Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-03
ABOUT PLAYS PLAYERS AND ~pLAYHOUSES

Nit. hlCnaFQ mauAuelQ 3 idNebl WISH ~
omaha gave another s.rong evidence OF the
many sidedness Of his genius. What is
more satisfactory. though. Is the evidence
OF his consideration for the public. This
is shown in the really great production he
gives the old classic he is presenting this
season. This Is the fourth successive
great production Mr.. Mansfield has made.
After having given us "Cyrano de Ber-
eerac.' Henry "" and "Beaucaire' In q
row. It would have been no more than fair
70 a hardworking artist that he should have
been allowed TO take a season Of rest. He
might have made his tour with the lighter
plays In his repertory and would have been
welcomed everywhere by the same en-
thusiastic audiences. But It is not money
alone that Mr.. Mansfield seeks; his art is
all to him, and he says that so long as he
has his strength and vigor Just so long
will he give the people the best OF his
ability. One only needs TO contrast this
position with the practice some Of the
other stars follow to understand just what
Mansfield cnres for the public. Other
stars take the road with light plays and
small companies, and only too frequently
with what are known as "road companies"
the sole object being to get the money"
Not so with Mansfield; the company he pre-
SNANtN IL DhANAe ~ ~ NehN - ANA -
New York; his scenery. everything con-
nected with the play, is the same in one
city as in another. Nor is he satisfied with
people who can do the supporting parts
passably we'll; they must be the best he can
secure. and capable Of doing the parts right,
even 20 the most minor. Nothing is too
good for the people who pay their money
to see Mansfield. And the fact is tco well
established to be overturned by silly tales
IN sensational papers.
While presenting his Julius Caesar to
the public, Mr.. Mansfield is planning to
give next year an even greater play so far
as scenic undertaking is concerned, and
with 1t a smaller play. but one in which
there is great scope for his ability as a
creator OF parts. The first will be Ivan,
the Terrible" Tolstoi's play based on in
cidents In the life of this Sixteenth century
ruler OF Russia. The translation has been
made by Nine. de Meissner of Washington,
a Russian woman of much culture and great
attainments, so that nothing of the essence
of the Tolstoi play has suffered through
being transmitted into English. Nine. de
Meissner has been Of much assistance to
Mr.. Mansfield in his work of getting to-
gether accessories for the play IN the way
OF costumes, furniture, and the like. Her
connection with the piece will not cease
until II has been successfully presented.
During the time since she suggested the
play to Mr.. Mansfield she has visited Russia
at his request and gathered much material
for the production. The scenery will be
fully as heavy as that of Julius Caesar
contemplating exterior and interior views
Of the Kremlin and other important struc-
lures Of Moscow, and similar settings. IT
allows. too. Of much color in the pictures.
The play has been successfully presented In
st. Petersburg. where it was very popular.
II is enc OF the very few plays that deal
with Russian history that the Russian gov
eminent ever allowed to be presented. It's
Incidents are those toward the close of the
reign of Ivan whose personality won for
him the surname of Terrible" The main
character is one marked by its grim humor,
somewhat somber, but the subplot carries
a love story Of sufficient interest to throw
q little light into what might otherwise be
a gloomy play.
The other play is "Alt Heidelberg q
German comedy-drama by Herr Metrfoster
1t was played in the original in New Yorl
last season and was quite popular among
the German residents Of the metropolis
The piece tells the story Of a German
prince, heir-apparent TO the throne OF somt
petty principality, who has spent his life
as a sort OF semi-recluse, devoting his tim
to study. He finally goes to Heidelberg t.
take his university course, and here Il
introduced to a different sort of life. Tn
the gay Bohemia Of German student life
he plunges with the zeal OF a younsster
and is soon deep in an affair with a pretty
waitress. Just about the time this reaches
fits climax he is called home to ascend the
IL ~ -
with his return to Heidelberg after an alb
sence OF two years. The story has the
heart interest and the romance. and the
part Mr.. Mansfield will take is said to com.
bine the good points Of both Prince Kar
and Monsieur Beaucaire, with none OF thu
little things that made those characters
somewhat tiresome in spots. The PLAY
offers much opportunity to the costumer ant
for the scenic artist as we'll. but better thar
all Il gives scope for what is undoubtedly
Richard Mansfeld's forte as an actor-tht
portrayal OF the little tender touches, show,
ing the consideration OF the strong for thu
weak. Those who have watched Mr., Mans
field during the development OF his career
as an actor will recall how very NATURAL!
this crops out in all his parts, wherever
there is an opportunity for it. 1t is reall!
the keynote tc the character Of the man
hat is, the man his friends and intimate
know. Mr.. Mansfield is not a mixer; h,
couldn't be II he wanted to, for mature
has united him for indiscriminate associa
ton with men, He Is proud and sensitive
and, without being at all exclusive, he Z
particular with whom he meets. He doesn'
want to bore people, and he doesn't like 4
be bored. SOM very unpleasant expert
ences OF his earlier life made a deep i'm
preston on him and he avoids as far a
possible q repetition OF them, either {
himself or to others. But to those he doe
admit to companionship he Is genial an
unreserved, speaking his mind freely an
not avoiding the result OF ~frankness. II
Is a close observer Of men and events, an
keeps himself we'll informed on what !
going on in the world about him. Probabl
no actor is better posted on the bushes
and social AFFAIRS Of the cities he visits tina
f. Richard Mansfield. He likes to TAX
walks about town; he has made man
around Omaha, and likes TO talk with thos
he knows OF the affalrs OF the cities he goe
TO. He Is studious In this regard as I
other respects, and takes life very s%eriOusl!
Under the gentle tutelage OF Mr.. Lyma
d. Glover, who is his present manager
MT. Mansfield has learned to take with
more philosophical resignation the mast
digs the "yellow" press persists in dealin
him from time 20 time. Mr.. Glover, him
" uraI - ,a.wa u.a nj.