Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-08

AHt SUCCESS rs somewhat
ouoious' for the piece in which Miss Aller
Is playing this season seems hardly v,or,t
the effort she lie putting on IL. Al the Rur
WOOD Sowing the Wind" was given wifi
much erect In many ways Il proved IN,
most important undertaking of the season
as Rosamond Miss Lang uncovered a new
phase Oh her talent, and really touched a
sh POINT IN her characterization of The
shl VINO was struggling against social
p.e1uulce ana the stigma OF her birth She
oiseioses unsuspected powers of emotional
expression, the ability to put intense mean
ing and genuine passion into a situation
without descending to mere rant, and a ca
paeity for holding herself well in check
throughout powerful and exacting passages
IN this part she has shown something of
the advance she has made in her art during
tne season and gives new evidence for the
Iaith OF her friends in her talent. The
rays did big business at the Krug with
tner last seasons offering somewhat fur
p'shed up and the bill at the Orpheum' re-
ee'Ved the support that has become habitual
at that house.
While nothing definite on the point has
pseh expressed, II is popularity believed
that Miss Viola Allen is making a genuine
farewell trip. Several things consnire 70
force this conclusion chief of which is
her marriage, announced since she began
her season in her present play. II is in
ierred from this. and from the fact that
no plans for her next season have been
advanced that she Is contemplating at
least a season of retirement TO the quiet
JOYS OF home life Miss Allen has noyv
tasted about all the theater can offer an
AMBITIOUS woman. She has been an adj
rnlred and petted member of its GALAXY for
many years. She has worked her wev nm
from the very bottom. starting in minor
role In her fathers company when she
was a mere school GIRL she has now her
.sther IN her own company. and is far
from being an aged woman at that. Her
rise mas not been sudden, but her success
has been the more certain because 90 a..
SOHO foundation on which it was based
thorough training in the 1ecbnioue az
the theater with the gradual DEVELOPMENT
OF her natural powers, have combined 10
sSttle her most firmly in the estimation of
ing public as clever exponent Of her
arr while her healthy ambition to exceI
mas led her into many ventures the less
qualified avoid She was well settled under
contract few years ago that maid ber
a salary that even a life insurance official
might not dsdain but she was asked IN
create line Of characters that did not an
peal 10 her as worthy of her capabilities.
Sre save over the position and boldly I'M
el'ooh the starring career that now seems
coming to its close at it's very zenith
Many predictions of disaster were heard
ana some Of the wise ones went so for os
70 say that she could not succeed because
or her inability to produce the parts sbe
essayed. Miss Aliens answer TO this unas
siPlply TO go ahead with the program sba
iaip out Tor herself, and to succeed. even
peyond the expectations of her cloaest
trends she showed she could play Shakes
pearean roles, by doing it. She surrounded
herself with an expensive companv mo
uuced on lavish scale, ana made co.
Vleia Allen name that is not tuse1y 80
70 forgotten soon. 1t is to the credit NJ
lne american people that she has suffered
lone IN pocket by reason of her Inde-
her success ought to encourage
y ~ ec'ors 10 similar undertakings This
most rational and effective soint,or - .ne
trust" question '''e
MISS Aliens present play is a disappoint-
,iene IN many regards. It is conventional
Al every aspect and after her recent
IN the classics it seems weak and
paiTy' she has done all that could he dona
" teueem IT, giving the parts into the keen
ing OF actors OF established ability ga
mounting the piece in the most lavish r,an-
her endeavoring to add interest ana ei,,o
IRE 10 the somewhat dull and stacy drama
furnished her by Mr.. Fitch. Aocustoroa,7 80
sinartness OF the smartest from Mr. F,toh
Inc roast or the Town comes as a dIs-
unet shock' for 1t contains little or nothing
ss ."nicn !s author could be identified: in
iap' II might as easily be ascribed to Tbeo-
uOre Aremer or Hal Reid as to the leader
american wits. 1t is made up OF
49, 'heatrle situations, strung together
y, ','ti,out any especially logical sequence and
I" optaln which its characters are forced 70
conduct themselves quite at var,onoa ,.,tS
rational bent. It's comedy is sustained ~.
TWO OF the minor female roles and ono 90
the male roles the latter being savad Vror,
laliure by the personality of Miss Aliens
iatherr VINO gives 1t loving attention ana
ieises IL 70 real prominence in the progress
Vi the piece Otherwise the men are duII
ana uncertain and show no real reason for
existing. Frankly, as a drama. "rbe Toast
OF the Town" is a failure. 1t provides a
Mite simple amusement for an evening but
were II not for the character of the star
aho ner splendid company it would hardly
have lasted its first week out.
.
MISS Allen identified herself with a num- ,
per OF worthy characters in the mast. she ]
mas more than established her right 70
prominence on the stage and has nrovap
again and again her creative powers Her
recent seasons in classic roles have haen
'erltable triumphs, and just why she has
taken what seems 10 be a backward stem Is
not easily understood. She had conouered !
viola and the dual role Of Hermione and l
rerdita, and there remained for her Rosa
una Beatrice and others OF the glorious
most OF Shakespeares women, and a round
d other parts I'm which great actresses |
nave delighted the public and each OF q
which Is worthy of her utmost endeavor
she had not by any means exhausted the
possibilities, and it is beyond belief that her l
ambition had been satisfied She once ex- c
pressed herself as being tired of the NANNY Z
'anby heroines OF the modern drama. and ?
yet here we find her lavishing her art on e
me OF the most insignificant OF all the q
fitch creations, and by very dint OF her \
powers forcing It into public approval II I
must have been her mood. At any rate '
clyde Fitch can this time thank the actor u
hat his play has attained Inv, ,.o.,,,o -. n