New-York tribune., 1908-09-08
STAGE AFFAIRS
LYRIC THEATRE.
Miss Mannering Wins Personal Success as
Glorious Betsy.


Miss Mary Mannering made her re-entrance on
the local stage yesterday afternoon. appearing at
the Lyric Theatre in a drama based the ro-
nance of Elizabeth Patterson and Jerome Bona
parte, and called by its author, Rida Johnson
Young, Glorious Betsy For the present it is
sufficient to record that Miss Msnnering has given
the stage charming impersonation OF Betsy
Patterson though the descriptions OF that lady that
are accessible indicate that she bit taller
than Miss Mannering. and. despite her vivacious
nature. stately in appearance. But that actress $
Interpretation has interest. and she is especially
pleasing in her portrayal of "Betsy's playful
moods George w. Howard gave creditable per-
formance a Jerome Bonaparte.
There four acts in it. In the first, young
Bonaparte is discovered at old Sweet Springs, Va.
in the pleasant guse of a tutor 70 Betsy. She
has numerous admirers. not the least being John
C. Calhoun and Henry Clay. But she makes no
secret of her love for her tutor-if only he were
something above teacher OF French Her father
that Jerome Bonaparte is to be his guest
at their home in Baltimore and there. in the sec
ond act the tutors identity is disclosed The incl
dents of the third act occur two months later. on
the deck of La Cigale. Jerome follows Ma
poeon but swears he will return In the last act,
while Betsy is sitting in her home at Baltimore.
her lover enters and the peace that surpasseth all
understanding besses that scene.
AS play GLORIOUS Betsy hardly be regarded
an acquisition to dramatic literature The au-
thor for the purposes of the stage has deliberately
substituted improbable fiction for historical facts.
and that in a romance filed with dramatic incl
dents. The improbable is pronounced as to be
little short OF ridiculous Napoleon never set eyes
his brothers lawful wife. He was too polite
and too naughty for that Betsy Patterson was
obstacle in his vision OF the Napoleonic family
tree. He ordered Jerome to Westphalia and her to
Baltimore, and his orders executed. In this
play Napoleon boards the frigate La Cigale and
in the course of an interview with Betsy" makes
known his plans for Jerome and advises her to de-
part for America
Jerome Bonaparte is not a character likely TO
excite the sympathy of intelligent audiences. even
a leading figure in a romantic drama He was
ruled by his elder brother. the Emperor. That
parsonage was his testament and his guidebook OF
travel Lacking the indomitable will and the cour-
age of the elder brother. he obeyed because he
feared him The story of Jerome and Betsy is
better material for a real drama than of ro-
mantle beauty
But knowledge Of the real character of Napo-
Icons brother need not. and undoubtedly will not
hinder the public from enjoying the invention of
Rida Johnson Young. Betsy Patterson a
lovely woman. and lovely women always in
1t is related of Betsy" that she declared she
would sooner be Jerome Bonapartes husband for
an hour than any other mans for a lifetime
That expression gives key to her character
She was beautiful, witty; tender and sincere in
her love, vain and ambitious. Such woman is
an attractive picture the stage, and il is such
woman Miss Mannering portrays in Glorious
Betsy"