Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-04
"AnH-Matrimouy'' at the Brandei..

"Anti-Matrimony'' at the Hrandeis,
Henrietta Crosman and company IN Anti
Matrimony." a satrical burlesque in four
acts by Percy Mackaye. The cast;
Mildred. his Miss CrOsman
Morris. HE younger brother .......; -. a,
Mrs Grey. his mother Marion Holcombe
Isabelle. Mildred's younger sister. .:;.....
...s.'..s...'.'.'.. ''.''.f Az nce,ls,l
Cynthia.. .............. by NNhtha
"Ant-Matrimony" has been as varioUslv
described by the reviewers as the limits-
tons Of the language will permit. No
single word is sufficiently comprehensive TO
accurately designate this play Mr.. Nackaye
/ has conceived. and which Miss Crosman
! and her company are so delightfully."- pro
sentlng. II deserves an adjective ali its
own. To say II Is a delight Is 70 phrase
e mildly; It is a bubbling sparkling foun-
tain Of fun, whose spray dashes over ali
around. and revives in them belief in
the sanity OF the men and women of the
race not alone in that they can laugh.
I but also that they may think. A lot OF
folderol Is cleverly piloried by MacSnye.
and just as cleverly held up by Miss Gross
man for the rest OF US to laugh at. And,
/ II the star. the company and the play are
properly appreciated in Omaha the Bran
| des theater will be crowded during the
rest of the engagement
young man returns from Europe. bring,
/ ing with him his wife and baby end goes
for a visit 70 his brother, a staid minister,
living in the suburbs OF a Massachusetts
city, who is married to an elder sister Of
the younger brothers wife. To the con-
sternation OF the home folks which circle
includes the mother Of the brothers. the
returned couple announce they are not
married. pronounce in favor of free love,
and pirate in grandiloquent phrases of
emancipation. the superman the over-soul.
and lot Of similar twaddle. and set about
TO convert the others. And the elder sister
devlses plan TO bring the young folks to
their senses which is simply to make them
see the absurdity OF their position She
does this by pretending to fall in with
their views. The cure is as complete as
the method Is effective. The play is written
in an unusually clever vein Astounding with
the most incislve OF witty satire, with
humor that is pungent and crisp and never
broad, and with fun that is simply ex-
qulsite. And the company is in every way
the best that has yet played at the Bran
deis.
Miss Crosman easily holds her place as
first Of Americas comedy actors among
women. In many ways she is unapproach-
able. Principally is this 80 in that she
unites peculiar qualities Of mind In a way
that provides Just the essentials for correct
comedy Interpretation. Her wit It keen
her humor Is warm and kindly, and her
analytical faculties sufficiently acute 10
give her a comprehensive understanding
and the capacity for intelligent expression.
Those Of us who laughed with her as
Madame Sans Gene" who romped with
her as Rosalind, and again as Viola who
shouted with glee when Mistress Nell
Gwynne screamed "Yez can all 60 to helll'
and sprang through the window: who fol-
lowed her through her struggles in
SHAM" and who have otherwise been
entertained by her in countless ways dur
ing her brilliant career on the American
stage, are glad to note that experience
only adds a richer color to her humor
mere human warmth to her capacity for
fun, and that her genius is coming TO its
fullest expression in most kindly element
Miss Crosman more than deserves the
thanks OF ALL for in her philosophy OF fun
, she is giving a weary world what It most
needs. occasion for rational laughter with
just modicum OF common sense thought
MIR Novel; is a newcomer to Omaha, but
he shows himself to be well chosen for his
work; he Is gifted with an excellent sense
OF perspective, and his acting is a splendid
foil for the star. Miss Wheeler is a young
woman who viii be heard from, II her
present effort is to be taken as a measure
OF her capacity Mr. Brown and Miss Hol-
combe share with the others in the praise
due for a splendid performance.