The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, March 17, 1894, Page 13, Image 11
THE COURIER n IS , fr5 The play "Romeo and Juliet' is not in consonance with modern ideas on love and its manifestations, and even when the story is told by genuine artists there is a disin clination on the part of the cynical auditor to regard seriously the more tragic passages. Mr. Frederick Paulding and Miss Maida Cragen who essayed the title roles in this play at Mon day night's production at the Lansing theatre are not either of them very young: but there are several things loth might learn that would be to their advantage. For instance Mr. Paulding might learn that it is not necessary for the gentle Romeo to pause in his love-sickness and make heroic speeches for the bene fit of the gallery gods. Mr. Paulding suffers from the malady that has always afflicted Thomas W. Keene, doing such dire damage to the tympanums of his auditors. He must needs rant a little. Withal he makes a very good Romeo. Mr. Paulding takes his part and the play seriously, and he labors very hard to rise to the measure of the stature of a most impossible role. He shows much intelligence in his interpretation. Long acquaintance with the character of Romeo has given him a certain facility and ioiso that render his perform ance interesting, if not commanding. The last Juliet seen on the Lansing stage was Margaret Mather who, preparatory to becoming Mrs. Pabst, gave almost her farewell shriek and tumble act, in this city. Miss Craigen does not emit blood curdling and heart rending shrieks, and she does not roll down a half a dozen steps and half way across the stage; but she sighs; and the Cragen sigh is entitled to rank beside the Mather shriek. It is all pervading: This actress makes Juliet in the first scenes a very kittenish, childish and noisy young woman, with a strong tendency toward hysterics, and she does not at any time invest the character with the sweet gentleness that we associate with Juliet. But it,.cannot be said that Miss Craigen does not show intelligence in her interpretation, and she labors so strenuously to make the most of the part that it is small wonder she sighs with such frequency ana effect. Her scene with the nurse was exaggerated, and the audience weuld doubtless have been quite as well satisfied if she had been a little more delicate in the last moments of the play when she expires on the dead body of Romeo. Mr. Paulding and Miss Craigen were fairly well supported. Mr. Lachaw's Mereutio, while lacking in some degree the rollicking characteristics of that role was an excellent rendition, re markably strong when it is considered that he had only appeared as Mercutio two or three times previously. He read his lines with much force. Miss Cragen and Mr. Paulding on Tuesday night presented "A Duel of Hearts" in which they were seen in this city two or three weeks ago, This play has strong dramatic possibilities, and it is given with the care that characterizes all the efforts of this com pany. On the whole the performers appear to better advantage in this than in "Romeo and Juliet," albeit we agree with Toby Rex that Miss Cragen's proper sphere is comedy. "The White Squadron" was warmly received in Lincoln a year ago, and it was greeted with vociferous applause from the upper tiers on its return appearance Thursday evening. W. A. Whitecar has succeeded Robert Hilliard in the character of Victor Staunton and the entire company has undergone a change not for the better. Patriotism and all kind of heroics make this play very exciting and the gallery is kept in a constant tremor of excitment. "The White Squadron" is a naval drama, deeply surcharged with melo drama. Hallen & Harts "The Idea" was given to a good house at the Lan sing theater last evening. Frederick Paulding when in Omaha recently, was interviewed on the subject of dramatic criticism. He complained .that the critic too often stays at home and sends the police or horse reporter to the theatre. If Mr. Paulding read the "criticism" of his and Miss Cragen's production of "Romeo and Juliet'' in Tuesday's Journal he must have been convinced that in this instance the critic sent a sub stitute to the entertainment in the person of a fourteon-year-old school girl. After reading that hysterical article one felt the press ing need of a healthy doso of salts. Mr. D. Austin Lachaw. who took tho part otMercutio in Monday night's performance of "Romeo and Juliet," gave a very acceptable characterization of a role that calls for ability of no mean order. No one in the audience certainly had any idea that ho was not a pro fessional actor. Mr. Lachaw is a dramatic critic in Kansas City, and only joined the Craigen-Paulding company for a few days to take the place of an actor who left the organization suddenly. He had, it is said, only appeared twice before, professionally, as Mercutio. ANNOUNCEMENTS. To-Nkiht, Primrose &. West's minstrels at tho Lansing theater. Wednesday, March 21. "The Voodoo" at tho Lansing theater. Thursday, March 22. Lewis Morrison in "Richelieu" at tho Lan sing theater. Friday, March 2'J. Lewis Morrison in "Faust" at tho Lansing theater. Saturday, March 21. J. C. Lewis in "Si Plunkard" at the Lan sing theater. That rollicking musical farce-comedy of Sanger and Bothner's "The Voodoo, or A Lucky Charm" will be given at the Lansing theater next Wednesday evening. The story hinges on voodooism, a superstition prevalent in the southern states. No subject offers bet ter opportunities to tho writer of farcical plays than superstition, and tho author of "The Voodoo" is said to have made the most of them. The dialogue is bright and sparkling, and tho lines are em bellished with scores of pleasing specialties. Messrs. Sanger and Bothner have engaged ono of the best companies obtainable. Tho leading man is Thomas E. Murray, tho droll Irish comedian of Mur ray and Murphy fame. This clover team, it will be remembered, toured the country for seven consecutive seasons in "Our Irish Visi tors"' tc crowded houses. Mr. Murray's methods are unique and his stage personality is inimitable. His support includes tho talented soubrette and actress Ada Bothner, who achieved such a flattering success as Teddy in HoytVA Bunch of Keys;'"Chas. M. McDonald. Helena Coe, Kitty Beck, Kitty Wolfe, T. J. McGrane, Lillian Drew, and a score more of singers and dancers. Edouard Remenyi, the violinist, assisted by Signor de Riva Berni, the Russian pianist, and Minnie D. Methat, soprano, will give a con cert at the Lansing theater Tuesday evening, March 27. Since tho death of Lawrence Barrett and tho more recent demise of the public's idol: Edwin Booth, there seemingly has been no American actor who could fill the void left by our famous tragedians There is a native actor, however, who can and will fill one of the im portant niches, and he is Lewis Morrison. Mr. Morrison's work is widely known throughout the entire country, but he has confined himself in recent years to the portrayal of but ono part, that of the wily llephixto. He has the force, the art, the intelligence and the reputation and there is no reason why he should not be raised on the pedestal which is but waiting for its figure. Within the past year Mr. Morrison attempted the trying role of the testy "Cardinal Richelieu." The triumph was instantaneous, unquestioned. Mr. Morrison will appear as Richelieu at the Lansing theater, Thursday March 22nd. It will be an intellectual treat. Mr. Morrison will present his famous scenic and dramatic version of "Faust" Friday evening. Mr. Morrison's impersonation adheres closely to Goethe's familiar and very interesting story, but his treat ment of the .art is a decided improvement on any that has been seen in opera or drama. Satan, as represented by him is a smooth faced, plausible person, who mixes with mortal mankind with a cheerful abandon that makes the character easy to comprehend; the lines in .Mr. Morrison's version are bright and sparkling and his rendition of them is delightfully sardonic. He is, in short, as en gaging a devil as one could wish to see. The staging of the piece is little short of phenomenal. The scenery and mechanical effects are exceedingly strong. Electricity plays a prominent part in the pro duction. It is eminently spectacular but at the same time notable