Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-10
LILLIAN RUSSELL AT BOYD'S
Airy Fairy Lady shown in a Straight
Comedy Role
NO VISIBLE SIGN OF PASSING TIME
Play IL Light and star Seems to suHer
from Lack of Music TO AFFORD
Her background for
Her Talents.

Lillian Russell and company in "Ihe
Butterfly" a comedy in three ats by
Kellett Chambers; under direction of
Joseph Brooks; at the Boyd theatsr. The
Jasper Mallory. 80. Mr.. Eugene ormonde
The Earl Of Dexminstef Mr.. Fred L. TiGen
PtSeS the late Mn Nj Fred Tyler
Crews nephew .,., Mr.. Grant Mitchell
Frederick. Mrs. Kllligrew's valet
Charlie, Mr.. Bacon's Chinese servant
..................M Mr.. Roland II. Hill
Agnes. Mrs. Killigrew's maid ......,
................M Miss Resale DoVaux
Mrs. OLeary ....... Miss Kate Griffith
Madame Abaloni Mrs; oLeary's daugh-
ter..............Mi Miss Isabel Richards
Mrs. Betsy Killigrew. Miss Lillian Russell
Thalia, goddess of Comedy, stood irreso-
lutte for a moment, all but ready TO
abandon her position in the circle OF the
MUSES.; then she waited, and when the
final curtain went down, she Strengthened
up, and the business of Olympus went on
as though nothing had happened Lillian
Russell hasn't driven any of the stars
from the armament by her venture into
comedy unaccompanied by music and the
like. She is more than fair lady who, II
she has not succeeded In stopping the
wheels OF time, has at least so managed
II that their revolutions have left but
little outward and visible sign upon her
ample person. About all that is notice
able in this regard is a slight tendency
to sedateness, a lack of buoyancy and
playfulness. but otherwise she is 10 all
seeming the Lillian Russell of ever so
many years ago, and still a good fellow
But straight comedy is hardly her forte
1t may be that the piece she is exploit
ing is in some way to blame for this, for
it Is a hopeless thing with but little to
relieve 1t from positive dizziness Miss
Russell tugs away at lines that are COM
monplace enough, and at times inane, the
comedy flowing entirely from the situa-
ton and never from the conversation
And the situations as a rule are Of such
an ordinary sort that they do not evoke
more than a smile.
story of the Comedy.
The story tells OF a young matron who
has been CONSIDERABLY widowed by an
elderly plutocrst. She has Just emerged
from her weeds at the opening of the ac-
ton. and announces her intention of we'd
ding a fortune-hunting earl from Merry
England. At the psychological moment the
papers appear. and IT is shown to her
that II her second husband is not an Amer
lean born she will lose her fortune She
divorced, and then she can wed the earl.
A genius" with shabby clothes and red
whskers is induced to wed her. His opera
proves a success, and he turns out to be
quite a man after all. so they conclude to
live happily together. The complications
are furnished by the persistence of the
attorney in the case, who seeks to deprive
the widow of the wealth devised her that
1t may come into possession Of the nephew
OF the late amasser of the fortune, whom
he can control. and by the earl, who in
sists that she keep the original compact, as
! he feels he owes something to his country
and to his creditors. 1t is handled as deftly
as such material might be, and treated as
| a broad farce might be amusing.
! Old Friends in Company.
Several of Miss Russelrs company are
| endeared TO Omahans by reason of former
visits. Mr.. Tiden is a delight the pot
hunting earl, and Mr.. Ormonde, as the
| genius who turns out to be gentleman,
is also very good. The others contribute
each in some way to the progress of events,
and the three acts are rendered with such
expedition as makes them pass quite pleas
antly.