1
THE O rATIA DATLT BEE : STXDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. 1899. 15
| AMUSEMENTS. f !
Th largo electric sign * , -which blazed
forth In all their brlshtnens over the entrances - |
trances of each of Omaha's thrcs leading
theaters nightly last week , announced the
fact that a new theatrical season was born.
The opening of Boyd'a nnd the Orpheum j
did not create the Intercut or enthusiasm
that their managers had confidently ex
pected ; on the contrary , both theaters
opened to comparatively small and undemon
strative audiences. In fact , the attendance
at all of the different Indoor amusement resorts -
sorts durtnz the first half of the week was
unusually 'lent , nnd rather discouraging to
managerial hopes. However. Thursday. Frl-
day nnd Satruday. with the change In
weather came an Increase In attendance , anil
now that the Indications are for continued
cool weather when theatergoers can sit
through a performance with comfort , there
la no reason why the playhouses should not
bo filled nightly , especially as there Is not
the least complaint to be raised against the
merits of the attractions.
The Iloyd offered two funny farces ,
"Drown'a In Town" and an up-to-date ver-
slon of "Natural Gas , " both being presented
by capable companies. The Orphcum's
vaudeville bill , while not as eood as was
expected for the opening , was one which
averaged well throughout , and It Is a qucs-
tlon If a bill mndo up of eight good arts Is
not more cnjoynble than one comprising ono
or two extraordinary features , with the balI
nnce almost Intolerable. The former can
bo enjoyed throughout , while In the latter
the audience must actually be forced for
an hour or so for a half hour's enjoyment ,
It would seem that In vaudeville entertainj
meat th- former plan would be the better ,
nnd It Is hoped will be adopted by the Or-
phernn management The Trocadcro pre-1
eented another popular opera In the same
praiseworthy manner that has characterized
all of the productions given under Maurice
Hageman's direction. Mr. Hagcman Is one
of the oldest stage directors In the country ,
and has been responsible for -the success of
a number of different leading opera com
panies. Theatergoers are Just commencing
to appreciate the splendid work he Is set
ting out of this well-balanced company.
.There. Is a noticeable contrast In the ln-
tcrior decorations that have been made In the
theaters during
Boyd and Crelghton-Orpheum
ing the summer. The latter has been amost
entirely rc-decoratcd throughout , a complete
lot of new scenery painted and with the ex
ception of the large curtain , which remains
the same as last year , the theater looks as
bright and new Inside as upon the day It
wan first opened. At the Doyd , which has
been sadly In need of a llttlo fresh paint for
Bovoral sea. ns , there haa been practically
nothing done , save that the box seats have
been newly upholstered , the old carpets
cleaned and some new lot of scenery added.
Due credit must be given the management
for the latter , as It Is very rich and beauti
ful , and gives the stage a much brighter
appearance. But for the lack of redecoration
tion In the auditorium , either the owner of
the theater or the management la deserving
of a good brown "roast. " The Boyd was
originally ono of the most beautiful theaters
In the country and there Is no reason why
It should not be so now. A llttlo fresh paint
and some new carpets and drapertea would
work a wonderful transformation and the
first week the theater Is dark during the
season these things should be attended to.
Almost all theater-goers are Interested In
the new plays that are being1 produced now
In New York and especially so where there
Is a probability of their being seen In this
city before the present season closes , or
shortly after the opening of the next one.
Therefore , hereafter The Bee will , through
this department , try to keep Ita readers In
touch with them by publishing extracts from
the criticisms of the beat known eastern
writers on the drama.
Last week there were three new plays
produced In New York "The Qlrl From
Maxlm'o" at the Criterion. "The Last of the
Uohans" at the Academy and "A Young
Wife" at the Fourteenth Street theater. Ths
first-named play Is a French farce In three
sets , being an adaptation of fieorgo Fey-
beau's French comedy "La Dame de Chez
Maxim. " After devoting considerable space
to a minute description of each act , the
Dramatic Mirror says :
"An electrlo chair that renders speechless -
loss and Immovable those that sit In It , If
the current la turned on , and a satire on the
French dueling system also figures In the
play. In fact , M. Feydeau's work In the
original la an exceptionally funny farce ,
and In spite of the mutilation It has received
at the hands of Us unknown adapter , It Is
still amusing. M. Feydeau wrltca for the
French stage , on which an Infinite , though
In no wise a commendable , degree of broadness -
ness Is permitted. So the unknown adapter.
In preparing the farce for presentation In
English , undertook to deodorize th work
nnd made a good Job of It. The toning-
down process robbed the force of much of
Us humor , and of but llttlo of Its vulgarity ,
the substitutes for some of the original lines
nnd situations being hypocritically and
transparently silly. Maybe the adapter ex
pected his audience to swallow the state
ment that M. Petypont. In escorting
Praline from Maxim's , Intended merely to
leave nor at a hotel and continue his Jour
ney home , but It Is doubtful If any one will.
Equally absurd was the concession to the
proprieties by which Praline emerged from
the bed , In which she had been Bleeping for
several hours , fully attired except for her
skirt and waist. It would appear that the
young woman was wont to retire with her
shoes and stockings on , not to .mention
other artlclea of feminine apparel , and
with her coiffure In perfect order. What
tha adapter might have well eliminated ,
the episode of a priest taking part In the
hilarities of the second act , which la , to say
the least , In very bad taste , he left In , de
voting himself to stocking the play with
American slang for the Insertion of which
there Is no excuse whatever. "
Of the people In the cast there Is only
one that Is well known to local theater
goers , and thU Is Alfred Kloln , who plays
the part of the duke.
In "Tho Last of the notions" Andrew
Mack Is the bright particular star , and of
the play and his work The Mirror says :
"Tho program aulto properly describes the
play as an 'Irish Irish drama , ' and it Is a
fair specimen of such. The characters ami
situations are all very , very old and the
comedy business la amusing only now and
then. The frequent vagueness of lines that
bear upon the story and the general inco-
horcncy of a highly Improbable plot are
the worst defects , but Mr. Mack's peculiar
clientele will not bo worried by lliwu de
tails.
"Mr. Mack , In tha principal role , proved
again that he Is the man worthy actor In
hU especial line on the stage. He plays
with considerable skill , has a graceful ap
preciation of light comedy requisites , and
poasassej a plculng projence. Moreover ,
he has a gcod voioo and Elnga with more
than common ability and tunefulness. He
had four new songs , and his exit after one
In the second act was so pretty and modoJt
as to win Instant recognition. His first
bong was sung on horseback , the horse be
ing trained to mark time In true military
style. "
"A Young Wife , " Is a meo.irama ! In four
acts by J. 1C , Tlllotson. Its cast Included
no ono that Is especially well known here.
The Mirror epeaks of it as follows :
"Ten years ago a similar assemblage taw
the first New York presentation of the play
at Nlbio's. It then bore the non-committal I
title , "Two Lives , " and even In those mclo-
drama'lj days It was reckoned a blood-
rurdler , So much of a blood-curdler It was ,
iadecd , that \\hta , a few months ago , Mr.
Tlllotson determined to revive It , be erased
the words 'Two Lives' and nit down In their
stead the more lurid title 'Dens and Palaces. '
This name , for some reason , ws soon aban- i
I doned and the domestic title 'A Young Wife , ' I
wsis finally chosen. The play Itself , how-
j ever , remained practically unchanged
j through these various tampering with Ita
title , and with the exception of an altered
'
line here and there , and the Introduction of
a song , the performance on Thursday was
i an exact counterpart of the performance
j glvrn a decade ago. ;
] I "The two lives that figure most proml-
j ncnlly In the drama are those of Hubert
' Douglas , the scalawag son of Judson Doug
lass , and Ethel Douglass , the heroine , wife' '
of the old man's adopted son. On the teeter ,
board of time Hubert sinks from the exalted
, social position that Is his by right of birth
to the level of a crowd of Baxter street
thieves , with whom he finally makes his
homo. 'Ethel , meanwhile. Is lifted from that
I Identical den of thieves to the Fifth avenue
I palace of Hubert's father. j
j "In the first act Hubert robs the palace'
safe , kills hU own father , when discovery
Is Imminent , and Juggles the evidences of his
crime about In such masterly fashion that
r Ethel believes her husband guilty of the
i murder , while the la.s's officers are led to
sunpcct that the charge should properly be
| laid at the door of the joung wife herself.
I John L. Wooclerson , as Judson Douglass ,
I lived and died quite arlstlcnlly. I
j "With thl sadly tangled situation to open
j up , the characters have all the work they
! i can manage , struggle they ever so Indua-
j trlously. to bring about a happy ending In
| the OnaT act. The plot Is worked out with
I a cool disregard for probability unusual even '
[ among the mcnt sensational mclodramatlsts. ,
Ethel , believing that her husband Is a mur- '
derer. Is filled with Joy when she finds that j
he does not suspect her of having committed
t the same crime ! Dobbins , a country bumpkin - '
, kin , who Is represented as little better than ,
an Idiot In the first act. becomes almost a' '
Hawkshaw In the second , and succeeds In' '
winning the hand of the aristocratic Ingenue
In the third. At the conclusion of the sectnd j
act a oong Is sung by Dobbins that absolutely
ruins the value of what otherwise might be
an excellent dramatic climax. The song
Iteelf Is not bad , and It was not badly done
by any means , but the Idea that Dobb n ?
should know Just such dn up-to-date ballad
Is too ridiculous by half. In the last act
the villain and the heroine have a most noisy
ecene , which. Is not overheard by the hus
band , although his own voice can easily be
heard through the door , behind which he
stands. It Is not explained , cither , that he
Is hard of hearing. Ethel Is not arrested for
the murder , though In any city out of stage-
land she would have been taken Into custody
precisely fifteen mlnutea after the opening
, of the third act.
"There was a similar disregard for anything -
| thing like accuracy In the dressing of the
play. The settings for three of the acts were
appropriate. The thieves' den was pictur
esque , and well arranged for the action that
took place therein , but , like the costumes
of the residents. It was unlike anything to
bo found this side of Whltechapel. "
There have been several changes In the
personnel of the Trocadero Stock Opera
company during the last week. Harry
Davlcs , who haa been the leading tenor since
the company opened hero early In August ,
returns to Chicago to rejoin the Castle
Square Opera company , and -will be replaced
here by Jay C. Taylor , who has been leading
tenor for the Carleton , Castle Square and
other well known operatic organizations.
Mr. Taylor opens his Omaha engagement to-
nlcht.
During Mr. Davles * stay In Omaha be made
many friends and admirers by hU clever
work , and deeplte the fact that Mr. Taylor
comes with a reputation as a singer as good
as that of Mr. Davles , If not better , the
latter's friends regret his departure.
William RIley Hatch , who has been the
company's leading baritone since It opened ,
leaves to Join the Woodward company In
Kansas City. During his engagement In
Omaha , Mr. Hatch demonstrated that ho Is
a moat clever actor. His place with the
Trocadero company will be filled by O. Byron
Brown , a baritone of fine reputation.
Coniliiic Event * .
Elwyn Barren , considered by those who
know aa the moat capable and conservative
dramatic critic and author In America , re
cently paid the following high tribute to
Miss St. George Huesey. who Is this season
starring In the three-act comedy "Mrs.
B. O'Shaughnessey ( Washlady ) : "
"Mlsa St. George Hussey la well remem
bered hero with Hoyt's other productions
for her Irish character work. She has a
voice as clear and penetrating as a cornet
and a brogue as rich as cream. Her spe
cialty kept the house In such an uproar
that It was with difficulty she left the
etage. "
Words of praise from such high authority
bear great weight , and that Mlfa Hussey
it deserving of everything good that can fa
said of her Is recognized by her legion of
admirers throughout the United States.
The comedy which she brings to Boyd's
theater for a week's run commencing with a
matlneo performance this afternoon , Is
written by Miss Edith Ellis Baker and. It Is
said. telU in an Interesting and highly
amusing manner the trials and troubles of
a worthy Irish washlady , with three daughters -
tors , earning a living by hard , honest work
and who suddenly comes Into possession of
$100,000 by the death of a relative. She loses
this fortune , recovers It through the efforts
of ono of her daughters , and all ends as It
should In every well regulated play. The
change In Mrs. O'Shaugbnessey's fortunes ,
It la said , present many ludicrous situations
and with the numerous songs and special-
ties Introduced through the performance , a
lively , up-to-date comedy IK promised. Of
Miss HuEsey'a work In the character of the
Irish washlady tbo following Is eald in a
Utlca ( N. Y. ) paper : "There is only one
Mrs. O'Sbaughnesaey nnd that is Miss St.
George HuKsey , who was In the cast last
night. It Is hard to conceive of the part be
ing played artistically , jet Miss Hussey's
performance Is as genuinely an artistic piece
of work as has been seen In Utlca for a long
time. She was. enthusiastically encored
time and time again , and lier mock tirades
at the audience were irresistibly funny. "
It his been more than five years Elnco
Omaha theater-goers have had , an oppor
tunity of listening to Balfe'a Immortal lyric
opera. "The Bohemian Girl , " and for this
rcasou the announcement that tbo Trocadcro
Opera company will offer It for Its bill dur
ing the week cpcnlns with tonight's per
formance Is u welcome one. The well known
and deservedly popular opera Is one of the
oldest In the modern 'repertoire , having first
been produced more , than half a century ago.
It has stcod the test of time remarkably
j well and with its Increasing age loses little ,
If any , of ltd popularity. Its music Is bril
liant and original and there are few , If any.
songs that ever attained nrcatcr popularity
than "I Dream : I Dwelt In Marble Haiti , "
"Tho Heart Boned Down" or "Then You'll
Remember Me. " which are the leading coins
In the opera. They are to be found In nearly
every popular song folio publlzhcd and there
are few. If any , people that can carry a
tune at all that are not familiar and able
to hum or sing one of these songs. The
production to be clvcn by the Trocadero
management promises to bo a brilliant one.
New fcenery has been painted , while Theo-
i
dore Lclbeu has designed and manufactured
new costume * especially for this piece , which
are said to be beautiful.
Miss Elolse Mortimer , who Is to elnz the
I role ot Arllne , understudied the lite Emma
Abbott for this same part and ba nung It
In her place on many occasions when Miss j
Abbott WAS too HI or too much fatigued to J
go on the stage. Therefore , Miss Mortimer
may be expected to give a faultless Interpre
tation ot the role. "Tho Bohemian Girl"
was ono of Miss Abbott's favorite operas
and she was teen In It at the old Boyd
theater Just fourteen years ago. The opera
Is likewise one of Miss Mortimer's favor
ites.
There will bo an entire chanee of bill at
the Crelghton-Orpheum matinee today , which
Is ' the beginning of the second week of the
fall and winter season. The renowned char
acter actor , Mr. Henry Lee , heads the list
ot Attractions. He will be seen In his
famous Impersonations of eminent men. In
these Impersonations he makes a complete
change from head to foot for each char
acter represented. His work Is Bald to be
exceedingly clever and entitles him to the
rank of premier In the imitative art. (
What Is announced as another very strong
card Is Idalene Cctton and Nick Long In a
bright and witty sketch called "Managerial
Troubles " Miss Cotton made quite a repu
tation ns the Trench maid In "Miss Franclo
of Yale" some two years ago. Her clever
work In thit part attracted a great deal of
attention , but from what critics have said
of her since she went Into vaudeville the
role of the French maid did not give nny
Idea of the extent of her talents. The Im
personations ' she gives of various well known
persons and typea of character arc said to bo
alt ' true to nature and very Interesting. Miss
Cotton will appear as Zaza In the fourth act
of Mrs. Leslie Carter's great New York suc
cess , by permission of the author , David
Belasco In this act she will give n faithful
portrayal of Mrs. Carter In the Impassioned
scene where Zaza tells her lover that she
,
has told his wife everything concerning their
relations. The European celebrities , Les
Browns , the only mala and female monopede
oqulllbrlrts , now ranklnc their first American
tour , will show what two one-legged persons
can do In the way of novel entertainment.
The character singing comedienne , Elizabeth
Murray , she of the excruciatingly funny
"coon" walk , cornea direct from the Empire
theater , London. Dave Meier , champion
athlete , will give an exhibition Illustrating
the art of punching the bag , a very Import
ant branch of physical culture. Aldcn and
Hill , comedians , will give their popular rag
time pastimes , and Tina , the child wonder ,
will appear In songs and dances.
I'lnyn nnd Plnyem.
E. S. Wlllard Is at AIx-les-Balns. His
health , It Is said. Is almost restored.
Annlo Russell's new play Is by Jerome
K. Jerome. H la a comedy called "Mlsa
Hobbs. "
Tim Murphy haa forsaken the legitimate
and is now playing the vaudeville houses
of Chicago.
It Is reported that Clay Clement has de
cided to play an Australian engagement In
the near future.
"Tho Weather Hen , " a recent English
comedy , has been secured for production
by William Brady.
"In Old Kentucky , " now In Its seventh
year , has paid Its author , C. T. Dazey , over
$90,000 In royalties. .
Do Wolf Hopper Is going to produce a
new operetta In February , 1900. It Is en
titled "General Gamma. "
Report has It that Do Wolf Hopper Is mar
ried again , his bride. No. 3 , being Nella Ber.
gen , the prlma donna of his company.
Stuart Robson will give the Initial per
formance of his new play. "The Gadfly , "
in Providence , U. I. , tomorrow evening.
Richard Mansfield will open his season In
New York with "Cyrano de Bergerac. " He
has a new play , which he la keeping secret
at present.
Three negro women entered suit last week
against a Chicago theater to recover $1,500
for alleged refusal to allow them to occupy
duly purchased seats.
Lily Grundy. daughter of Sydney Qrundy ,
made her first appearance In "The Degene
rates , " which her father wrote for Mrs.
Langtry's return to the stage.
Fannie Rice's new play , "The King's
Player , " or "A Page from the Life of Nell
Gwyn , ' Is from the pen of Montgomery Phis-
ter , the well known dramatic editor.
"Shenandoah" this season has twelve ar
tillerymen who served with Shatter's army
at Santiago , and they give an artillery drill
with a couple of big guns In the play.
It Is reported that Pauline Hall will sing
next year In "Ermlnle , " with as many of
the original American performers as It Is
possible to engage. Delia Fox may be the
Javotte.
"The Greek Slave , " a comic opera that
has been running until recently at Daly's
theater , In London , with Marie Tempest In
the principal part , may be seen with that str
In I Amerka this season.
Clssle Loftus , whew remarriage In De
cember Is announced at Chicago , Is to p- '
pear In New York In "The Whirligig. "
Would not "Divorce , " or Dlvorcons , " be an
oven more suggestive medium ?
George It. Broad hurst ho * cabled , from
London that his play , "The Last Chapter , "
was successfully produced at the Strand
theater. Ho has Improved upon It consid
erably since Ita production and failure In ,
America. |
The Chicago conservatory opens Ita fall I
term tomorrcrw The most recent addition I
to the faculty Is Herbert BuMer , the violin
ist , Mr Butler will be remembered by I
Omahans as having been nt one time the 4
leader of Boyd' * theater orchestra and very
prominent In local musical circles. '
E. H. Sothern announces that he will i
play Hamlet In New York In the sprln * .
Julia Arthur also promises to try a produc-1
tlon of Hamlet. She ays that Sir Henry
.Irving once suggested she should try the
role. "Hamlet" wilt doubtless be as much
In vogue In the east this year as "Romeo
and Juliet" was last.
Matinee Today. Tonight 8:15 :
Omaha's Society Vaudeville Theatre 'Week commencing Sunday Mati
nee , Sept. 10. An Unparalleled Hill of Vaudeville Artists.
Les The World's Renowned Character Aldeo and
Actor
Brown's ' . Hsnry Lee
Wonderful Popular
Monoped In His Famous Impersonation of Rng Tlmo
Acrobats. Emlnont Man. Comedians.
MATINEE TODAY. TONIGHT AT 8:16 :
I Idalene Specially Engaged Nick Dave
Meier
Greatest Singer of nil
Champion
In Managerial Troublos-Soo Miss
of Cotton Impersonate Leslie Punching Bng
Coon Songs. Carter as ZAZA. performers.
Prices Never Changing TINA Prices Never Changing
Matinee Today Evening Prices
Queen of
Any seat 25c. Reserved Scats 2oc nnd 50o
Children 10s. Calory lOc. all Child Artists. Gallery lOc.
Tel.
ONE Comencing Matinees
SOLID Matinco Wednesday
WEEK & Saturday
Popular Prices 25o and ofic
-THE ONLY AND THE ORIGINAL-
Is the funniest Irish woman In the
profession- SSST
Is It that has all the wealth and ,
no big head
can keep her audience laughing
from start to finish
has the strongest Irish comedy on
the road-
made a hit aa Mrs. O'Flannlgan In
Ole Olson
Now Starring In
MRS. O'SHAUCHNESSEY
Wash Lady
Surrounded by a strong company of artists , pretty glrfs and capable come
dians. Two hours and a half of laughter and applause at a comedy with a
funny plot , catchy and up-to-date singing and dancing.
Evening prices 15c , 25c , 35c. 50c and Too
W. W. COLE , TROCADERO Telephone ,
Mgr. 2100
Week Commencing SUNDAY EVENING , SEPT. IO.
laVcnInK Performance * 8:1C. Matlnccn AVcd. nnd Saturday at 2i30.
The Trocadero Opera Co.
Will present Bait's Immortal lyric opera ,
THE BOHEMIAN GIRL
New Scenery mpeclnllj- for the production Hlnhnrnte Continue * ,
Haiidnome nnd Shnpely Chorim , Ilrllllant Finnic and Everything ; that
CJocn to Make n Plcnnlnif production.
Prlcea Always Alike 50c , 35c , 2oc Next Week. "The Chimes of Normandy.
OX HIE MIDWAY.
Hagenback's
Trained
Animal
Show
Still In the Front.
llnni Jr. , the rrontlerfnl OrnnK-
nittu 111 : , In crenUiiR theenni \ -
tlonx one- the Mliltrnr. Tlioniiniutn
n ( pcoiilc linrc Iiccu niunml nt
thin > crltnljlc nil nliin link.
Don't ( nil ( o nee him.
THE. . .
ARTIST'S STUDIO
The Art Feature of tlio
Exposition. . . . .
West Midway.
loconto for two
round trips.
SCENIC
. . . .
The Great NaraJ Battle RAILWAY
In the Tunnel.
BERRY GO ROUND
ON WEST MIDWAY.
Attractive and amusing entertainment
delightful resting place ( or ladfe *
and children. Admission to bulldlnc
free. W. H. DOLAN. Manager.
Tbe newest , most scientific and Interiit-
entertainment on Midway ,
CAPT. l.OUIS SOHCIIO'S
MSI mat
PHILIPPINE VILLAGE
Th * greatest Feature of the Exposition
Portrayini the Life , Habits and
Customs of our New Possessions.
( he Real Thing Endorsed by th * Clergy.
Aa Educational and Entertaining Attraction.
Don't At the Water Carnlval
Fail | The champion high bridge
i _ O/ * 'JlllllPcr ' will perform the hril-
to dec "ne ta1 of divine from a
toner 95 feet high on th
it !
West Midway.
Morand's ' Dancing School ,
Crcightoii Hull.
reopen fur children Saturdny ,
September IlOth. IlcRlnnern 1O n. ra.
udvniiec , - nnd 4 p. lit. A lnlt Tues
day , Septemlier SOtli , 8 p. in. Opening
Annemlillo * . AVcdnemlny , Sept.Otll ,
8 p. ni."c. .
IIOTCLS.
THE MiLLARD
13th nnd Douglas Sts. . Omaha.
-AMUHICA-V AM ) KI'HOPEAN FliAH-
CENTKAl.uy LOCATED.
j. R. HAiiKLL. .e 3O.Y. Prapi
20TH AND PAUL STS
OMAHA , NEOHUY ,
= 0
1235 . . , = = 35 . crgw ; = '
. .JTB rsS
kK
i S5S * = : * .S3- > * '
I ; i r1 3
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ojssgp =
Kr = a2 " * * &
2 2.3 22 a - 1 3 a
cLS-sSgo-- n
s = -SoT ! j n - ao
The Greatest Monday o
Musical Spectacle Night
Sept. 11. " 9
_ _
" '
* n M
in Existence a ° | ilaWi ?
iips fjfi $ & * rn
3qra3S-ft2 * § . MM- 3
Arranged by "fi ? ? = # § C § X
, * , * ° ' * * . * *
| Kelly and Bellstedt ,3 - 3 " K4
i Musical Conductor
I Director Uollstedt
'
, Greater Concert
America Band. lliil
.
< Exposition. 1 = 3 030
I
j
At
the
Grand
Plaza
Exposition
Grounds
Spanish Dances , United States Soldiers , Veterans and Cadets , 9 S g. SJ. 33
Indian Braves , Bands , Drum Corp , Fire Works.
n
