Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-27

py the Wooo"er" o,VSA o1hpany' Ahe
Mrs. Van Buren,. Marie Hudson
Sophie .........................> Hazel Brown
MI. 5ettS ....,.........,.n.ss,..b arry Long
Phyllis Lee .::::........""... Fern MayplihfII
M n re Psyster ''.'''.s.''c;. MAY , ht,,
Ann Cruger ..................' Lorna ELLIOTT
Dick Van Buren, ..,.,..........,.. Carl Fay
9nhn Tss R,,rs xis:rt o Morr,SoS
Judge Peter. Quincy Knox charles schohsId
Cain q waifl ............... Hottie Salsberg
Jasper ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Harry Lots
Quite q homecoming was that Of the
Woodward Stock company. which returned
to the Burwood Saturday night TO begin
q season Of forty week.. n any member
of the company thought the people had for
gotten him or her during the summer va
cation, the mistake was soon very APP
parent, for the greeting extended TO each
was most cordial. Miss Hudson was nrst
to face the smiling and enthusiastic audi
ence OF friendly Omalaus. who packed The
theater. and she was given q greeting that
nearly made her forget her role Of Mrs.
Van Buren, and become just plain Marie
Hudson for a moment Then came the
others and as fast as the action of the
play brought one Of the company to the
stage, just that often was the progress
OF the FIRST act interrupted. Each member
was given individual welcome home. The
men were all called on for short speeches,
and each responded with the most appro-
pirate of sentiments. Grant Simpsons re-
marks being the hit of the evening. Those
OF the company who came as strangers
were made to know that they were among
friends for the time being. at least, for
the effort was spontaneous and evineed u
promise of even more cordiality when ac-
quaintanoe has ripened into friendship.
Miss Elliott. Miss Mayclif and Mr.. Fay
are the principals who came to Omaha
for the first time last night.
The play itself Is too wen known to re-
quire any review. "The Charity Ball. Is a
spIendidly constructed drama, put together
by two masters of the art. David Belasco
ana Henry c. de Mile. They spared no
effort in their undertaking, and the fact
that seventeen years after it's FIRST produo-
| ton II Is still potent to move people TO
tears, and TO awaken the deeper emotions
| IL sufficient praise. II is produced and
staged with care and Intelligence Director
Long has provided all that In needed for
the proper exposition OF the strong points
Of the piece and the cast is adequate.
| Mr. Morrison shows the beneficial effects
OF his summers rest, In that he enters With
a greater zest on the work of his role. Tht
part of John Van Buren, differs much from
the modern hero. in that 1t calls for cbn.
siderable genuine effort Units Interpretation
and this Mr.. Morrison supplies ,wythou,
stint, and yet with nstrepression, giyins
evidence of considerable reserve force. II
the third act. in his great scene.r with hi.
brother. his work Is excellent. He goe,
about II with an earnestness tnat Is con
vincing and gives a sense of spioereity tina
carries on the situation finely In the lighter
moments OF the play he sly5s away coca
sionally and evinces SONY signs Of self
consciousness. but as a. whole the part 1.
well done.
Most Of the intere A last night centere,
on Miss Elliott It being her FIRST appear
ance. and the desite. to contrast her Will
Miss Eva Lang iHsing overpowering. sh
felt this. too. ara suffered not q little from
the resulting n srvousness. due to her extra
ordinary desiIA 10 please. To say that sh
pleased puts. Il mildly. She has PRACTICAL
assured he< position in Omaha. The par
OF Ann 6ruger is an unusually exactini
one, it's very simplicity and frankness q
charao FER being its greatest difficulty. Blu
Miss elliott fairly. II not fully. realizes tn
pos Abilities OF the role. and barring a sligh
| terloency to the tragic at times is a gen
un, delight. She makes Ann Cruger
well poised warm hearted sensible youn
,lwoman. full of the kindly sympathy Of
| good heart and the desire to aid others tina
springs from an unselfish realisation Of he
, own advantages. In the scenes with Phyl
lis Lee and with jain Van Buren, she YER
, nicely values the delicate situation an
achieves her effects most accurately. Mis-
Elliott has a fine presence. and a goo
; voice. When she has conquered her ner
} vousness and learns to feel at home Il
Omaha, she will be found a most capabl
and intelligent actress.
Mr.. Fay, also a newcomer, made a YER
good impression as Dick Van Buren,. He
too. has pofse and that indsfnable some
thing that gives the actor the faculty o
, doing the thing II should be done. HI
presence in the cast Is a distinct element O
strength.
Miss MAyclif, in the sympathetic role o
Phyllis Lee. is very good, restraining her
: self at all times when tempted to overaci
and giving a very satisfying interpretato
of the part.
OF Mr.. schoheld MI Davis. Mr. Todt
Mr.. Simpson, Mr.. Long, Miss Hill, Mis-
Martin and Miss Hudson. little need b
said. They are well established here, an
In passing II Is only necessary to point on
2 that they did all that was required OF ther
we'll Each comes back refreshed by tn
y summer vacation and eager to work. tn
u performance OF each showing this mos
plainly.
: All in all. the opening Of the second ses
son at the Burwood was most auspiciou
q and auRurs we'll for the season. 9Th
Charity BalI" will be the bill for the rel
~ the weak with the usual matfnees