Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-15
AT THE
|THEAT Frs

] preston that may have been
- formed from reading the ad-
vance announcements, imagine that
"Jasques Duval" is a discussion OF
therapeutics or pharmacology.
"Materia Medica" has mo part i'll
the play further than the spectacle
is presented of doctor going ahead
to cure patient in full knowledge
of the fact that his wife is infatu-
ated with the sick man. To this
extent the ethics of the profession
enter, and these play a considerable
part in the development of the
theme, which is finally the deep
searching of the soul by process
compared to which the diagnostic
inquisition of the practitioner is
mere play. The springs on which
human lives turn, higher than the
things of science, never found IN
test tubes or alernbic, in retort or
vial, these are laid bare, are
stretched to the utmost tension, and
then rebound to their normal, in
evitable operation. It is the love
of man for woman, and that love
wholly reciporated, that animates
and dominates the drama, and in
none easily recalled does this fact
stand forth more prominently or
get greater emphasis than in
Jacques Duval," 1t is a peculiarly
pervasive fact, and to it finally all
things else in the play are sub
jugated.
Mr.. Arliss gave us a splendid bit
of acting when last here, in his
Installation of Benjamin Disraeli:
Omaha was deprived of the joy of
seeing him in the role of Alexander
Hamilton, because of the closing
of the theaters on account OF the
epidemic in 1918. For these reasons
anticipation was high, and the pleas
ure felt in being able to record sat
isfaction may only be lightly ex-
pressed. This man is something
more than an actor: he is an artist,
who creates as truly as sculptor
or a painter, who feels and ex-
presses lofty imaginings as poet
or musician, ard who sets his
art before his audience simply as
only those who have attained great
ness can do. 1t is impossible. that
an actor can divest himself en-
'tirely of his personality, and ac-
ouaintance makes it easy to trace
the connection from one character.
to another. But these vestiges OF
the individual serve to enhance
rather than diminish the creative
effort. Therefore. if an infect or
tone Of the voice, a gesture or a
movement Of tn beody, may recall
one of his former endeavors, the
fact should be ascribed to the pow
err with which George Arliss has
impressed his characteristics on the
memory, rather than to paucity OF
his genius for doing things.
He has some big moments in
"Iacuues Duval." among them those
where he determines to sacrifice
himself. his honor and his wife's
good name, that. his discovery may
live. But he is little short of sub
lime in the last act, where he de,
termines to tell the exact truth, and
preserve his integrity and his work
il possible from hostile jury OF
Jealous copractitioners. Three scenes
with his wife, one of cold disdain,
another of earnest demand. and a
third of sincere devotion, finely set
off more strenuous episodes of the
drama.
Carl Anthony, we'll known to
MANY Omahans, finely enacts the
part of a doctor who secretly at
first and hnallv openly opposes and
seeks to ruin Duval. Manart kippen
convincingly plays the lover. sort
of male Camille. and the jury OF
doctors in the last act is also not
able contribution.
On three of the women falls an
undue proportion of the making OF
the realism necessary for the force
Of the drama. Elizabeth Risdon as
the wife, rises to its requirement.; al
the close, her attitude in the earlier
moments appearing to be one OF ct.
fort at self-justifcation instead OF
the actual quest for the happiness
she sought. Her perplexity is. un-
derstood rather than expressed.
Mrs. Arliss as the mother, shows a
fine type Of womanhood, sympathe-
tic. understanding, and staunch. a
careful adviser and a guide worthy
to be followed. Fernando Eliscu,
we'll recalled for delightful work in
other plays. gives splendid por-
trait of woman who can love with
out. hope, whose happiness lies in
helping and whose devotion knows
no limit.
The warmth Of greeting given the
play at the Brandeis last night must
have convinced the company that
its efforts were appreciated. People
who hold the theater in reverence
| will not overlook the presence of