Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-23

CarcOnte. ...............-......... h0Ie fleIcneT
Mile. Danglars. .Juanita La Iande
Mile De Leon.........-.........,: Ethel DM hn
Marie. ...................'s'. LOUISE hhier
THE Count of Monte Cristo" still has
power to move the people. 1t Is great
exhibition of the elemental passions. ana
as fitted for the uses of the actor Is I'M
relieved by those occasional disquisitional
lapses by which Dumas sought to relieve
his hero of the charge OF being of earth
earthly. and to secure for him some attri-
butes OF the higher and nobler man. In
the play he is simply the popular hero.
condemned unjustly to suffer for anothers
sin. and through another's ambition; liber-
ated from living death and raised to
height of power by strange mischance.
Returned to life and activity, even more
popular than when he was suddenly torn
from the arms of his bride and the society
of his friends, he Is all the more enjoyable
because we know he is the Edmond Dantes
for whom we have wept, come back to
punish and reward. Danglars. masquerad-
ing as the baron. doesn't know it. nor docs
Fernando Mondego, who has hidden his
Californian extraction behind the title Of
an ancient French house. Mercedes alone
Of all that company knew it-wonderful
intuition of woman's love, and most APP
propriate climax to the action of the play.
At this point our feelings are stretched to
the point of ultimate tension. and IL II
wasn't for that last act to settle all as 1t
should be there's no telling what might
happen. But the last act is there. ana we
can go home. feeling that once again has,
right and true love triumphed
Mr. O'Nein plays Edmond Dantes with
the loving care that one bestows on a
precious treasure He can fairly be seen
caressing the part as he develops him
ar he lob
hearted honest manly sailor. the desperate
and discouraged prisoner, the pieus and
philanthropic Able Busoni, and at last
Count De Monte Cristo sinister, polished.
relentless. bent on destroying those who
would destroy him. 1t Is quite much
OF triumph in his hands today as It was
well, never mind how many years ago.
Time is moving along for all OF us, and a
man is only old as he feels. and judging
by Mr.. OHeill's light capers on the stage.
he is just past q whereabouts.
Mr.. O'Neill's supporting company is good.
and the production is elaborate and COM
plete. The scenic effects are remarkably
good. and the tableau that follows Dantes'
escape from the Chateau d'If arouses such
enthusiasm as to require the presence be-
fore the curtain OF the hero, still clad in
his tatters and whiskers, and apparently
dripping from his submersion I'm the sea
For that matter. the large audience at the
Boyd last night followed the fortunes Of
Edmond Dartes with such jealous interest.
that. had 1t not been certain that he would
get away and return TO svenge himself, II
is quite probable that Messisurs De VILE
fort. DanElars and Mondego would have
met with violence. However. the champions
4 OF the hero were content to vent their feel
ing In applause. which they had ample
ON 50 4ANr aNNl
| The sadness that attended the carrying
away TO prison OF the newly made Bene-
dick and ship captain was such as TO re-
duce the expression OF pleasure at the
excellent acting to few very feeble and
sporasic handpats. This was not indicative
OF coldness on the part OF the auditors, hut
OF their deep regret at the untoward occur
| renee that marred the pleasant wedding
| feast, just under way.