Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-09

Mr.. b. H. Sothern comes to Boyd's new
theater on Friday and Saturday to pre-
sent for the FIRST time in Omaha. Mr.. Jus
tin Huntly McCsrthy's four act drama. "If
l Were King
Mr.. Sothern in any play Is always well
come. The central figure Of "If I Were
King" and the role which Mr.. sothern as
sumes, ia that OF the fifteenth century vaga-
bond poet, Francois Villon. Mr.. Mccarthy
has let his imagination run first In what
might have happened to such a character
living In such a period. First he shows US
villon In rags and ~tatters, reciting his
verse in the Fir Cone tavern and ready to
whip out his sword on the slightest provo
cation. Louis the XXI of France happens
to be in the tavern in disguise. at the time,
to overhear what his subjects have to~say
about him. He hears villon recite his poem
"If villon Were the King Of France and
recognizes In him the incarnation of a
strange dream. which has greatly troubled
him; for he is stepped to the lips In super
%stition, and does nothing without consult
ing the stars; so when Villon wounds the
Grand Constable Of France In a duel, Louis
causes the turbulent poet to be dressed in
the clothes OF his opponent and for a week
he gives Villon an opportunity to show
what he would do "If Villon Were King Of
France" or what amounts to practically
the same thing-Grand Constable. What
Villon does in the way Of winning the love
OF one OF the nOblest and most beautiful
ladies OF the court, and how he escapes
the hangman's moose with which Louis
propose to end his career. is charmingly
and Interestingly told In the play. As In
everything that Mr.. sothern does, the play
is richly and artistically mounted, 100 SUI
pernumeraries being used to augment the
thirty-two speaking parts. The leading fe-
male role, that Of Katherine de Vaucelles, is
taken by Miss Margaret Ellington, who be-
sides being an excellent actress, il said
to be An exceptionally beautiful woman.
Others who appear in prominent parts are
Jennie Eustace, George W. Wilson, Stephen
Wright and Rowland Blackstone. The cur
tain will rise at 8 O'Clock.
"rhe Liberty Bellies" viii be seen here
at the Boyd Sunday and Monday, Novem-
Der 1s and II and will no doubt be read
with a great deal Of interest. A musical
comedy without a star Is q novelty. A mu-
steal comedy without a chorus, Is equally
novel. Such is '"rhe Liberty Bellies" It
is a production OF many virtues. Goodly
crowds Of New Workers. Philadelphia, Chi
cagoans, Boatonians. etc. who know pu-
steal comedy from the overture to the coon
song. have sat and marvelled at the unex-
~pectedness Of things in this creation.
The blaek-moHstaehed villain Of meIo-
drama. with all the villainy that usually
follows him throughout four acts OF a
thriller" and his prey. the dashing, always
on time soubrette and the dsclamatory
hero will be with us this week at the
Boyd. The vehicle In which they Will APP
pear Is known as The Tide Of Life There
are enough exciting and hair-raislng cpl
sodes for q doRen thriiiers In this piece.
THE Tide Of LIES villain has more
work than he can attend to alene-he has
several assistants. One OF his aides is
eleotrocuted IN a telegraph wire; several
others are killed In a fearful duel on q
river steamer, several are killed In at
tempting 10 murder the hero. but the real
villain ehueklss and laughs until the last
act. when he IL given his QuietuA While
the villains are being foiled the hero and
J heroine are having . desperate time. One