Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-03
FLORENCE ROBERTS SCORES
Her Play, rstrensth OF the weak
Proves very InterestIse 60
Omaha Audience.


Florence Roberts and company IN The
Strength OF the Weak" a drama In four
acts by Alice Smith and Charlotte
at the Boyd theater. The cast:
Pauline Darcy ......,..... Florence Roberts
katherine Dare ........... Adelaide Manola
Alice newton ............,....... Ruth Allen
Ruth Delano .....,.......... Mary Bertrand
Priscilla Potter ......'...,.... Fanny Cannon
MIS- Dore zee. ....,.... Florence Robinson
Dorothy Dare ............... Kathryn Horne
S ptnt - loa NsnSI
Mr.. Adams GSnown as Mr.. Abbott -.
Baron Oscar Won Kieber, G. Jay Williams
Tom Dare ,.....k ......... Buctus Henderson
Mr.. Sampson ........,,.... Clinton Maynard
Myron Delano .......,... Gregory Rodgers
pobson ............''........ Elwood DUNCAN
JOThftS ...sss.....ss...ss..ss FTbnh NoOuSOn
The Strength of the Weak and Miss
Florence Roberts form a combination
worthy of praise. The play itself lacks
the delicate touch that marks the master
hand. but Is of value as exhibiting a
woman's approach to the ever present aues-
ton, 20 which but one answer has been re-
turned as yet. A fine disregard for logic
Is displayed in the main handling OF the
theme The action is forced along the
lines laid down by the authors until the
impasse is reached. Confronted by the
condition that has defied all writers, as II
has all mankind, even womanly intuition
fails, and resort Is had TO the expedient of
death One had been led to almost hope,
as the story Is developed that either Miss
Smith or Miss Thompson had evolved
some plan by which the sin might be ex-
plated and the settlement deferred. But
II was not to be. The memorable law will
claim its own. and the debt must be paid.
This is the only solution they offer. The
drama is finely conceived, and we'll wrought
out even It's tragic climax coming almost
as relief from a situation Of such ten
sion that the pistol shot breaks silence
that has gripped all and under which
nerves are ready to snap
Outline of the Plot.
A young girl is picked up by man NJ
means from somewhere. She Is alone In
the world, and through her necessity she
submits to him. He sends her to school,
hoping to enjoy in her unfolded woman
hood return for his investment. But her
soul developes. and she revolts at their
relations. Bravely determined to win back
her life she exclaims, THE wages OF sin
is not death" and sets about to rehabili-
tate herself. She writes book In which
she tells her experience, publishes 1t
anonymously, and 1t is an immense success.
A young man loves her, and after she has
told him that she is the author of the book
and that It is the story of her own life.
| he still demands her in marriage He IL
the SON of the man who betrayed her. Her
suicide ends the story.
Play II smart1y written.
/ In some parts the play is smartly written.
! It's comedy and IL has quite bit. is the
I innocent raiIlery of lot of girls who are
not vet all out Of school, but who effect
an immense amount OF worldly wisdom and
discuss in a superior sort Of way things of
no consequence at all. A sudden-rich
woman affords some laughter, also. For its
main theme it pursues with tenacity the
/ proposition that a woman should have an
equal chance with a man. That the forgive
/ ness extended to the one should be extended
TO the other. ana that man should be as
willing to assist the daughter as the son.
1 Some fine speeches directed at the dual
code are delivered, and with such assever-