Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-27
THE CAST.


Cardinal Fesh. George Rowland
Cardinal Caprera ......,... David Davenport
Madame Rochefoucauld. Bessie Humphrey
NINE Soult '.''.''''..''''''''s'.E .Ethel Echlln
Julie Clary ry..........................M Mary Dunn
Eliza Bacciochi i.......,....... Leslie Bingham
Queen Hortense ...........,.......E Emily Baker
boetltia. Kate Power
Pauline Borghese. ......... Elizabeth Mayhem
caroline Murat...................H Helen Singer
Mile. Avrillon. n............k Katherine Clinton
Josephine Bonaparte. e......... Blanche Walsh
Not since Richard Mansheld's "Cyrano
de Bergerac" was presented in this city,
two years ago. has a production OF such
magnificent splendor or one so perfect in
even the most minute details been seen
in Omaha as that of More Than Queen"
In which Blanche Walsh comes, not as a CO.
star with another luminary, as she has
heretofore, but at the head of her own
company OF players. IL is the original pro-
duction that Is said to have cost Julia Ar
thurs millionaire husband sec. 600, and there
can be little doubt in the minds of any of
the large audience, which entirely filled
Boyd's theater last night. OF the truthful
ness of the latter statement. 1t was OBJ
tanned only by Miss Walshs managers after
Miss Arthur had decided to retire from the
stage and, in the language of the day, has
proved what might be termed a ten-strike,
for this promising young actress who, II
she makes as rapid progress up the ladder
of success In the next few years as she
has in the past will surely find herself Mt
the head Of her profession In America.
But TO return to the play itself. II Is
one which deals with French history dur
ing the romantic period when Napoleon was
made emperor and Josephine empress. II
depicts the trials and trlbuations of Jo-
sephine from the time Of her marriage tn
Napoleon up TO that when he divorced her.
II is well written. although considerable
liberty has been taken with the history of
the time, which. however, according to the
ethics OF dramatic writer's, Is permissible
on account of what they term poetic license.
lt is opuent in dramatic interest. which
Is unceasing throughout the entire FIVE
acts, and gives an insight into the domestic
life Of Napoleon. which has not heretofore
been shown by dramatist His selfish
ambitions, his cruelty of nature and his
utter disregard for the rights of any are
shown in deep contrast 10 the noble and
everlasting devotion of the self sacrificing
empress. There Is little, or practically
nothing, in the piece that shows the quail
ties which made Napoleon one of the
greatest men OF history. On the other
hand. the searchlight is kept constantly
turned upon the baseness of his nature and
through it all not redeeming quality is
discernibe
As Josephine. Miss Walsh is seen to what
Is doubtless her best advantage. She is
particularly fortunate in possessing the
queenly stature, together with the other
charms OF beauty that makes her charac-
terization a real parsonage rather than a
mere studied copy. The force with which
she carries her stronger scenes, the deft.
ness and finesse she exhibits in the handling
OF her lighter scenes, and the wealth of
sweetness and passion diplayed in the love
scenes, stamp her an artist OF unquestioned
ability, That her already secure position
In the good regard of the Omaha theater-
going public was made doubly So can best
be attested by the fact that curtain calls
almost innumerable were demanded by the
audience. The gowns Miss Walsh wears are
truly regal ones and bring forth exclama-
tions Of admiration from the fair sex.
William Humphreys Napoleon is salts
factory in every respect. He looks the
part to perfection and his rendition OF IL
shows careful, painstakng preparation in
the way OF an accurate, analytical study
Frank Sheridan offers an admirable bit OF
character work in the part OF Roustan.
Ogden Stevens TaIleyrand is a well-drawn
Characterization and equally well presented
The feminine portion OF the company
might be stronger, but is fairly well
adapted to the limited amount of work
that is allotted to IT. There will doubtless
be few as meritorious attractions forth
coming the balance OF the season as More
Than Queen"
There Will be three more performances, a
matinee and evening performance today and
the final performance Thursday night
Owing to the length of the piece the cur
tain rises a, o'clock.