Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-27
At THE PLAYHuUSES
Mr.. Campbell AZ the Boyd.

IN hermann HuNGEuhu , AnEet-dNA pay
"Magda." Presented at the Boyd last
evening for the first time in Omaha. Tn
cast:
Leopold Schwartz ............. Walter Howe
Mazda, daughter by his first wife,.
.............. Mrs. Patrick Campbell
Marie, daughter by his first wtfe..:....
Augusta, his second wife
Franliska Won wendlOwski, her, sister.
Lieutenant Max Won wendi SyiKhi' their RIq'"
nephev ..., & Rowan
Pastor Henterdingk ........ Charles Bryant
DR.. Won Keller. government councillor.
Frau Won ebs........B bertha Won zastrow
Frau Won Eldrich ....... Miss Aline Miller
Frau Schuman .......... Miss Annie Dupont
rhersa .........,......... Miss Rose Dupre
In Suderman's depressingly somber pres
entation Of certain definitely settled social
conditions Mrs. Campbell last night
achieved almost as much Of a triumph as
in his more elaborate argument in favor of
a wider range Of freedom for the exercise
| Of what might be called the right Of per-
sonal selection. Those familiar with the
unrelieved element OF tragedy which makes
up the whole play OF "Magda' need not be
told that the very silence Of the auditors
is itself a tribute to the actor. II is a
play that excites thought, not emotion, and
the feelings IT engenders do not find ex-
preston in the very limited Methods al
lowed heater-goers for the manifestation
of their approval Of an artists endeavors.
"Magda" merely emphasizes the fact that
We do not care to take into our homes, our
own lives, a phase of existence with whose
presence we are, theoretically at least, IA
miIiar; and that those who are so unfor-
tunate as to find themselves personally in
volved in that existence may look for
neither mercy nor forgiveness from society
as at present made up. That is all.
Magda pleads, and the great art Of Mrs.
Campbell adds a most effective element,
the eloquence Of pathos, to her pleadings
for her own life, just as others have pleaded
before her, and finds her answer in her
fathers death, her sisters sorrow and her
own acknowledged disgrace. So long as she
held aloof from hat simple home. where
the austerity Of a good mans unreasoning
belief in certain rules OF personal behavior
and individual responsibility created an at
mosphere in which the sophistry with
which she had supported herself fell from
her and she found out Just where she stood.
she believed herself happy. More sinned
against than SHINING. she found that no &C
count would be taken Of her excuses, and
that she must suffer for her sin. No phil
osophy can save her in the end.
Mr.. Howe gave a most impressive char
acterization to the role of Colonel Schwartz,
the father who loved his children intensely,
who loved his honor more and who loved
his doctrine Of ~paternal control above all
things. Mr.. MacDermott made OF Herr Won
Keller what one may easily conceive to be
the typical moral coward. 1t is a thankless
part, but demands much Of the man who
essays 1t. Mr.. Bryant has a much better
part as Pastor Heffterdingk than was as
signed him In 1.-THE Joy Of Living and
one evidently much more to his liking, for
he seemed to do his work with more of
earnestness than on the first night, GER
tainly with more finish. The others give
their parts the Interpretation one would
reasonably expect from a company support
ing so renowned a star.
Mrs. Patrick Campbell and her company
in Arthur Wing Pinero's play in four
acts. THE Second-Mrs. Tanqueray."
Given at a special matinee at the Boyd
yesterday afternoon. The cast:
Aubrey Tanqueray. ..2E.F. Emmett c. King
Paula ..,.........".s Mrs. Patrick Campbell
Ellean ""," Miss Any dsp H"g
Mrs. GorteIyou -. Mrs. isabel Waldroa
Captain hugh Ardale. 80. Charles Bryant
Frank Mlsquith, Q. c., NJ. P...J. H.. Greene
Sir George Orreyed. ..Charles Rowan
| Lady OrreYGd .............. MISS Rose DQpTs
Morse julius Hoystoh
There has been a broadening in Mrs.
Campbell's Interpretation Of THE Second
| Mrs. Tanqueray" since last she was in
America, She is the same. it is true, but
| the same with a difference almost mex
plicable to those who saw her then. All
her intensity of feeling. all her finely mod
ulated passion, all her graceful presence re-
mains; but now all this is free from the
! theatrical tones, the old-time Alterations,
Her voice. always sweet, resonant and full.
retains Just that touch Of the brogue a
woman Of her station might reasonably be
expected to use. but 1t has lost the clipping
of the 'gs' and the forced softening Of
the long "as' which were once so char
acteristic.
With this change has come another, in
the audience, for now instead of focusing
compulsory attention on the foibles Of the
actor IL loses the impersonator in the m
personated. 1t no longer follows Mrs.
Campbell, beautiful, accomplished and
graceful, but Mrs. Tanqueray. sharing her
hopes, her doubts and her final tragic
awakening to the full realization Of a hope
less future.
OF the play itself little need be said, for
1t has long taken its place in dramatic his
tory. Yet this much perhaps may be per-
lnllltug clnCt lnlSApANNdhAOh NOhhl0 bO
largely in an atmospheric" play, no genius
of the actor, no company manager ever
brought together, can ever render the story,
round which the drama is woven like silk
round a spool. logical and harmonious.
Mr.. Pinero himself, and Mrs. Campbell on
his behalf, have more than once claimed
that the inevitable end Of social wrong
doing is shown by the play. Yet is this SO?
Is II not more true to say that Ellean's
last despairing sob, Il wanted to forgive
her" shows the more real attitude Of those
who are the salt of the earth toward these
sinners who pass through the cleansing
fires OF repentance?
AS in her other plays, Mrs. Campbell re-
ceived admirable support from her entire
company.
Both afternoon and evening performances
we're attended by audiences which easily
represent the intelligence OF Omaha, and
the intense satisfaction derived from the
intellectual treat afforded by the distin-
guished actress and her associates was made
manifest in ways that leave no room for
doubt as to the estimation Of the people
for the star. Mrs. Campbell's brief visit
to Omaha may be set down as a success in
every way.
nnFnn noro nan IN nArr