Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-13
AT the Theaters
Lady Frederick" ut the Boyd.

Lady Frederick at the Boyd.
Ethel Barrymore and company in Lady
Frederick a comedy in three acts. by
W. Somerset Vaughan: under direction
OF Charles Frohman. The cast:
Lady Frederick B~erolles. d. Ethel Barrymore
Sir Gerald Mara. her brother.
Mr.. Paradine Fouldes. 80. Bruce McRae
Lady Mereston, his sister. Jessie Millward
Lord Mereston. his nephew. Norman Tharp
captain Montgomerie ....,.... Orlando Daly
ADMIRAL Carlisle. Arthur Elliot
Rose, his daughter. .......... Nira stowe
Thompson, Mr.. Fouldes' man..."......
Pierre, waiter at the Hotel splendide.
Crossney Davidson
Madame Claude, Lady Frederick's dress
Albert. Lady Frederick's footman. 4.
......"...............L. c. Howard
Angelique, Lady Frederick's maid. ......
Mariana Thurber
Ethel Barrymore has her following all
right. IL may not be as numerous In
Omaha as In New York, but it is just as
enthusiastic, and no more of II could get
into any one theater at any one time than
was present at the Boyd last evening. 1t
is said this following doesn't like to have
Ethel undertake plays like Carrots and
"Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire," and such others
that do not give her the opportunity to
wear mighty fine gowns and look stun
@NAu IL IL also edlu lHdN Ahls
penchant on the part OF her following has
prevented her from undertaking serious
work and has been a source Of something
In the way of disappointment to her, for
she cherishes definite ambitions to do some
great things in her art. All of this will
work out in due time. Ethel still has time
enough to charm her present day following
with her pretty clothes and her winsome
manner and tho pt1ta,,y 90 ~ l,,p,,r
and the lines of her presence that flow in
such grace that every pose is indeed a
picture, and after all this is over with and
gone she can lay hold on the big things
with vigor and zeal born of a postponed
ambition and do the great work she has
in mind.
Just at present she is charming as Lady
Frederick Berolles, and not a man in the
Following doesn't envy Paradine Foul
des the Intimate privilege of calling her
Betsy Lady Frederick is extravagant
ana apparently frivolous, but she rings
true at the end, and a certain amount of
satisfaction Is felt at her final extrication
from the troubles that surrounded her, and
the prospect of her future of rest in a
quiet little nome as the wife of the man
she really loves. The character is said to
be the best Miss Barrymore has ever
presented. Some of us may feel inclined TO
dispute this; 1t has less of purpose, per-
haps, than any of the others, and in It's
peculiar nature gives her a greater chance
10 exhibit her power as an actress. For
she does succeed in winning over support
for Lady Frederick, even at the time when
she has the least right to expect patient
treatment. In this way It is something
of a triumph for the actress, and she de-
serves the success she has achieved in Il.
Mr.. McRae Is impressive as Paradine
Fouldes, his scenes with Miss Barrymore
being extremely clever. But this is to be
expected of an actor of his capacity, aud
the wonder would be II his work were
not well done. The others of the company
are worthy of the star, and the whole is
very smartly done.
The play itself is the second example of
Mr.. Maugham's work recently offered us,
by excellent companies, so that we may
feel that we have seen him at his best,
1t is light, inconsequeRtial, and has but
one mission. for which some thanks are
due. 1t only aims to amuse. Mr.. Msug-
ham has a sense of humor far beyond
that usually accredited to our amiab!e
British cousins, and when one listens 10
the witty lines OF his comedy, the wonder
that he has been a success in his native
land can scarcely be suppressed. For not
one of his jokes bears a tag, and the
laughter that comes with them is spoa-
tancous and not mere politeness.
The audience that gathered at the Boyd
last night was in full accord with the
spirit of the comedy and the best of feel
ing permeated both sides of the foot
lights. Miss Barrymore and her company
were in very evident earnest In their work.
and for their efforts were rewarded with
many curtain calls and much discrimina-
tory applause. All of which tended to
make the evening distinctly a Barry
more event.