Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-15
At the Theaters
"Romeo and JuIiet" at the Burwood.

"HOmcO and Jultet" at the
The Burwood stock company in Romeo
and Juliet" a tragedy by William
Shakespeare; presented In five acts and
e fifteen scenes under direction Of Mr..
Frank Bacon. The cast;
Paris, a young noblensn, kinsman Of
the Prince OF Verona. LLOYD Francis
Capulet' head Of the house Of that
name Edwin Clisbee
Romeo, son Of Montague. at variance
with the Capulets ..........W William Grew.
Mercutio, kinsman to the Prince and
friend TO Romeo. ..,...J. Lane Connor
Benvolio, nephew to Montague. Ray Lucas
Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet John Todd
Lloyd Ingraham
An Apothecary .............. Frank Bacon
Balthazar, servant to Romeo. Alice Meyers
IISi1iss, Sspulet ''''s SHY Bsyess
nurse to Juliet. .................Jane Jeffrey
Nhen one stops to think about II, the
preparation of a production OF Romeo and
Juliet" between Monday morning and Sat
urday night is quite a feat. And when that
feat is further complicated by the giving
Of nine performances of n play as heavy
and difficult as THE Idler,' the task set
for the players at the Burwood by Director
Bacon may be better appreciated. But the
result has more than justified the conf
dence Mr.. Bacon showed in the company
OF which he is the directing head. Romeo
and Juliet was twice produc.5 yesterday
to the expressed satisfaction OF large audi
ences. that in the evening fully taxing the
capacity Of the theater. The Marlowe YER
sion is used, with scenery adapted from
that used by Maud Adams, and the COM
bination is happy. The play is considerably
shortened without In anywise marring its
effect or ~interrupting the continuity OF the
story. and the settings are appropriate
without interfering with the efforts Of the
actor. The production of a classic play
thus early in the season and 80 creditably
Is an excellent evidence Of the intention OF
the management to redeem It's early prom
ise Of giving the best to its patrons.
Miss Elliott has won another triumph.
Her versatility has been sadly taxed dur
Ing the first three weeks OF the season, but
she has shown herself equal to the pre-
sentation Of three characters as wide apart
almost as possible. Her Juliet is at first
a winsome, beautiful girl whose mind is
still untrammeled by thoughts Of love. but
by sudden transitions she develops into a
woman, loving, trusting, hoping, fearing,
despairing. Her entrance, at the call OF
her mother, shows her a merry maid, whose
curious wonder is excited by the unusual
conversation between the mother and the
nurse. Her progress Is noted during the
minuet danced at the Capulet feast. where
she first sees Romeo and distinctly let's
her preference be seen by him. In the
balcony scene she is even more artless and
enticing. boldly confessing her love and
coyly Withholding 1t from the swain who
signs below. When appraised Of her cousins
death at the hands of her husband, she
shows her trust and anxiety well, and in
the chamber scene, where she bids fare
well to Romeo her love and fear for him
are passlonately portrayed. But 1t is In the
great potion scene that she Is at her best,
The trying speech in this Is splendidly
read. In fact, all through Miss Elliott
has shown great mastery Of the art of
reading blank verse, and gives her lines
with freedom and good effect. And finally
she ~acoomplishes her own death with truly
tragic effect. Her presentation Of this
sweetest of Shakespearean girls is an
achievement Of which she may feel proud,
and the sincere applause that greeted her
last night must have convinced her of her
success In the difficult role.
Mr.. Grew has given to Romeo much care
in study and preparation, and evinces his
understanding of the requirements of the
role. His part is purely that of a lover,
and is so portrayed. Mr.. Conner is carry
hing the honors by his handling of Mercutlo,
one of Shakespeare's best drawn young
sters. In other days he has made the part
his own, and Omaha folks are now getting
the full benefit of his excellent understand
ing and ability to present the character in
It's fullest. He was most enthusiastically
received last night. Mr.. Todd Is a Tybalt
fiercely bent on the determination of the
Montagues, enough so to have won for
him high regard in certain sections of the
Cumberland mountains, had he shown such
activity in pursuit of a family feud there
abouts. Mr.. Ingraham's Friar Lawrence is
a we'll studied role, as also is Mr.. Clishee's
Capulet. Mr.. Bacon as Peter. Mr.. Lucas
as Benvolio and MIR. Francis as Paris are
doing we'll