Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-07

MRdame \" at the Brandeis.
Madame X" drama In a prologue and
three acts, by Alexander Bison; under
direction OF Henry w Savage, staged
by George Marion. The cast:
Rose, housekeeper for Louis Floriot.....
Dr. chesne his physician. ...a''....,..,,
Louis Fioriot deputy attorney in pro
logue, later president Of the Tou-
1aoans,s Floro;s VITO reoerlcA burt
.............. - Mabel Montgomery
Noel. Fioriot's friend M J. MacJuarrie
Fontaine. Of the Bordeaux police .-........
valmorin, the public prosecutor. -.
An usher Of the assize court. ............;;
Foreman OF the Jury. .............A. lie sage
Laroque, an adventurer.. Warren GLAND
Victor porter at the Three Crowns
llll C1Le ila llu
Perissard .....................C Charles Bunnell
Marie, chambermaid at the Three
Crowns lnn. Pauline kCkhart
Helene. daughter Of the prosecuting at
Raymond FIoriot. Louis Fioriot's son.
80 ....... ,..............N II rank wright
SSIeIk OF court ...'..'''''.''..;J Is Onser
PRESIDENT OF cOurt...............M marx Fenton
Madame * Is a drama OF compelling
force; that is, II wrenches at the epotons
with a never-ceasing tug, reaching its
climax at its very latest moment. Its
story is that Of Madame F'loriot, who left
her husbands home with her lover, after
detection. For two years she was away,
and then returned to beg forgiveness; the
husband assures her their son will live,
and then thrusts her into the street. A
friend comes along and convnces the hus-
band he should have restored the erring
wife to her place at the head Of the house
| hold. They set out to find her, but she
| is swallowed up in mystery. Twenty years
/ later returned to France from South
| America with a iailbird for lover,
| Madame Floriot commits murder to head
| off the blsckmailing OF her son, now grown
| to manhood The son Is named by the
court to defend his mother, and does so
with winning eloquence At her acquittal
he is appraised Of the identity Of the
! woman he has saved punishment, and for
a brief moment they are happy together.
Then. just before the husband and father
| can join the family group. death comes to
release a weary and bruised soul and the
! tale is told. The last curtain descends on
| a sorrowing group drawn around the
woman, who finally felt her sin expiated
and forgiven and who died with her dear
est wish granted,
Argument as to any Of the several phases
OF the question involved will be deferred
The tale is told simply, but directly, and
its force grows sequentially on its cumula-
tive clements incident follows incident ia
natural order, all leading TO the loglca
end. The company having It in hand seems
especially equipped for its proper enact
ment SO much might be said in praise
of any, and so little in criticism, that eX
tensive analysis of the actors efforts will
also be put over.
To Miss Montgomery falls the very diff
cult lot of presenting a woman Of refine
ment and breeding, sunk to the loves
depths of degradation. Difficult, because 1
is too easily overdone, and most who havt
undertaken similar effort have overdon,
1t. But Miss Montgomery keeps herself
well In hand, in acting and In talking, ant
secures her effects with such certainty al
deserves the pains she has put upon tn,
role. 1t would be hard to say in which o
several situations she shows the creates
, strength, but It can be said that all tn
way through she is great.
Mr.. Burt should have an expression o
grateful appreciation Of the taste witt
which he enacts the role of Floriot; he &C
: curately values his points and gives eac
! It's due weight To Mr.. Macouarrie Is du
credit for as fine a bit Of acting has eve
yI been seen III OAhdhht MS ibllb hPtGtl III III
first act, where he pleads with F1oriot 4
the role of friend, for the outcast wife. /
delivered with the utmost OF impressive
ness and conviction, and what might hav
been conceived as a minor role is thereb
lifted to one of first magnitude. Mr.. Oan
is a capital crook" llght-hearted, reck
' less, selfish whelp who struck the woma
he was consorting with while his cynica
smile wreathed his lips and for whose tai
ing off there is no regret. Mr.. Bunnell an
MIR. Timmons contribute two other ex
cellent character studies TO the whole, an
Mr.. Hamlin has bit that is done wit
great care and good effect. Mr.. Wrigh
: is very good I'm the important role of Ray
!, mond. Miss Alberta adds well considere
! character to the whole, and Miss La Sail
q Is the daintiest ingenue who has yet trippe
4, across the Brandeis stage
d To Miss Eckhart falls the task of eN
!. ploding Bisson's moral, but perhaps, sur
" porting his philosophy. She has the rol
OF chambermaid, wife of the porter d
: the hotel where the murder is done
Il Madame X explains to her the misery tina
d comes from deserving husband and chill
n to flee with a lover, and cites her ow
& case as an illustrations tho chambermai
e listens, and the next night fleos with IN
" commercial traveller who smells SO swee
n So much for the moral"