Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-22

MIR. James O'Neiu and company in Able
~Bonaparte.' a drama In three acts. The
cast:
Able Bonaparte ............. James O'Neill
Stephano ................. Oscar Grey Briggs
DR.. Fencton .............. James O'Neill, IF.
General Morivatt ........ Howard Champion
buchess Osa ............. Isabel sherman
Adele Isabel RCa
Zuzette Neutrality-suspicious.. Josephine Morse
Hlaitea lnez Bayard
Joel. n boy OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Addie Frank
Victor, a boy ............ Elizabeth Coulter
Servant TO the duchess -. I'D Barry
First soldier ............. William G. Bcery
Second soldier ............. illiam Andrews
Ihird soldier.............W. John S. Duke
As Able B~onaparte, a dear old German
priest, Mr.. James O'Neill, known to the
stage for years in such vigorous roles as
Nirginius and Monte Cristo, came back to
Omaha Sunday night and won from a
moderate sized audience an enthusiastic
curtain call for his strength and lovable
ness. The old. kindly man. wise enough
to know that the simple homcly life he
leads is the best for himself and the
young people under his care, is a part
which Mr.. O'Neil fits himself into with
success, and the few times when the fire
and dash which made him famous in more
heroic parts came to the surface were
made the more expressive by his passion,
The priest has the blood Of Napoleon the
iNo III us Veins anu Nlltl Ills Imperial
nephew sends his troops to aid a scheming,
worldly woman in obtaining from the
able a founding whom she claims as her
child the man defies his little nephew
Napoleon and his instruments, and re-
fuses their offers of advancement and
honor for the happiness Of his home and
his children. The girl waif whom he had
raised from infancy is dearer to him than
all that the Parisians can offer, and their
very kindness makes him distrustful and
alert. with the soldiers he assumes a
commanding air that brings obedience and
prompt action, in spite of their COM
mander's orders. Mr.. O'Neill makes the
able a representative of the Napoleon
keenness combined with a nobility and
kindness developed from long and loving
service to the needs Of his parish and the
little flock of children who have no other
parent.
The supporting cast is thoroughly compe-
tent, and Stephano. the girls fisherman
lover, and Adele, the founding. whom the
Partisan woman claims as her deserted
daughter, are as pleasantly handsome a
pair as two peasants could be, and play
their parts as young, open-hearted lovers
with fine enthusiasm. The rest of the cast
is well chosen. Mr.. James O'Neill, jr., be-
'HS a SllNSlS ina Ol the WOIlu, ana
Isabel Sherman a masterful clever woman
of fashion.
The play itself, while 1t develops at the
end OF each act a stirring and artistic CHI
max, makes a few false steps which lean
to melodrama in some places. In Mr..
ONeilis own role the melodramatic lines
are handled with a repression that takes
their theatric effect from them. To those
who are romantic enough to enjoy a play
in which the william and the villianess are
plainly marked and robbed of their prey
by a truly manly old hero, Able Bona
parte" offers a very attractive entertain
ment. The scenic effects are not varied,
but they are beautiful, and the atmosphere
of quaint costumes and wild island peasant
life gives an excellent background for the
action. Mr.. O'Neill has a role which gives
him every opportunity to act and his act
Ing is well worth seeing.