New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-09
STAGE AFFAIRS
LYRIC THEATRE.
Miss Msnnering Wins a Personal Success as
Glorious Betsy.

Miss Mary Manner.ng made her re-e1tranee on
the local stage yesterday afternoon appearing at
the Lyric Theatre In drama based the ro-
Of Elizabeth Patterson and Jerome Bona
parte and called Icy its author Rida Johnson
Young, Glorious Betsy" For the present Ii is
sufficient TO record that Miss Mannerlng has given
the stage charming mpersonation Of Betsy
Patterson though the descriptions of that lady that
accessible indicate that she was a bit taller
than Miss Mannering and. despite her vivaeious
nature, stately in appearance But that actress 5
Interpretation has interest. and she is especially
pleasing in her portrayal of "Betsys" playful
moods. George W. Howard gave creditable per
Torrance Jerome Bonaparte.
There four acts in it In the first. young
Bonaparte is discovered at old Sweet Springs Va.
in the pleasant guise of tutor to 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 CiEale. Jerome follows Ma
poleon 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 blesses that
AS a play Glorious Betsy can hardly be regarded
acquisition dramatic literature The au-
thor for the purposes of the stage. has deliberately
substituted imprObd Die nctlOn Tor historical
and that in a romance filed with dramatic incl
dents The improbable Is pronounced as to De
little short OF ridiculous. Napoleon never set eyes
his brothers lawful wife. He was too polite
and too naughty for that. Betsy Patterson was
an obstacle in his vision of the Napoleonic family
He ordered Jerome to Westphalia and her 10
Baltimore, and his orders executed. In this
play Napoleon boards the frigate La Cigale ana
in the course of an interview with Betsy makes
known his plans for Jerome and advises her TO oe-
part for America.
Jerome Bonaparte is not q character hkely 10
excite the sympathy of intelligent audiences, even
a leading figure in romantic drama He was
ruled by his elder brother. the Emperor Ihat
parsonage his testament and his guidebook OF
travel. Lacking the indomitable will and the cour-
age of the elder brother. he obeysd because he
feared him. The story of Jerome and Betsy is
better material for real drama than one of re-
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
teresting when impersOnated by Mary Mannertng.
II is related of Betsy" that she declared she
would sooner be Jerome Bonaparte's husband for
an hour than any other mans for lifetime
That expression gives a key to her character
She was beautiful, witty; tender and sincere in
her love vain and ambitious Such woman is
an attractive picture on the stage. and 1t is such
a woman Miss Mannertng portrays in Glorious
Pat