The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-21
AT THE THEATER.
blanche Walsh An "MOre Than
Queen" TO-night's Attraction.

blanche walsh an "MOre Than
Queen" To-night's Attraction.
Blanche Walsh will be seen tonight for
the first time in Savannah in More
Than Queen" a play in which Julia Ar
thur scored perhaps her greatest triumph.
So much has been said and written of
Miss Walsh's production that little re-
mains of interest to theater-g oers. The
play itself, the scenes of which are laid
in France, just before and after the coro-
nation of Napoleon. is filled with dramatic
interest and the opportunity is afforded
Tor the display of that talent which Miss
Walsh possesses in a remarkable degree.
Miss Walsh appears in the role of the
Empress Josephine. The historic charac-
ter Is one of peculiar interest. The
French author of this play, Emile Ber-
gerat, has endeavored to show that Jo-
sephine was more than queen, a wo-
man. He depicts the human side of the
nature OF Napoleon. Indeed the action of
the story is mostly behind the scenes of
the court, and shows the emotion, the
storm and stress, the pathos and tragedy
of the life of which only the smooth and
glittering side is seen by the outside
world. The romance of real life, the his
torical value and real interest of which
never depreciates is told in a prologue
and five acts. The meeting of the young
people in the gardens of the Palais Royal,
where they fall in love, their marriage,
their coronation and their sad parting,
because Josephine has not borne an heir
to the throne, these episodes form the
theme of the drama. The great scene in
series of gorgeous pictures is a stage
copy of the famous canvas by Louis Da-
u fAd afs.s
poleon himself. 1t shows the interior of
the Church of Notre Dame. 1t is here
that Napoleon in rage, seizes the i'm
perial diadem and crowns the happy Jo-
sephine, in defiance of church, state and
society.
The strong scene is in the fifth act. 1t
is here that Josephine is touched by
BonaparteS display of emotion because
the duties of state compel their parting,
and she heroically signs the paper which
gives him divorce and loses her the
throne. What is said to be the supreme
attractiveness of the play is the fact
that it shows the distinctively human side
of these two famous historic characters
Napoleon and the woman behind the
throne who ruled through the heart of
her sovereign.
Many Savannah theater-goer have seen
Miss Walsh in New York and 1t is safe
to say that nearly every one of them
will see her again tonight. The sale of
seats is an assurance that her appearance
will be an event not equaled by any at
traction that has been here during the
season.
Tomorrow night Mis- Marion Convere
Uones) will be seen in MY Daughter-in-
Law" The play is what may be called
a comedy-farce, and is an adaptation
from the French Transplanted from Lon
don, it scored one of the most emphatic
successes of last season at Charles Froh-
mans Theater in New York. Since then
it has been played in nearly all the
large cities of the country, winning the
highest praise everywhere for it's delight
full humor, clever treatment, brightness
Of dialogue and interest of plot.
AS the title indicates, the story deals
with the domestic affairs of a family in
which a mother-in-law for some unac-
countable reason, takes a violent dislike
to a young and pretty daughter-in-law;
she plots continuously to discover some
thing against the young woman on ac-
count of which she might induce her son
to agree to a separation. The latter,
however, is very much in love with his
young wife, and stouuy defends her,
while at the same time he strives to
maintain a dutiful attitude towards his
maternal parent. The daughter-in-law is
alert in mind, as well as young and pref
ty and manages to easily circumvent her
arrogant relative in the end. This brief
outline may sound very serious-as do
nestle affairs usually debut, it is treat
ed in such a clever, farcical way, and
with such inspiring dellcacy and dizziness
of touch that the story is developed IN
a continuous stream of humor, ana dis
tinctive individuality of the characters in
the play lending very happy to the far
cical comedy style of treatment. The
women theater-goers who derive an
ecstasy of enjoyment in seeing handsome
gowns, will find much to please them in
the dresses worn by Miss Convere, Mrs.
Ida MISREPRESENTATION and the other la.
dies of the company.
Frank Tannehill, Jr the well-known
comedian, will be seen Wednesday matt
nee and night at the head of "a Young
Wife" company. Mr.. Tannehill as "Hor-
ace Greengage Dobbins' is said to be eX-
celIent in this part. A recent notice of
his performance said: Mr.. Frank Tan
nehill. Jr., as Horace Greengage Dob
bins, made a most decided hit. He was
the Vermonter to the life. "A clever per-
SON. as New Englanders say, was Mr..
Dobbins, or "Hod," as he preferred to be
called, who was not as green as he at
first seemed. His experiences in the city
helped out his. wisdom teeth, and ne it
was who finally succeeded in unraveHing
the tangled thread of circumstances. In
every situation he was up to the mark.
He was irresistibly funny when he first
came to the city, acute enough when the
life of his friend. as well as his own, de-
pended upon his discretion, and manly
and thoroughly admirable in his capacity
for friendship and affection"