Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
Coming Events.

Richard Mansfield appears Tuesday night
at Boyd's in the extremely successful
"Beaucaire." The play is described as an
original comedy In Ave acts by Booth Tark-
ington and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland.
1t is generally agreed that Mansfield has
not before had a more delightful character
than Beaucaire. 1t is a role full OF the
niceties of manners, the fopperies OF an ex-
q%uisite, the heroism of a gallant, the ten
derness of a lover, the caustic repartee Of
a wit and the dramatic expression coveted
by a dramatic master. He makes Beau
caire a fascinating man OF about 30, when
man is most interesting to a woman. 1t Is
a romantic part in the sense that there Is
an absorbing love story from curtain to
curtain, but 1t is also a character part.
Beaucaire speaks English only imperfectly.
Mansheld's accent and manner are quite
different from any investiture he or any
other actor has before given a Frenchman.
The play is In Ave acts. Act one shows
the celebrated pump room at Bath when
that watering place was the rendezvous for
all fashionable England, under the social
supremacy Of Beau Nash. The blades and
bellies are much agitated over the gossip
from France in regard to the flight OF the
duke Of Orleans. but this is eclipsed by a
newer morsel OF gossip, the grave rumor
that Monsieur Beaucaire, who has obtained
entree among the fashionables. is the bar
Der OF the Marquis de Mirepois, ambassador
from France. Beau Nash accepts the rumor
and a stirring scene leads to Beaucaire's
social humiliation and expulsion from the
pump room. The second act shows his
lodgings in Bath. He is an exile from the
centers of fashion, but the mobiles and gen.
tlemen frequent his chambers to play
cards. Among them is the duke of Winter
sett. Beaucaire traps him while cheating
and he uses his power over him as a lev
erage to make wintersett introduce him
again among the elect. The third act rep
resents Lady Mary Carlisle on the same
evening during the progress Of her ball.
wintersett introduces Beaucaire as the
duke Of C~hateaurien and Lady Mary is an
instant victim. There Is a flow Of wit and
sentiment all through the act which culmi-
mates in a delightful piece of gallantry
after Badgers attempt on Beaucaire's life.
The garden OF Mr.. Baniston's country place
at a point on the driveway near the Diana
is the background Of act four. 1t is a
moonlight night and the guests are leaving
after a merry rout. Beaucaire's suit with
Lady Mary prospers. He is handing her to
her coach when Wintersett's henchmen
make an attack. They are beaten of, but
Beaucaire 10 wounded. Then Wintersett
betrays his promise and tells Lady Mary
that the duke of Chateaurien is none other
than Beaucaire, the barber. The last act
is the assembly room a week later. II
leads up to the return OF De Mirepois and
the revelation of the identity Of his royal
master to the assembled traducers.
1t is a consecutive and cumulative story
Of sustained interest. The humor and SEN
timent balance nicely and the action is
varied and the dialogue witty as could be
desired. By general conset the dramatists
have conveyed all the charm Of atmosphere
that permeated Mr.. Tarkington's book into
the play. There is equally general consent
that Mansfield has not before done anything
finer than the p~rlncely barber. The total
cast numbers twenty-six and there are as
many more trained players appearing in
action without lines to speak. The produce
tion is most elaborate, the representations
Of eighteenth century fashion being ad-
mirably accomplished. The curtain Will
rise punctually at s.
when Reuben Comes to Town." a musical