on Saturday after
noon. The comedy is a dainty and finished
piece of Gallo humor commenting itself
to unstinted popular approval. The plot
offers a glimpse into that mysterious piece
Of mechanism. woman'S heart; the stua-
tions. while providing little medium for
genius, come about naturally and carry on
the plot in spirited fashion. The grim
tragedy which turks in the rear is never
allowed to crowd into the action and the
play accomplished all that was intended for
it-a wholesome and refreshing diversion.
The rendition at the matinee was little
more than a dress rehearsal and showed
flaws which will pass with better acquaint-
ance with the lines. There were several
bitches in the stage business which it would
be unfair to dwell upon except for the
humor surrounding their perpetration. The
most unreasonable blunder was the absent
mindedness Of the sergeant and a squad of
Dragons who outlived their time on the
stage and survived over into a love scene |
In the midst of his tender declaration the
gallant De Grignon, in the person Of Mr. |
Kellerd. observed that the treless sergeant,
a portion of crisis long since past, still |
stood guard with his file Of dragons. II |
would relieve my pent-up heart of all it's !
burden" he remarked, with the impromptu
addition. "if only these dragons were
gone The squad made hurried exit.
Kellerd filled his slender part in other
ways in the artistic fashion that character
ICES his work. His mellow voice is a pleas
ure to the ear as his splendid stage presence
is grateful to the eye His stride is that of
a martyr going to the stake, but aside from
that feature his manner is one of elegance
and grace. Mr.. Kellerd has made many
friends here who will look again for his
coming and he proved his right to the capi-
.alization of his name on the bill
Modjeska, at all times mistress of the
hour, let the thread OF the story slip
through her fingers as she willed. She wore
Ter usual magnificent gowns with accus-
omed dignity and went through the first
as though she still found it no
to commit a lengthy part. A
lever woman in a cruel and delicate po-
tion, she played her feminine weapons
With fnesse which seemed a real disclo-
ure of character. The power of a good
yoman. and withal woman with brains,
vas hers to the fullest, and she made pup
,ets of courtiers and kings officers alike
or the sake of those she loved, ending it
II with noble renunciation.
Leonie de Villegoutier, the niece OF the
ountess, found lovely impersonation in !
iss Kate Dalglish, a clever and winsome
ctress, well known to Omaha people as the
eading woman of the Woodward Stock COM | /
any one year ago. She made an equal sue !
ess in ingenue role as In more stately !
arts, and when she was on the stage eyes
yere detracted often from the center of t
ction in her direction. !
Modieska as Lady Macbeth. q
Last night Modjeska closed one of the
lost successful engagements she has played g
Omaha in years with a splendid per- d
)rmance of Macbeth" The audience o
hich assembled to witness this great play i
nd incidentally bid the madame farewell
,r two years at least, was not only large, n
ut an extremely intelligent one, in which :
Outh courteously formed the larger por- c
on; earnest absorbed and deeply interested II
Duth, especially young men and women n
ON the Omaha High school, who attended
body, and took wholesome delight in 4
lie beauty of the entire entertainment, or u
iucation for it certainly was that to the s
ajority OF them. as they are Just now u
udyng the interesting characters en- =
odied in this great play. That they thor la
lghly appreciated every point in the piece ci
Id the superb Interpretation given the
'eat role of Lady Macbeth by Modjeska
as made evident by the hearty applause r
at greeted each OF the important scenes
I'd passages. s.
Modjeska's sleep walking scene is one OF =
e most sensational mental illuminations ~
'er given to Shakespeare. She has the
'cessary mystic charm and profound depth
intellectual diagnosis necessary to make
'r performance unsurpassable.
John f. Kellerd's impersonation of Mac X
th was all that could be asked, while
Q balance of the company was individually
ual to the task that fell to their re-
ectiye lots. The production of Modjeska's 8
iacbeth" is a gorgeous and imposing M
geant, as soft and rich in antiquities as II g.
in traditional appropriateness and evil st
Mt presence OF complete sense of ap- i
eciation. ~