Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-15

Mr. Whitestdo offered at the Boyd
M on Tuesday evening. II Is the
innate desire Of the man to pro-
tect the woman he loves. As far al pole
from pole Is this from the shakespearean
idea. othello Ia the embodiment OF the
primal passion, the tenderness OF love that
exists only while its object is attractive:
Coregos love survived the death Of the
object, and his veneration for the woman's
good name survived the knowledge OF her
frailty. Othello murdered Desdemona
merely because he suspected her of in
fidelity; Corego died that he might save
his wifes secret and her honor. In this
contrast exists the argument of the virile
play Mr.. Whiteside has made for his own
uses, II is little merely in the fact that
it is comprised in one act and takes but
half an hour to enact. In fits potentiality
and artistic merit II r. as great as any
tragedy In the language About IL all
there IL an air Of simplicity and directness
that Is the more keenly appreciated as
the matter Is revolved for reflection and
digestion. In speaking OF the sketch. Mr..
Whiteside says;
The little sketch contains a story, 1
think, which must appeal to everyone who
mas Eiysn one thought to the tragedy Of
called 'Chatterton." You. Of coufse' are Hs
familiar with the one-act play as produced
England. Wilson Barrett But chattert tom
was OF other days than these and the
made him in the hands Of the drsmatist
and blographer. as well as in the hands
q tas actor; a hgT5s Of interest in
Of Fire" might live today without any
stretch Of the imagination. In fact he
every country In the world, be he heather
at the close OF the year. The young musi-
cian Is driven by hunger to part with a
mas treasured for years in remembrance
and with the few pence therefrom start
dawns upon him that the public cares not
a jot for the heayen-born power Of a
It's unthinking frivolity. That unless genius
is set before the world in garish robes
or By Ty fs %SRsS t6SS SRS
tionslism' II fails of recognition. The
es con sI,t, Of the girl wife whose honor a
blind idolatry of the young violinist, who
poured forth the songs Of angels to deaf
seems to me to be powerful theme.
1t is indeed q powerful theme and is most
powerfully set forth by Mr.. whiteside, He
brings to the part the warm sympathy that
springs from a nature that is quick to I'M
derstand the sufferings Of another and the
perception Of a mind that is attuned to the
artistic appreciation OF the material in
hand. He has avoided the charge usually
arrayed against the actors" play and has
not planned merely to gain a strong climax.
1t is as artistically presented as It is con-
ceived its setting being quite in keeping
with the theme and its working out. The
curtain rises on a room at the top Of a
lodging house in Birmingham, England
The room is perfectly dark, save for the
flickering light of the embers OF a dying
fire. From somewhere comes a sad, sweet
strain OF music, the mournful cadence of a
soul that is consumed by a great grief
Weird. almost fantastic, but abiding in its
effect, the strain swells or recedes in a
minor key, until the moon breaks through
the clouds and the player is discovered
seated at the window with his violin. The
action OF the play and its essential dis
oourse-and the latter never descends to
the bonbastio nor tritely heroic-proceed
from this point. until the shock has over.
whelmed the man who had starved while
nursing his grief. The Jewels he thought
were paste are gems; the woman hi
thought Jewel proves false. He half tells
the story TO a friend, and then recalls him
self. promise OF secrecy Is exacted from
the only man who might guess the truth
a torrent OF rage and sorrow mingled ex
hausts itself with rush, and the love o
the dead wife reigns again IT will play q
you, sweetheart" he says 'Just as useC
to-" He gathers the fragments OF the torn
photograph from the floor and plays again
the same sweet mournful air. Slowly 1
dies away. as life GIBBS from his starved
and frozen frame; the bow drops from hi
fingers his head falls forward on the can
die, and-darkness and silence. Then thu
new year is ushered in with the ringing o
bells and the joyous shouts OF the watchers
but the musicians story is told.
The treatment of the theme Is an excel
lent Illustration Of how much can be toll
In a single act. II might easily be ex
banded into three or four acts, but it woul
tell no more. In fact many OF its beautie
might be destroyed by bringing them int
contrast with the grosser things that woul
Inevitably be introduced. II affords as
Is the perfect contrast between the man an
the woman, as suggested by Mr.. Whiteslde
nor is this the only contrast, for the jew
eler who recognizes the gems congratulate
the musician on his ability to secure sue
favors and calls him a lucky dog. On tn
morrow the jeweler will think him a foo
for he will be dead from starvation Will
holding a fortune in his hands and IN
means OF living on the fat OF the land
he will only trick his art In the livery
commerce. And the jeweler is an homes
man. at that. He thrves by barter an
does not understand the nature OF the ma
who will not take the advantage OF an OF
portunity that requires no absolute dishoI
esty on his part.
II Is pleasing to note that Mr. Whitesid
continues TO grow In breadth and stature
his art and that he devotes himself wit
no abatement of zeal and earnestness
what is best. His performance of n
romantic play I'VE Are King
finely done, because he brings
the leading role the same Jealous desii
for excellence that marked his more an
bilious undertakings and pursues Il wit
the determination TO make the part all thl
Il can be. 1t is the inhnitude OF painstakin
that has won for him the confidence OF II
public, for all he has ever done has borT
the unmistakeable evidence OF earefl
preparation lie Is a student and an II
telgent pursuer Of knowledge aside fro
that bearing directly upon his calling.
Is this broad. sympathetic contact with u
general public that has made him the act,
he is admitted TO be. and It would be in