Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-31

ana Morton, authors OF MY Witei un-
der direction OF Charles Frohman. The
cast:
Benjamine Monnier, the chocolate girl
NJ 'NSiccnn,. ,i, Merl Nea DSp1
Paul Normand ............... Orrin johnson
Felix Tarride, an artist. .......... Fred Erie
Mr.. Mingassen. Of the Ministry Of Az
Fiorise. his daughter -. Anne Meredith
vlcomte CASTOR de satturnae de Tour,
Rose. the artists model. Desmond Kelley
Madame Bidelle. h~ousekeeper for Paul
PlnNSi Sfms 2 cns,,fsnr be HsrTiso nO Garter
Brisse Harry Melick
Casimir. doorkeeper at the ministry
=, George X; KoIsnds
Charles, a footman."...... Arthur warren
a waiter ......."......H william motifs
A Chauffeur ............... James Forsyth
Marie Doro is a dainty little person, with
many ways that charm and others that
merely please. And as the play she is pre-
sentlng has nc serious moments. she gets
plenty Of chance to be both charming and
pleasing. 18th Richest Girl is a comedy
that would be decidedly enjoyable II 1t
were boiled into a single act; in its present
form It is rather t%enuous, and 1t puts al
most too much OF a burden on the players
to ask them to sustain the interest through
four long acts. In places It is cleverly
written and In others It Is so manifestly
strung out as to put considerable response
bility on ones politeness. The idea is that
of a very much petted and pampered and
generally spoiled young woman, in every
way adorable, save only that she is thor
oughly selfish, being pumped into the or
derby life of a yong man who has been
graduated from the university into a clerk
ship in the Ministry OF Agriculture, and
who spends his vacations In a cottage en-
tirely Isolated from the world, in order that
he may have quiet. He is affianced to the
daughter of his chief. who is also quite or
derby in habits Of mind and body. And
the coming OF the daughter of the chocolate
king, quite by accident, into his life, sets
its current to running in an entirely differ
emit direction, and her own as well. And In
the end they are married.
It Is along the way from meeting to
denouement tina the real interest in the
affair is found. The young man has an
artist friend, who isn't q bad sort; who
has some talent, an inordinate ambition and
Just a little more than a smattering of
worldly wisdom. This young man sets
about to turn a chance meeting to his own
advantage, and does so, but In so doing
he brings about complications that come
miehty near being serious for the real
hero. In a spirit of fun the artist Induces
the chocolate kings daughter to invade the
sanctum of the clerk. and as a result the
latter Is not only dismissed by the girl he
was to marry, but is also dismissed from
the service OF the government. The girl
finds some consolation for Ter loss in the
person of the count who was to marry the
chocolate lady. But before he leaves the
office forever the clerk turns on the
chocolate lady and gives her a piece Of his
mind, mainly TO the effect that she Is sell
fish and heartless, and has wrecked his
life for a mere caprice and some other
thipgs, good for her to know. This changes
her, and she determines to become a nun.
But before she takes the final VOWS she
is induced to try being a bride first, and
the clerk takes on q fine chance of becom-
h.g interested in the chocolate business
himself.
Some very laughable situations are de-
veloped, some ludicrous and some ridi-
culous. The Incidents follow fastsenough
to keep the action OF the play generally
in motion, and where they lag, the actors
are called upon to sustain interest by sheer
clcverness. And II is this way that the
strength of the company Is best employed
Miss Doro Is not as yet quNe equal to
heavy work, but in the lighter passages OF
the part she is delightful. She has a quaint
little way of saying things that gives to
the words she speak a saucy flip, and her
laugh and general bearing are quito in
keeping with the role. Her meekness in
the last act is so plainly assumed as to
make it about the most laughable thing
she does.
Mr.. Johnson is the same painstaklng
actor we have always known in him.. His
forte is hardly comedy, much less farce
comedy. and yet he gives a most salts.
factory performance. once or twice in
the course Of the play he is allowed to let
his rich voice out In all its fullness. but
for the most part it is hidden under the
whimsical character he has taken on. And
the rest of the company is in keeping with
the leads. The cast contains many names
well known, and each does his or her part
so we'll that no fault may be found with
the result. The piece Is staged with care
1t was a fashionable audience that filled
the Boyd theater last night. and while
its enthusiasm did not at any time become
lncontrollable, It was sufficient to require
many curtain calls at the close OF each
!. act In order to fully express the appreci.
alton Of the efforts OF the young star and
her associates