Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-08

herod Antipas, Tetrarch OF Judea.
Jokanaan. the prophet ..... Mr.. teonnor
The young syrian, captain OF the
TiseIiinus. a young Roman MIR Ka9ffer
FIRST soldier. ....... MI FRANCIS
second soldier Mr IVou
A Na1arene .'.'... s-s.. o . MI OllsDet
sdIst MI AluT1oSs
A Cappadocian. ...........M Mtthers
Naaman. the executioner. $50. Mr.. Peyton
Page TO Herodias ......... Miss Meyer
HeTodiss. wife Of the Tetrarsb.
MISS Do"hln
Soe' u@uen'eI OF ierosMi Miss Elliott
Let US waive discussion as to the pro-
priety Of producing a tragedy so terrible
as that Oscar Wilde evolves in his
"Salome." The dramatic force and
poetic beauty Of the language, and the
sequence of the events are reason enough.
IL reason must be furnished. for calling
the drama great. The elements of con-
trast are there-the sensuous monarch OF
a sensuous court; the ascetic prophet,
elevated by his religious frenzy above
earthly considerations; the several sects
of the day. ~disputing as to the relative
merits of their creeds, just as they are
today; the queen mother. sick Of her in
cestuous marriage and writhing under
the prophets denunciation; the daugh-
ter. pure in body and undefiled in mind,
even amid the surroundings of a court
given over TO righteousness; and this
daughter, suddenly stung into the re-
sentiment of a woman scorned. because
she has been denied that which she
asked. and her caprice leading her to
a terrible demand-an this is wrought
into the course of the single act hat
comprises the play with a steadily ac-
cumulating force until the tremendous
climax comes, and the limp and l~i1eless
body Of the once beautiful Salome lies
alone on the scene, a mute answer to
the question born Of evil passion. And
all told in language whose wondrous
imagery shows in every line the genius
Of the erratic author. 1t is a fascinating
drama and its acting possibilities are
carefully brought out by the players at
the Burwood.
Miss Elliott makes Salome much different.
from the general notion Of the character.
In her hands the daughter Of Herodias is
not the degenerate wanton she has been
depicted: she is a girl. just on the brink
Of womanhood, imperious and willful, as
becomes a princess, fond of her own way,
but to some degree considerate Of others.
And, when she cannot have her own way,
EuG EuAhH JUST 10 q PVAtN NAAAAA 1AAA
only when she sees a chance to accomplish
her end does she brighten up. And then
she is once more the willful, disobedient
girl, bent only on her own purpose. That
this purpose has for its end the destruction
Of a holy man. one in whom all about her
seem interested and whom the tetrarch is
bent on saving, even though fearing him,
matters nothing to her. She is too famil-
lar with the death of interiors to be dis
turbed by the thought that her within
means the end of a human life. Il will
kiss thy mouth. Jokannon!" This is the
cry she sends after him into the cistern.
and she refuses TO be tempted from her
purpose by any array Of Jewels or peacocks
or other gewgaws Herod may offer her.
seeking TO touch her childish fancy. She
has ceased to be a child, and her insistent
| demand. Give me the head OF Jokannon.'
is the word of a woman. bent on havin.
her own way at any cost. She exults owe
the lead man; hasn't she had 1t as SHE
wIIed, in spite OF his puny. power? And
then her grief comes: Her triumph is en-
FILTERED by her thought Of him as she saw
him first, and in the poignancy of the mo-
ment weeps. 1t is not the kiss of tht
wanton she presses on the dead lips o.
the murdered Jokannon. but a kiss Of love
/ kdlAGu Will "a oANA HNA Nts A-fN
kissed thy lips, ~Jokannon," is a wall Of
anguish.
Miss Elliott has put much care into her
preparation for the part, and enacts it with
the same conscientious effort that she
brings to all her undertakings. Her read
ing Of the lines she has is very effective;
she brings out the poetry of the thought
splendidly, and gives to ach phrase the
delicate turn that illumines its meaning
She cajoles or commands, wheedles. en-
treats, pleads, begs. and demands with a
-girlishness that is charming. And then
she is terrible, when, after her sensuous
dance, frightened herself at the thought
OF the request she is about to make, she
asks for the head Of Jokannon. II is surely
a fine conception, finely wrought out and
PLAYED with great force. The dance Of
the seven wells. while but an incident
of the drama, is done with a grace that
is not the least of the charms of the role.
As the sensuous monarch. who has sunk
his manhood in pleasures Of the flesh.
who flatters himself while pretending to
honor the Roman ambassadors, who looks
with libidinous eyes or the daughter Of
his wife. she who was his brothers wife,
and whose lust leads him TO swear an
oath he fain would have broken. Mr.. In
graham Is achieving an accomplishment
quite equal to that of his work in The
Devil" This sort of work is expected Of
him, and he does 1t well. MT. Connor has
the role Of John the Baptist. and presents
a splendid picture Of the man who came
as a voice from the wilderness. Miss
! Downin does well as the queen mother,
and Mr. Grew makes much of his
opportunity as the young Syrian captain,
/ who takes his life when he sees his love
for Salome is hopeless. Mr.. Todd, as a
soldier. Mr.. Murdoch. as the first Jew,
and Miss Meyer as the page, are well To-
Gated. and the others in the cast add to the
general success Of the performance.
The drama is well staged and costumed,
and presents a series Of well designed pic
lures. All in all, it is probably the most
! ambitious thing the Burwood folks have
yet essayed, and is certainly an artistic
triumph.
Preceding ''salome" a farcical sketch,
The Silent System" is used as a curtain