Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-11

~ AA@4 AeIN|NNAa
fAIY at the Omaha theaters during
NH the week. the triumph won 10y
- Miss Elliott and Mr.. Ingraham
Hr8Ma6F at the Burwood in THE Deyil'
SS would have been sufficient Co
make Il memorable These two have lifted
themselves above the level and have proven
their right to be enrolled in the glorious
company Of those who possess ability. Of UNI
usual order. After all. genius has been well
defined as IAN infinite capacity for hard
work and taking pains" The success reg
-istered by Miss Elliott and MIR. Ingraham
ala not come as an especial surprise to
those who know them well for In all their
work they have shown the capacity that
enabled them TO seize the opportunity Of
fered by the Molmar play for the exhibit
ton Of histrionic ability above the average.
and TO display the real talent Of the actor.
This consists not only in conception Of "a
part in all its many aspects, but OF con-
veying that impression across the foot
lights, and making the individual Sitting
there feel and know the same impression
and realize its truth. And this was most
successfully done by this pair Of wonder
fully clever actors.
IN the east George Arliss is set up as the
paragon af all the host of Devils sprung
upon the theater since the play was first
produced. Arllss Is we'll known in Omaha
for his work with Mrs Fiske and in other
companies, and doubtless deserves all the
enconiums he has had heaped upon him
by all sorts Of critics and reviewers. The
entire vocabulary has been ransacked for
adjectives wherewlth to highten the praise
Of his work, and he still reigns, the supreme
70 - - THr- 81
York. Comparison is, Of course. only pos
sible, by trying to conceive what Arliss
would do with the part in. the light Of what
he has done in other roles, and such com
parison leads almost certainly to the con-
cluslou that whatever has been said in
praise Of Arliss may also be said with equaI
force OF Ingraham. 1t Is hard to think that
any man, no matter how talented, could
do more with the role than has been ac-
complished right here. Mr.. Ingraham is
possessed Of the Imagination to out.
line the character, and the force
to thoughtfully present it, so that
1t comes strong and true in It's every detail
and stands a fine example of the greatly,
art of the actor. He abandons all thought
Of the grotesque, and equally the idea tina
the Devil is especially malevolent. In hi'
portrayal, the Devil becomes a man o
gracious mien and benevolent aspect, wit,
the polished address of a man of long ex
perience and much knowledge of the world
His manner is suave and gently insinuating
He shows neither horns nor hoof, nor tail
1t is Lucifer, the fallen angel, and no
Aud Clootie. anef the personification fl
most skinfully Zone. with a vigor anC
dash that is impelling and compelling
Mr.. Ingraham sets his Devil to work t.
undo the lives OF two people. He thoroughly
embodies the thought that 1t is the inheren.
evil in man that is at work, and ais pres
enoe is really the naturalization Of tn,
thoughts of his victims. He persistentll
plays on this theme, and never allows /
to escape from the view OF the fascinated
auditor. The details of his performance ar
but a part of the thoroughness of his grasl
Of the possibilities Of the role. A face tina
is now a mere mask, and again is lighte,
up with an evil smile of triumph; a laug.
that is without sound or mirth; a snee
that is sardonic. then devilish, then ~tantaliz
ing; a voice that is WONDERFULLY caressini
at times, gently goading at others. an,
again cold and hard as a file; speaking
the words with perfection of emphasis an,
infection, and suiting always the action t.
the word, the Devil of Mr.. Ingraham move
through the play and dominates its cours
just as the Devil of theology has move,
through the world from the very beglnnin
and wrought his will on fran mankind. !
les a truly wonderful piece of work, and MI
Ingraham more than merits the warm com
pliments he has received during the weel
In other Devils little or nothing
heard Of the woman. The Devil completed
dominates the action, and of the woma
comparatively little account is taken. b.
in the Burwood "Dcvil' Miss Elliott sa'
a chance equal TO hat of Mr.. Ingraham'
and she takes Il quito as well. BY he
efforts to mike OF H ofman PIP r som
thir like human, ane has raised the pa
from secondary Importance, and set
along side that Of the lead. 1t is not
welcome undertaking to portray the cha
acter Of a woman who is slipping ava
from the right, and apparently withol
resisting. But to this Miss Elliot sets he
self as earnestly az does Ingraham TO h
realization Of the Devil, and she makes II
picture just as complete. II is not that
a weak woman: Madame Hoffman is
woman Of character as well as Of passlo
and she fights against the Influence tn
sways her to her fall. Although Il
play and up 10 the final moment Of su
render this struggle between desire an
duty IL made the dominant note Of d
role. one Of the finest touches in I
whole performance is given in a scene
the second act. when Madame Hoffmi
rounds on the Devil, her whole natu
fired with furious Indignation at his su
gestior. II is the last stand of Duty, a
the proud poise of her head, the tense d
titude " the body, the vehemence OF t
words She utters, all show the abhorreu
OF the woman for the scrponts propos
But the Dovil knows his ground, and hol
Il, and she confronts him in her virtue
anger, he smiles-not a leer, but a SIN
IN which shines all the wisdom Of t