Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-10


Blossonl. .................s.G ertruoe Auseroo
Emily Painter. Amelia Bingham
It's a queer mixture OF comedy, melo-
drama and farce that Miss Bingham Is
Offering under the nondescript title OF The
Lilac Room" As matter OF fact, the
name does describe the play In a measure,
since the action Of tho second and fourth
acts runs its course In the lilac" room
of the Wingate priory. Otherwise II might
have been called any one OF several things
with equal force. An English. woman of
title and. position by her first marriage
accumulates a step-son who is no end OF &
bounder. BY her second marriage she ac-
quires another step-son who is, quite
gentleman. a captain and something OF a
man as well; Also two very interesting
children who are almost at years Of ma
turtty at the opening Of the play. She al
ready has an irascible old father, who 10 the
sublmation of domineering selhshness, and
a very charming sister, several years
younger than herself Into this family
circle comes an American young woman
OF the average Of attractiveness and COM
mon sense. She is required to be sort
Of fairy godmother to the flock. She faces
out the domIneerins grandfather In his
most irresponsible and explosive mood. and
and his temper. She reoovers from the
bounder step-son some letters he has writ
ten to him by the little daughter OF the
family. and which he il using for the
purposes OF blackmaiL She cures the
younger son OF case Of pup love. and
winds up by winning the elder son from
his pursuit OF bachelorhood into at least
a promise OF marriage. And all the way
through she is a great, big. bouncing .foun-
tain OF fun. a sort OF cross between Lulu
CHASER and May Irwin; lacking q little
OF the piquance Of the one and something
OF the elophantine occurrences of the other.
Surprises AbOuud In Play.
Some pleasing surprises are sprung dur
ing the course OF the play. In the first
act. when the priory lie undergoing repairs
and its roof is OF and its chimneys ehoked,
there comes up one OF the most thoroughly
English OF rainstorms and the water pours
in unabatsd torrents. until finally the cell
ing of the only inhabitable room in the
house leaks like a sieve. Imasina a room
full Of people trying to preserve their dig
nifty and take their tea under such circum-
stances. II remains for the American girl
TO suggest umbrellas. and finally all make
their exit under umbrellas. two by two,
like the animals entering the ark. accord
the captain. and they climb up on the roof
20 clear the drainspout and stop the leak
ing. This is only one Of several bits OF
realistic stage management offered by Miss
Bingham. II she only wouldn't allow the
discounted villain 10 be led away In the
last act through door that at all other
times leads only TO her dressing room; and
II she wouldn't allow the window to stand
open after the burglars have entered. the
wind ripping tiles OF the roof outside but
having no apprscisble effect inside.
Miss Bingham in BED.
In the lilac room. which happens to he
the bedchamber TO which the American
girl Is assigned. some very pretty pictures
OF Miss Bingham IN bed are Afforded At
one time she looks like a big yellow-haire
dolls at another very much like a much
disturbed woman trying 10 get out from
under the covers in a hurry. She does her
hair up In curl papers under discouraginR
circumstances. and takes It down again in
a hurry. In fine. she goes through a lot
Of stunts. and all in a way that is Inn
mensely funny.
During the course OF the play, from the
time she IL pitched into the hall OF the
priOry through the reckless driving OF
drunken groom. who turns out to be an
expert burglar. till she stands at the FROM
OF the stage for the final curtain. with a
smile Of supreme satisfaction lighting up
her face, she Is asked to run the whole
gamut OF emotions. and 10 strike some Of
them several times. She does Il all very
well. indeed. She didn't come 20 Omaha 10
be told she IA a capable and experienced
actress. She has heard that before, and
has probably had her own opinion on the
topic for a long time; but, now that she Ia
here. Il probably won't make her feel any
the worse 20 say 70 her again that she is
accomplished. and that she has added 90