Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-28

-Four years OF absence didn't render the
Omaha heart any the less fond in the case
OF DeWolfe Hopper, and Il may be that the
time spent by this very popular comedian
in the Weberfieldian limbo didn't hurt his,
either. At any rate he comes back to US In
new and better piece. and one In which
he not only is not the whole thing, but in
which he acts as though he were aware OF
| the fact He is willing TO divide the spot
light with other members OF the company,
and several OF them well deserve the di-
vision.
In adapting the "Posthumous Papers Of
| the Pickwick Club" to the purposes of a
musical comedy, the Messrs. Klein have not
undertaken to preserve the Dickensian at
mosphere to any great extent, the names
| and a faint general outline of the charac-
| ters being about as near as the piece given
| at the Boyd last night approaches the per-
1 ennfally funny story of Samuel Pickwick,
| his doings and sayings. Mr.. Hopper pro-
sents us a rather gigantic but in every way
! delightful chairman of the famous club.
He is much the same Hopper we have
known in other characters, but an infinitely
better one. His humor has mellowed and
! his methods have lost much Of the bolster
| ous ponderosity wherewith he was once
| wont to compel laughter. and while he is
still elephantine In his carriage, he makes,
in this instance at least, the part suit the
| player exactly.
Digby Bell as Sam Weller and Harry Nor
man as Tony might have stepped directly
out of the pages Of the book. The jolly
| old waggoner, whose suspicion OF "vdders"
was based on, the fact that he had been
caught twice and by widows both times,
and the faithful, earnest valet. who had
| had his own wits sharpened by attrition
| with an unfriendly world before falling un-
| der the purview of his immortal master, are
two OF the most enjoyable Of all Dickens
| creations, and to say that they are faith
fully portrayed is the highest praise that
| can be bestowed upon the actors presenting
them. Mr.. Stewards Jingle is an enjoyable
bit OF character work, and Mr.. Adams gives
satisfactory life to Squire Wardle.
Laura Joyce Bell is a real treat as Mrs.
Bardell Her singing voice is hardly what
| Il might be, but her humor is rich and
her idea Of the character is excellent. Miss
Grace Fisher as Miss Wardle also adds
much to the humor of the piece. Louise
Cunning looks the school girl, but her con-
/ tribution to the success Of the performance
I is mainly through her voice, which, while
+ not strong, is remarkably pure and sweet
in tone. In Polly MIR. Hopper introduces
Il 10 auOIneT Oi lnoSo OuhShos
4 OF nervous activity with which people have
l come to associate him, Miss Marguerite
Clark She knows her business and at
tends to IL strictly.
The music is all light but tuneful. and
several OF the songs are as new in senti-
/ ment as they are in words, end the company
is the first that has been here this season
that can actually sing The trio, Boys
Will be BOYS" by Messns. Hopper, Norman
and Adams, received most hearty encore
last night, and the solos, Speak Low" and
"The Rainbow" sung by Miss Cunning
were also well received. Mr.. Hopper was
called on for a curtain talk by the large
audience and acquitted himself rather fe-
licitouely, paying to Omaha people several
compliments in exchange for their liberal
patronage and warmth OF welcome. spe'
cial matinee will be given today, and per
ifornance this evening closes the engage
| ment 't-r'