Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-19
AEnusements.
At the Boyd.

At h Boyd.
Katherine willard. supported by Wright
borimer, In the production Of THE Power
Behind the Throne" a romantic play in
four acts by Theodore Kremer. founded
ON and adapted from scenes in Schiller
"Kabale and Biebe' or Love and Intri.
que" The cast:
Johann Winter. a musician. Ouv "A. Hoffman
Frau Winter, his wife ......... Ruth Gadsby
Lisa. village gossip. Florence DE Lashmitt
Baron Ronald Won Hoheniohe, pr cai."'o
Anton. Ronaid's orderly ). syron h Iiismy
Keller. presidents secretary: .:..........
Count Won oberfeis ....,.. saiisSmtV
President Won Hohenlohe. ruler OF an
Austrian principally. ... Edward Thomas
Delphine. maid OF duchess -. Camille Porter
Duchess Won Waldheim ........ Maud Durand
Katherine willard has every reason TO
feel satisfied with her reception In Omaha.
She was welcomed here for her single and
hrst appearance at the Boyd by an audience
that was large, appreciative and sympathe-
tic. She really won a triumph. personal in
a large measure. but in some part due TO
the fact that she is given a part which
readily eniists the support Of the audience,
which might, under the spell Of the situa-
tion, easily overlook any save the most
patent Of shortcomings. And Miss willard's
mistakes last night were few. Almost from
FIRST to last she has to sustain an attitude
OF defense. with only one little breathing
spell from the suspense Of combined at.
tack, yet she acts her part quietly, con-
vtnctngly, and at times almost supcrbIv.
Once she let the situation get away from
her, Just at the close OF the third act. and
her exit cut short a scene that was almost
gDOiled nv the pfprf ~ anwta4y e. .-ai
The Power Behind the Throne" tells a
story Of how the whole machinery OF a
p-incipality is set in motion to crush one
poor girl, the daughter OF a musician, who
has come between a beautiful and unscrup-
ulous duchess and the man she pretends 10
love. but who loves the poor girl. II hur-
ries through four acts that TEEN with
melodramatic situations and climaxes, and
hnally the curtain goes down on what the
finally united lovers believe to be their
double suicide, but which a faithful orderly
explains is merely the effect Of a powerful
anodyne which he has substituted for the
poisonous drug his master babe him pro-
cure. 1t introduces the inevitable in
~triguing minister, the proud and to all
visible intents heartless father (who hap
PLY relents in the end, the penniless
nobleman who is forced to sell his honor
anu the necessary court ladies', gentlemen,
soldiers and the like. II is we'll staged and
moves with precision and certainty that
come from careful management and an
earnest desire to present a pleasing per-
Torrance in creditable fashion.
Miss Wizards role calls for acting in a
minor key, subdued, controlled, but con-
centrated. She we'll presents the innocent
girl who is placed In most trying situations
with nothing but her girlish instincts and
love for her parents to guide her, and last
evening had to respond to several curtain
calls from the audience. which gave gen.
erous expression to lite appreciation Of the
young stars efforts. Only once in all her
powerfully sustained presentation did she
lose control Of the situation. and that
single slip occurred at a moment where the
action Of the play is most d%if1cult.
Her supporting company is very we'll
balanced. Mr.. Lorlmer is an actor Of ability
and makes a charming lover. although he
evinced a slight inclination TO overact in
one or two OF his scenes. Mr.. Nesmith,
who has the Metternich part in the play,
does the work OF the scheming secretary
very we'll. and Miss Durand. as the power
behind the throne" made much of the I'M
lovable character Of the duchess.