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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1917)
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: OCTOBER 21. 1917. 9 B Camouflage Smothering a Play in Scenery Spoils It for Story or Spectacle and Defeats Author's Plan O 1 aVERDOING a thine is som times worse than underdo ing it. and that, in the main, is what ails "The Flame" it is overdone. In his effort to orovide harWirroiinH fr Tully smothered his story in a maze of scenery, and the dramatic jnoments of the play are completely over shadowed by stage settings. His tendency to this is noted in his other plays, as in "Omar, the Tentmaker." where a bit less of realism would have given his actors much better oppor tunity. In "The Bird of Paradise" the same fault appears, and constantly the effect of the speech of the actor is diminished, because the auditor has to divide time with the spectator, and something 'of both is lost. "The art that conceals artifice" is no part of his scheme for the present, although it may be he will temper both his pen and his brush, and yet give the world some product of his talent that is worth while. Some extrinsic value may have at tached to "The Fiame." whi1 vet it was new, for it does have a direct ref erence to a national experience of po litical significance. That it shows the dangers that come with a "peace at any price policy" is true enough, but that policy has been abandoned by our government, and along with it must go all arguments against it. This leaves no tithe of interest to .this play, save that of its stage settings, for the love story it unfolds is not novel, is not vital to the plot, and calls for the introduction of some rather inde fensible expedients. In order to keep the whole moving, smoothness has to be sacrificed to speed, and the result is jerky and impressions established are indistinct, all of this ascribable to the fact that the scenery is always in the way of the tory. A corking good "movie" has here been spoiled to make a drama of comparatively little service. In direct and marked contrast to the Tully play was the Bartley Camp bell piece that preceded it at the Boyd. "The White Slave" was in its day looked upon as a decidedly advanced exponent of the new realism, just be ginning to crowd upon the stage. Actors had been accustomed to de pend upon their own efforts to claim and hold attention, with little or no reliance on the scenery. Indeed, limi tation of the stage was such that most plays were offered with a minimum scenic embellishment. Bartley Camp bell offered quite an innovation in his steamboat cabin scene, with the ex plosion and he escape down the riyer to the island. This has not been greatly improved on since, although some very pretentious shipwrecks have taken place at the theater of recent years. But the point is that in the Campbell play the story dom inates the action ail the time, and no where is it interfered with by efforts to give phonographic reproduction to surroundings. How little a real actor need depend upon scenery was well proved here by Johnston Forbes-Robertson, who gave rme of the most satisfying and au thoritative presentations of "Hamlet" known to the history of the theater, and did it with a single, simple stage dressing. He created to some degree the illusion of change by altering the position of the few pieces of furniture used, and by variation of the lights, and that was all. He did not let his audience take its mind off the play long enough tu think how the stage was dressed. Other actors who have played the role have encumbered the stage with such piles of settings that its presence all but overwhelmed the drama, so tha' poor Hamlet's mad ness might have been due to causes r her than the family affairs of the Jgning house of Denmark. But scenery has its uses, and often it has served to carry over to success a pro duction that never could have lived on its dramatic resources, while a proper balance between action and setting is always a delight to the beholder. "A Little Girl in a Big City," is to be presented at the Boyd for four Jays, beginning matinee, tocLy, with matinees also Tuesday and VVednes day. It shows methods employed by vulares of society in drawing inno cent , and unsuspecting young girls into their nets, and is a forceful ar raignment of the evil, related in such a manner that it will leave no un pleasant taste in the mind of any man, woman or child. Old King Cole may have been a merry old soul, but he didn't have a thing on old Josh Whitcomb in his happy moods. This is the motive of the greatest American play that has ever been written, "The Old Home stead." This drama will be shown at the Boyd theater for one entire week, beginning next Thursday, Oc tober 25. Uncle Joshua, as presented by Ferdinand Munier, who has been playing the part for the last ten years, is one of the most lovable characters to be found in fiction. He is just the type of a man you would like to have for a neighbor, while Aunt Ma tilda is a fine "fellow," too. They are living happily on the old homestead, when Reuben takes a notion to go to the city to make his fortune His father is a little bit afraid, but Reuben goes. He finds New York was a pretty wise place even before he arrived to tell it a few things. By the time his father goes down and rescues him, Reuben had learned so much that he did not know anything. "She cannot sing the old songs" but she did once, when they were popular and made so by her. Blanche Ring, star of "What Next." Oliver Morosco's successor to "So Long Letty," has made so many songs famous it would take pages to write about them. Such songs as "Be delia," "Tipperarv," "Belle of Avenue A." "Good Old Summer Time," "Rings On Her Fingers," '.'I'd Leave My. Happy Home For You," "Dublin Bay," and many others, are never mentioned, played or sung, but what visions of stunning Blanche Ring ap near. In Morosco's new success, "What Next," which Omaha is to be favored with at the Boyd theater beginning Thursday, November 1. Blanche Ring has several new sen sational songs that are said to be even more popular than any of the bunch she has sung in the last ten years. In "What Next," Miss Ring oAV f$f . " c If ifT yov'? Iboyds) ?erdtnatt3 OTamet in "TAe OM Homestead " sings "Cleopatra," "Keep Your Eye On Mary Brown" and "Get a Girl to Lead the Army," and hist! in the last number Miss Ring appears in tights with a flock of soldiers follow ing her around the stage. The music and lyrics are by Harry Tierney and Al Bryan. Its all-star cast includes, besides Miss Blanche Ring, Edwards and Flanagan, Charles Winninger, Dainty Marie, Eva Fallon, the three Dii-for Brothers, Al Gerrard and a splendid chorus. Two headline at, .actions are to ap pear this week at the Orpheunr the ater. One will be Lew Brice and the Barr Twins, and another will be an elaborate musical act, Dunbar's Miry land Singers. A complete change of pictures of the war panorama, "The Retreat of the Germans at the Battle of Arras," is also scheduled for this week. Each season Mr. Brice changes his act, and also his stage associate or associates. His new partners were formerly stars in the farce comei'v, "me Bridal Night." Ralph Dunbar's Maryland Singers are a quartet of vocalists and a banjoist who have won renown and popularity. For tlie second week of "The Retreat of the Germans at the Battle of Arras," Mar tin Beck will present entirely new pictures and complete changes of scene in that magnificent panorama Of war. The second installment fol lows the first like a serial and lead? on to more desperate fighting and the maddening side of modern war. "Our Family" is a one-act drama in which Jane Courthope will appear in the leading role, as the unselfish mother. She is an actress of distinc tion, remembered for her performance several years ago in the sketch called "Lucky Jim." Henry B. Toomer, with his associate players, wll present a very laughable sketch called I he Headliners," a stage satire written by Aaron Hoffman. The act has the reputation of being extremely amus- ng. Another tun provider, a travesty on comic opera, will be offered by Charles Olcott With songs written especially for her by Herbert Moore, Dorothy Brenner deserves her title as "the lady dainty of songland." These will be the subjects of the Orpheum Travel Weekly's display of motion pictures: Pretty birds and their ways; the harbor of Genoa; pic turesque Isle of Wight. "Little Teggy O'Moore" will be presented by the Brandeis Players all this week, starting Sunday matinee. Peggy comes to this country from Ireland, not well versed in the ways of the world, but she cleverly dis tinguishes between the real and the artificial things in life. Most girls might have felt flattered when Rich mond, the young district attorney proposed marriage, but Peggy said "no." And there is a play within the play, one dealing with the inside manipulation of politics. Every audi ence which sees "Little Peggy O'Moore" follows the developments in the plot against Mayor Murphy, his uselfish fight to straighten out the affairs of the Webster National Bank, his efforts to quiet a mob that is in tent on destruction, and when Mayor Murphy comes out triumphant every one is glad and is just as happy as Peggy, herself, who has known all along that Dan Murphy would win. On next Wednesday, October 24, the Brandeis theater will give a Liberty bond matinee at 2:30 p. m., where every one attending the matinee will be given a sealed envelope. One of them will contain an order for a $50 Liberty bond. Carlos Oesaro and company present the feature offering of the Empress theater bill for tour days starting today. Caesaro has been called the human gyroscope, because he places a metal helmet upon his head and then supports a revolving machine on which his partner is whirl ed at over 300 revolutions a minute. Pnul Fetching and company, a musi cian and beautiful young woman, offer an act called "The Garden of Flow ers," a musical and artistic represen tation of Alsatian life nad character. All the musical numbers are rendered by instruments concealed in garden flowers and agricultural implement. For those patrons of the Empress who like light comedy the act pre sented by Clinton and Rooney will be a treat. Rucker and Wir.fred, colored comedians, complete the bill with an act consisting of singing and talking, with a smattcr of dancing. Jean Bedini and Puss-Puss are on hand for their annual season's en gagement at the Gayety this week. This year in presenting "Puss-Puss" Mr. Bedini is giving a show that is new except the title. The burlettas are worked out in a manner that in termingles music, comedy funny sit uations in a maze of thorough enter tainment. The cast includes a number of faces new to burlesque, drafted men from musical comedy and vaude ville ranks. Headlining the roster there are Clark and McCullough, tramp comedians; Bob. Harmon, eccentric comedian; Syd. Malcolm, "Dixie's Sweetest Singer;" George Brooks, character entertainer; Bob Murphy, who sings to beat tlie band; Helen Lorayne, prima donna; Ella Golden and Marje Sabbott. soubrettes; Be dini, himself, and the "Puss-Puss chorus of 20 beautiful kittens. As a special feature for the current en gagement the Mischka-Pipik troupe and the Five Aerial Dolls have been added to the program. Today's mati nee starts at 3. Beginning tomorrow there will be a ladies' matinee daily. New York Jazz Band Plays at Henshaw Hotel The New York Society Jazz band, Liehowitz. soDrano: Winni Gallie and others, will be on hand at the Henshaw hotel to enter tain with captivating concert and dance music. This cabaret feature is proving very popular, so to avoid dis appointment make your table reser vations early Empress Garden Has New Dancer For Coming Week The Empress Garden management announces engagement for the cur rent week of Miss Claire Virginia Hanna, who will provide polite enter tainment in the nature o! society and classical dancing. It is further an nounced that she will be available to the patrons who desire to "brush up" on their dancing, either on the dance door or private lessons may be ar ranged. Mac Carter, who has been an especial favorite the last week or so in his hilarious act, is being held over and will be seen throughout the week. A theater night is being established for Tuesdays, when therisiting actor folk will hold sway, and it is probable that many impromptu turns will be seen. BOYD Matinees Tuetday and Wedneiday Sunday Matinee, 25c and 50c Evening, 15c to 75c 4 NIGHTS BEGIN N IN -i TODAY THIRD TRIUMPHANT TOUR OF THE SENSATIONAL SUCCESS 25c A UTILE GIRL m A BIG CITY COMING NOVEMBER l -2-3 BLANCHE RING OYD SEVEN DAYS STARTING THURSDAY, OCT. 23 Matinee Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wedneiday. A GRAND REVIVAL in 40 YEARS OLD TODAY OF AMERICA'S OLDEST AND BEST PLAY THE OLD As Played by Denman Thompson HOMESTEAD THE SWANZEY BAND. ' THE FAMOUS QUARTETTE. THE GRACE CHURCH CHOIR. UNCLE JOSH AND HIS OXEN, AND ALL THE GREAT FEATURES ACCENTUATED Pricea -Sunday Mat., 25c, 50c ( Bargain Mat., Tue., Wed., Sat., 25c NIGHTS 25c to SI. OO. I mSSOm EMPRESS GARDEN I UUaJ Evenlnf, 8:25 All Week Mat., Sunday, Wdntday, Saturday The Cleancit and Swettatt Drama Evr Produced on the American Stage Would You Listen? New York Society Jasi Band Featuring Sarah Libowitz, Soprano Winnie Gallie and other Henshaw Hotel Concert and Dane Mutic Captivating, Entertaining Make Table Reiervation Early Adventure! Romance! Comedy! LIBERTY BOND MATINEE WEDNESDAY, OCT. 241 A alcd anvalope for every patron I holding a paid admission ticket. I On of lhm will contain a $50 LIBERTY BOND K. C. Night, Friday, Oct. 26th Mat., 28c, 50c Night, 25-38-S0-78e "THE BEAUTY SPOT Omaha's Largest Restaurant and Amusement Center TABLE D'HOTE SUNDAY DINNER $1.00 HELD OVER BY REQUEST MAC CARTER In Hi Famous CharacUr Act "JOHN BARLEYCORN" Claire Virginia Hanna (F.F.V.) Polite Entertainer With Society and Classic Dances Mis Hanna will be more than plad to teach th now dane te the public, ithar en the dance f'.oor or privately. WEEK DAYS Lunchoon, 38c. Dinner. 80c. ALSO CAFETERIA STYLE Adam' "So Different Jul Bane" $10,000 Pipe Orran DANCING ENTERTAINMENT "Th House of Continuous Music." "OMAHA'S FUN CENTER" Daily Mata., 15-2S-S0 Evening , 2S-S0-7Sc-$l Jean Bedini' 'Piiet.PlieV' Muriea! Pariiian Novlty rUSSTUSS Burlesque i Kitten Chorus of Melodiou Mewers, Bewildering- array of surprises Burlenanlent burlesque ever produc ed. SPECIAL The Aerial Dolls; The Mischlta Plpik Troup ; The five A-K LADIES' 0IMC MATINEE WEEK DAY. I 1 mr i Daily Matinee 2:15 Every Night 8:15 Week Start. Sunday Mat., Oct. 21 MARTIN BECK by special arrangement has secured the exclusive rights to tho British Govern ment's Official War Pictures UNPRECEDENTED EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION IN ADDITION TO THE USUAL SUPREME VAUDEVILLE AND FOR THE SECOND EPISODE STARTING SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 PRESENTS ENTIRELY NEW PICTURES AND COMPLETE CHANGES OF SCENE IN THAT MAGNIFICENT PANORAMA OF WAR, HETIilMT fi II AT TOE. BATTL The second installment follows the first like a serial and leads on to mora desperate fighting and the maddening side of modern war when beaten soldiers turn into fiends of hell. The first episode saw the British landing from their transports, in camp and preparing for the dreadful duel of armies. You saw them go over the top with bayonets and g renades, and you saw the Hun beaten back, sullen and wick ed, his cruel courage dominated by English pluck. in! HE?A illilVll Lew Brice I Ralph Dunbar's and tho BARRjwiNs Maryland Singers "A LITTLE O' THIS Si.,to, stt. s and A LITTLE O' THAT" of ih Si,tie' "OUR FAMILY" "THE HEADLINERS" An incident of overy day life A Stage Satire by with JANE COURTHOPE u Aaron Hoffman, w.th Henry B. Toomer ft Company n 'Tn-M? , DOROTHY BRENNER Of fenng H,s Ong.n.I Travesty D of SoBgUnd "A COMIC OPERA IN IB Exclusive Songs TEN MINUTES" by Herbert Moore ORPHEUM TRAVEL WEEKLY Around the World with the Orpheum Circuit's Motion Picture Photographers. SEE THE IT'S MORE IT HAS THE KICK SECOND SANGUINE OF EXPLODING EPISODE THAN THE FIRST : GUNPOWDER The second week you will see the Hun being shoved back over a road paved with dead. Observe the hellish things the German does to the French people and their possessions. Not even the dead in their graves scape. KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT PICTURES. THAT $300,000 HAS BEEN PAID FOR THE ORPHEUM CIRCUIT RIGHTS. THAT THE FILMS WERE MADE ON THE FIRING LINE. THAT THE PROCEEDS GO TO WAR RELIEF. Extra Attraction MARTIN BECK By special arrangement, has secured the exclusive rights to tha British Government's Official War Pictures And For the Week Starling October 21 PRESENTS THE SECOND EPISODE Entirely New Pictures and Complete Changes of Scene in That Magnificent Panorama of War The Retreat of Tine ernaims AT THE BATTLE OF ARRAS GREATEST FIGHTING PICTURES EVER MADE, ALL THE DARING, DANGER AND DELIRIUM OF WAR NO INCREASE IN PRICES Prices Matinees, Gallery, 10c; Best SeaU (except Saturday and Sunday) 25c. Nights, 10c, 25c, 50 and 75c. IE Mm IE i