THK OMAHA SUNDAY HKK: APRIL 12, 10CH.
Gossip About Plays, Players and Playhouses
M AHA was visited during the
week by three of the most not
able of American actresses;
and, Just to show that they had
no rsperlal pik hrtween the
three, Omaha people neglected
o
il or them. One ia at a long to understand
t I lnJ1lr. . . .
.....iiirjum. uiancne walah came
with what haa been announced the strong
est and moat dramatic play aha hna ever
opted In. a drama of genuine power, and
not without some lx.auty, and aha played
In It as ahe has never before played In
Omaha. Lillian Ruxnell cam In n cute 111-
tlo comedy with melodramatic t!nfr Just
me aort of thing that Bet-ma to be pop
uiar ine.o times, and ahe, too, plnyed
wtu in It. And then Orate Oeorge can
wuii n modern adaptation of a French
comedy that wae laid aside several year
ago, and ahe played In It In the same
manner that delighted thousands In Jxm-
aon and .New York. And neither of theaa
mrro great aitrartlona was enough to lura
Ui Omaha fnlka from their fireside or
""' I-enton devotions or their bridge,
or something that kept Ihcm at home.
Verily, If thla keeps up, the controller
of stage, destinies In thla country will, be
Juatlfled In aendlng nothing but mualcnl
comediea to Omaha. It is for the public
to decide, but the public must not com
plain If good thing are not aent here,
when good thing are allowed to starvo
for want of supporting patronage.
Let us apeak of Blanche Walsh. Thla
charming actresa and more than gracloua
woman has at lust found herself. She 1
no longer merely assuming a character, but
la really living the role she undertake.
When Miss Walsh was being awept Into
fame as the luccussor of Fanny I)avenport
In the Hardou roles, ler warmest admirers
detected, tho false note in' her work. La
Tosca, Fedora, aismnnda all were artificial.
Bhe gave them In artistic fashion, rounding
out with muelj attention to petty detail the
various characters, but never quite fully
realizing tho passion ahe was seeking to
portray. So ahe fell a tittle ahort of great
ness. ; Then rant a :tlme of trying for a
play, "The Hunt for Happiness" was Yin
example of the atuff on which Miss Walsh's
splendid talent was wasted. Katusha
Maslova very nearly touched the mark, but
not quite. It was a terribly realistic char
acterisation pf Tolstoi s great creation that
Mlsa Walsh gave, In "The Resurrection."
and some acclaimed her as having at fast
come to her own.. But not yet. Even In the
prison, where she was at her very acme of
realism, In her sodden recklessness, and
demoralization, .Maslova was merely on
asumptlon. Miss Walsh understood, but did
not feel the part. She fully pitied the
girl In her misfortunes, and ahe portrayed
the part as . she understood It, with the
effect that no one who saw It will ever
forget the picture. But Maslova was no
more of a success than La Tosca. After
Tolstoi came Clyde Fitch, and In "The
Woman In tho Case" and ."The .Straight
Road" this woman of soul and strength
passed two years, Illuminating the surface
emotions of types that might, be portrayed
by the school of acting graduate with equal
conviction. Diamatlo growth In such 'atmos
phere Is Impossible, and she struggled with
herself for patience to hold on until her
opportunity would come. And now sho has
been rewarded.
In Gordin'a heroine, which promisee so
little to the superficial observer, ahe has
found a part that has called Into life the
genius for expression that has slumbered
In her soul for all theaa years. Blanche
Welsh ia now a truly great actress. Bhe
has found ft rola that call, for all . her
strength and she gives it without re
serve. The result Is a revelation to those
who have watched her. She no longer
merely assumes the role, but from the mo
ment she appears In the first act. until the
tremendous climax In the lust moment
of the play, the lives the part. lw per
sonality Is sunk entirely In, that of Hattle
Frledlander, and she gives herself, over
to the mental torturo and soul anguish
of the woman who devotes herself to
the expiation of her mistake, until, driven
mad by the heartless selfishness of hus-r-end
and sister, he slays her tormentors.
Her temperamental qualifications are Ideal
for tho part. Naturally reserved, she Is
of an ardent nature, quick and Impulsive
In her ways, and gracloua generosity per
aoi ifled. No woman has ever more en
deared herself lo thoso associated with
her tha.n Blanche Walsh, and yet her
goodness of heart is veiled by a shyness
that Is all but diffidence Itself. Thought
ful and considerate of others at all times
and under till circumstances, ahe asks but
little for Blanche "ValBh, and out of this
has grown the tmnresslon that her
Is due to her coldness and austerity. Such I
natural attrlbutea as hers must llave I
been In Gordln's mind when he drew Hat
tic. At any rate, Misa Walsh comes to tho
part not only with full understanding, but
with a fine predisposition to sympathize
with the woman who endurea all to the
bitter end, not for her own Bake, but for
the sake of her father, whom she loves,
and to whose troubles she would not think
of adding her own unhapplnesa.
Gordln drew his characters boldly and
firmly and then filled In the outlines with
such painstaking fidelity as might bo ex
pected from the miniature painter. Ha
slighted nothing, and. apparently, he for
got nothing, fo(- tho more one reflect
on the drama, the more apparent la Us
completeness. . Its force is direct. It
lofcio Inexorable, and Its consummation is
unavoidable. It Is sombre, because It la
a tragedy, but a tragedy of life. Such
humor aa relieves lu gloom la natural,
at no time forced and never depending
en smart epigram or horse play. The
people who take part in ita action move
naturally, ita event flow sequentially,
and Its currents :1 lead to the one cen
ter. It is really a marvelous study in
a way, and whether It entitles Gordln
to be called the Yiddish Shakespeare, or
whether it doesn't, it does give him the
tight to assume a high place among mod
ern dramatists. He ts fortunate In hav
lng so well qualified a woman um Blanche
Walsh to Introduce him to the American
people. Mrs. Flake waa thought of tor
the part, and Madame Kallch did give one
or two presentations of it In New York,
but It may easily be doubted if either of
these could give to the role the Inspired
Interpretation Mlsa Walah has brought to
Jt. Mra. Flske finds her forte in expres
sion by action, as In "Mary of Magdala."
or "Leah Kleschna." on width her fame
as a constructive actress chiefly rests, and
the same is largely tiua of Bertha Kalich,
although she has made aomethlng of a suc
cess lo "Mart of the Lowlands," a role
that calls for mora of repression than
any other In her range of achievements.
But Blanche Walsh is repression personi
fied. She moves through act after act. and
through scene after aiene, tensely vigorous,
but always holding herself in check, sug
gesting rather than indicating the terrific
train under which rhe Is constantly con
tending with her desire to cry out and end
It all. It is a moat remarkable perform
ance, and seems th more so when we con
trast It with the demonstrative Florla
Toaea or the aoddenly sullen Katusha Mas
lova. But It la the true woman, and it I
Biade impressive to the last degree by the
fUeligr with which ill." WaJdli hold la it
until the very end. At Just; when nature
can bear nn more, when the full tlih; of suf
fering ha risen, and all barrleri of reserve
arc broken down by the Indignation of the
woman In revolt at the Insolence of her sis
ter who has supplanted her with her hus
band, she hursts forth, not In the torrent
of passionate utterance, one might expect,
and which ha been so long traditionally
accepted as the correct methods of express
Ing great emotion, but with the tense lit
torum.e tf desperate determination, and
the climax Is attained with stich effect that
Ilattln Is actually applauded for murder
ing Celia and Gregoire. It Is surely a
triumph that any actress might be proud of,
and It fairly mark the coming of Miss
Walsh Into her own as an actress of
gi'nuine ability. She has found her own
soul.
In the course of a conversation while In
Omaha, Miss Walsh spoke of tlie difficulty
of finding a new play for next season. She
dors not need a new play. Until sho has
made "The Kreutzer Sonata" as familiar
as sho made "La Tosca," she need not look
for another character. And Jacob Oordin
Is again congratulated that he has found
a woman so well qualified by nature and
experience to present his drama of life to
the American public.
Miss Walsh's liealtii is. still the cause of
much worrq to her managers, although she
la putting the best face on tho matter, and
Is earnestly striving to go through the rest
of the season. She Is finishing an unusually
hard tour, with an uncommon number of
ono-nlght stands and trying jumps from
town to town. In the south she encoun
tered at Shreveport a hot wave of such
calorlflo Intensity as to put her entirely
out of condition to play. A few days' rest
seemed to give her back enough strength
to continue her tour, and she undertook the
rest of her trip, which was to last until
Music and Musical Notes
UB articles which appear in this
column ere Intended for tho
laity fully as much as, If not
more,' than for the profession,
and those directly Interested
therein. '
T
Last week I received enough encourage
ment to last, me for a month, when a motor
man of the street railway company told" me,
on a Walnut Hill car, that he was carrying
In his pocket an article df mine which set
forth the wonderful little poem "OpporV
tanUy'' by Walter Malone, and he said, "I
am going to use that poem some day, and
I will tell where I saw It."
"Sometimes we don't always get" the
gentle touch like that, but when It comes
Is is welcome.
And that invites me to pass along another
little, verse which I came across last week.
It Is from the pen of a man whose name la
probably forgotten, but who In his day
was an English Non-conformist clergyman
and author, Important enough to find a
place In our own Webster's dictionary In
the biographical aection. Mr. Flavel lived
from 1UC0 until 1691 and these ringing lines
have brought to us replete with the full
and resonant echoes of more than two
"enturlca:
"Judge In thyself! O Christian, is it meet
To set thine heart on what beasts set tlwlr
feet?
'Tls no hyperbole if thou be told
fpon the fair-faced nothings here below:
You dclvo for dross witli mattocks made of
, gold: '
Affections are too costly to bestow;
Tho cassia acorns to all down from on
high i
The proverb saith to pounce a silly fly:
And can the Chrstlan leave the face of God
10 emnrace tne earth and doat upon a
clod.
One may look for a long while before he
will find the equal of that line of reproof
"Ia It meet to set thine heart, on what
beasts aet their feet?" and the Idea of
1 delving for dross with mattocks made of.
gold" will appeal to the discerning ones
who know that there are riches that the
unlearned, the Ignorant and the so-called
"practical" man do not dream of.
Some months ago when that brilliant and
electric Congressman Bede was In Omaha
I heard him say that people were so full of
thought of money that when a "rich"' man
Is mentioned, it la always a man who has
cornered a lot of money, one way or an
other. He then commented on the absurdity of
this view and said: "Who is rich? 1 will
tell you. The man who enjoyed that music,
which we heard. Is richer than the man
who did not have the capacity to enjoy It
If X2no Jy it mora than I did, thai
" an Is richer than I."
Mr. Bede is a very busy man. but he Is
not too busy to "lay up for himself treas
ures" which are of another nature than real
estate or dividends. '
And speaking of that', reminds me that
this same congressman is credited wfth
the story that some time ago he was speak
ing to some eastern capitalists about the
conditions of the country, and In hia usual
optimistic way he was pointing to the
things which showed prosperity on all
sides, so that In some parts of the coun
try people had . changed the old hymn to
read: "Bring forth the royal 'dividend' and
crown It Lord of all!"
To return to the first thought, men are
digging way for the material .results today,
hard and earnestly, when by stopping to
consider, they would find that they are
merely repeating history, and cannot find
any real Joy in forgetting the "lilcal" in
the mad rufch for "results."
Music ia calling to thern; the great mas
ters are still singing, but to eura that are
filled with wool, and the great authors are
siwaklng to them from their own libraries,
and are standing In front of them "every
day, but they arc nut seen, for the eyes are
dim with gnld-duat.
Much this has to dt with a "music"
column!
Yes, Indeed. For Just a few evenings ago,
three or four musicians were assembled In
social manner at a certain house, no mat
ter whose, but the writer was present, and
the conversation was about investments,
one speaking of hi thoughta on certain
stocks In which he was interested, another
In land purchased In Canada, another hop
ing lo get en. nigh out of his western land
to go lo Europe!
Now don't bo alarmed! These few music
ians are not going lo buy nut the lie trust
Just yet. Th-y liuvu not yet decided to
purchase the Omaha water works from the
city or anything like that.
In fact it la somewhat of a jest th.it
musicians should get enough money to
gether to buy land or shares of stock. But
I know of one fair singer who dropped
her "little bank" Into a coal mine aud left j
It there. She is not investing in coal '
n h e any moie. And I know of musicians
who lost money In banks some yeara ago.
and I know of some who have made nuuey I
In leal estate.
Bo I Ills show that the mtwIcUri Is not
so altogether unpractical as the business
w rid would consider lilm. I know of an
rlit. a choice rare spirit, 'who even went
i far as to buy a church for aa Invest-
the middle of May, anil which would tk
ner imo more iinrilscovrred regions. At
Sioux Oity. the night after she left Omaha
she was again overcome by an attack c
Heart, failure, and the audience was ills
missed. The company went on to Mitchell,
8. V.. where the tiext performance waa t
be given and It waa exnected she
would be suffk'lently recovered to
keep up the work. Miss Walsh has dl
posed of her home on 1ong Island and
purchased a place on liuzzard's Bay, near
Gray Gables. There she exacts to take
a long rest aa soon as her tour la ended
and Messrs. Wugenhals and Kemper, her
managers, say she will not start till late
In September or early In October for next
season.
Only In a different way did Miss George's
triumph differ from that of Miss Walsh.
Aa a comedienne Miss George has had
much the name experience as Mlsa Walsh
has had In her serious work. But In the
Mayo version or the old Sardou comedy
she has come to tho front in a way that
must bo gratifying to her and to all her
admlrjrs. Theso latter have multiplied
most wonderfully slnco Misa George took up
Cyprlenne. Her talent for expression Is ad
mirably adapted to the character of the
Sardou heroine, and In It she fairly .revels,
Bhe was praised In London and, for that
matter, all through England, with a unan
lmlty never before enjoyed by an American
actress, unless It waa Mary Anderson. In
all the chorus not one note of dissent was
heard, and the language was quite ex
haustcd by the critics In their efforts to
describe her and express their admiration
of her. It is a remarkable tribute to her
splendid ability that In America her success
has been quite aa great as In England. It
is also
answer
to
the
oft-
repeated statement that English humor
and American humor differ essen
mcnt, and he is going to make It a model
place, and get revenue out of It some day.
The musicians of today are wise Jn their
generation and they are rot so much oc
cupied In the affairs of artistry but that
they can, see a "bargain."
What do you think of it?
It Is well for us to invest our money
which we save from month to month. It
is well for us to live comfortable and pre
pare for a rainy dfcy, but musicians can be
Just as forgetful of the ideal aa the coldest
business man, or speculator, it they "get
the habit." And then it, Is also a subject
for a musical department, for there are
many business men who have a love for
music and for the arts, and still they
neglect to feed that part of their nature,
and It ts a mistake.
After all, man Is made for growth, and
he is given "gold mattocks" to dig for
golden treasures of the mind and soul,
and not eternally for the "dross" of ore.
You remember the story of the farmer
who wanted more money to buy more
and to ralae more corn, so that he could
sell more hogs, to buy more land, to raise
more corn, to feed snore hogs so that he
could sell them to buy more land to raise
more corn to feed more hogs and ao on.
And what of It?
One of my dearest friends said to mo a
while ago, "You remember that this Is not
an age of the Ideal: nowadays we must get
results." j
And the peculiar part seemed to be the
Intimation that it mattered not bow the
results were obtained.
This remark of my friend's has come to
me many times, and it haa made me sad,
more than once, for he Is worthy of the
highest things. ' -
And then I fame across these words
In a book by Henry Wood, which I have
been reading recently, and these words
are true, for they have been experlencd
and felt, and experience cahnot lie some
say It is the only knowledge!
"The Ideal Is that intangible truth and
reality for which man hungera and thirsts.
He fails to interpret his own restlessness.
He ia delving among lower models, while
he encloses the higher. Disappointment
will cnntlnne until the loftier Is sought
out and awakened. Order is aot found In
things, but must be set up in one's Own
soul."
Another good thought that has been In
circulation recently Is brought to my mind
by seeing It In Mr. Charles French's col
umn, "Major and Minor," In the Chicago
Musical Leader and Concert Goer, which
he very modestly signs A. Non, Thla col
umn affords me much hearty enjoyment,
and It la strange that he should have
quoted this particular sentence, for I had'
recently been much Impressed by It, In a
copy of the delectable "Fra Elbertus, free
lance, the "Philistine." The thought ts
this:
"To escape criticism do nothing, aay
nothing, be nothing." In other worda if
you want to do something, be something,
say something, you will be aa sure ot
criticism aa you are of taxes and death.
Therefore lay this flattering unction to
jour souls if you aro criticised you must
have said something, been something, or
done something.
if you are not criticised, hasten to put
on sackcloth and ashes, and mourn and
grieve with exceeding great grief, for you
are a nonentity, you aro admittedly a per
son who can say nothVg, be nothing, or
do nothing.
Wlii the gentle readers of this column
please note that no church 'notices whatso
ever are printed In thla column. Several
persons sent recently notices of church
music to this department. The music
crltlo ha been careful to send them over
to the proper place, but he cannot alway
do this. AH church notices of every kind
are to be aent to the city editor, who
will turn them over to the man In charge
of the church department. sometime
known as the religious editor. All notices
u this kind are published in the Saturday
Evening Bee. The music critio of The
Bee Is engaged in church work himself
and never prints his own church news in
this column. The Bee wishes to he fair
and Just towards all, and therefore If the
music man. wants his program printed,
he must do Just a any other choirmaster
or music director does.
tin Tuesday evening, April 23, a very
fine military band direct from Sweden will
give a concert at the Auditorium. It is
a crack military organization, under the
auspices of his majesty, King Gustav V
of Swedin. It Is directed by Erik Hoeg-
berg of the court orchestra and will bo of
Interest to all music-lovers. My friend
John Helgren Is local manager, and he
vouches for the excellence of the organi
sation, which, to me, Is a very evident
guarautci of its performance and worth.
THOMAS J. KELLY.
The pupils of Misa Calista Kerr gave a
piano recital at her home. Twenty-first
and Emmet streets, Thursday afternoon,
April 9. The home waa very tastily beau
tified with flower, and the occasion waa
one of pleasure. Miss Kerr haa. quite a
larae class of pupils,
Jllall.V. Thla Is not so. Ilnnrt humnr la
the same In all languages, and when it Is
expressed so Intelligently as It Is by Grace
George and her associates In "nivorcons."
It belongs lo the race and not kt any di
vision thereof. Only one regret may ho
expressed In connection with the engage
ment of this charming young star in
and that Is that not more people
attended the theater during her visit. Bhe
deserves the compliment of packed houses
at each appearance.
Th presiding genius of the "sclcntir Ic"
booking agency in New York, who would
land three such stars aa Blanche Walsh,
Lillian Russell and Grace George in Omaha
In a single week, merits something in tho
way of comment. If those attraction had
been sent here a week apart, none would
have had occasion to complain of poor busi
ness. But the "science" of routing a
theatrical company anywhere outside the
radiance of tho "great white alley" is In
scrutable. VKHSIOV OK "THIttE WKICKS"
Elinor lily I.ltely to Reap a Uolden
Harvest from Her Play.
LONDON. April ll.-(Speclal Corresond
ence.) Mrs. Elinor Glyn brought back with
her from America the play she had written
from her much discussed novel, "Three
Weeks," and two days ago she put the fin-'
ishihg touches on a revision of it. Already
she Is beset by managera who are anxloua
to get It, and she will probably have con
cluded arrangementa with one of them
before she leaves for Paris tomorrow. She
nau nopea to get back to the United States
before this, but was seized with Influenza
a fortnight ago and has-been In bed ever
since until two days ago In her apartments
al lne lllt hotel. In the meantime, I un
derstand, she has suspended arrangements
for the dramatic production of "Three
Weeks" In America until she can rjo over
to look after It In person.
I am In a great hurry to get back,"
she said to the writer, "for the Americans
delight me, and I had a lovely time there,
Of course, I never dreamed of saying some
of tho things the papers credited me with
saying. All the timo I was there though I
was never so annoyed as I was by the first
reporter wlu) met hie on my arrival at
Liverpool. Over in America, where all are
equals, the reporters have a right to be
free and easy, but over here they haven't
any such right."
Mrs. Glyn hopes to stay in the United
States till the autumn, gathering materials
for her next book, In which her famous
Elizabeth the one who visited will re
appear. The book will probably be ready
for publication by the end of the year and
arrangements for its publication In England
and America have already been made.
But the most Interesting news of all is
that plana are afoot for an operatic version
of "Three Weeks" by Buccinl, the libretto
to be written by the Italian playwright
Fontana. Signor Fontana is much taken
with the suitability of the story for oper
atlo uses and is now busy making his
scenario for the composer's Inspection.
The Italian translation rights of the novel
have also been sold and the book Is to be
published in Italian and French next month.
Norway, Sweden and Denmark have al
ready had It translated for them and Ger
many is said to be about to follow suit.
Chance daytime visitors to the Ha mar
ket theater this week could have had the
fun of seeing Lady de Bathe otherwise
Lily Langtry rehearsing for her forthcom
ing production of "A Fearful Joy," tho new
play written for her by Sidney Grundy.
Tho famous beauty, whd has not been seen
for three years 'on the London stage, looks
about as young as ever, and is as clean
cut and vigorous as ever in her movements.
Judging by the stolen glimpses I had of
the play it is a rattling good comedy, full
of fun, go and action. If Sidney Grundy
could have his way no critics would be
invited to the first performance. "The
critical bench," he says, "wants one thing,
the public another; the two factions are
wholly opposed and at daggers drawn. A
play should be judged by its dramatic, not
Its literary qualities. If I had my way
only the public the real paying public who
are out for entertainment would be per
mitted to witness the first performance of
a piece, the critics not being Invited until
the second night. The playwright's chief
object should be to get Into direct touch
with his public. Let me have the verdict
ol the public without any Interposing me
dium and I am more than well content."
9
It was rather a surprise that the Hay
market should suddenly be let to Mrs.
Langtry for an eight weeks' season, and
1 asked Frederic Harrison about it. "I'm
tired." he said. "The management of a
West End theater in London la a terrific
strain these days. Look there, for In
stance.
The place indicated as "there" was a desk
piled high with plays perhaps a hundred
of them that had been slftedi by prelimi
nary reading from the vast mass of dramas
that pour in weekly.
Mr. Harrison sighed and went on: "I've
had a long siege of influenza and Pm go
ing to take a bit of a reat. But before I
go, two weeks hence, I shall decide what
we are going to put on to follow Mrs.
Langtry'a season, which will have to be
over, so far aa the Haymarket la concerned,
in June." '
A. E. W. Mason would probably agree
with Sidney Grundy that critics should be
excluded from first night performances.
Judged by the applaure, the verdict of the
public on tho flrat presentation of his niw
comedy, "Marjory Strode," at the Play
house, waa much more favorable than that
pronounced by the critica next morning.
Mr. Mason la a successful novelist. Also
he la a member of Parliament. Why does
he crave for distinction aa a playwright?
Because that ia the sort of success that
spells riches In tHese days. Now and then,
of course, a novel yields a fairly handsome
profit. But the average novelist makes
nothing like tho income of the average play
wright. In the action brought by Courts
nay Thorpe against Baroness Orczy for a
larger share in the royalties ot her play,
"The Scarlet Pimpernel," it waa brought
out that the feea paid on account of It had
already reached $30,000. Tho book itsojf
produced no such golden stream as that.
Here , you have disclosed at once why so
many of the literary lights are striving to
become successful playwrights.
The success scored by Miss Fanny Ward
in "A Bishop's Carriage" at the Waldorf
haa aroused great Interest In her forth
coming apjiearance In "The 8ecret Orchard"
at Terry's theater. This clever young
actress la one of the busiest women hi Lon
don and has recently acquired seveial new
pieces. ' One of them Is "Zlra," a play
founded on Wilkle Collins' "New Magda
len, " in which Miss Margaret Anglin and
Florence Roberts stored in America. An
other ts "The Flag Station." in which Arn
old Daly appeared at the Lyceum in New
York. "Polly of the Circus." by Miss Mar
garet Mayo, is yet another play secured by
Miss Ward, In which she will take the title
part that of a warm-hearted circus girl.
"Miss Hook of Holland." which haa nearly
reached It fioOih performance at the Prince
of Wales theater, will be withdrawn in a
few daja. The expense attached to It
production is so great that to yield a decent
pront it must draw a full home all the
time. Because the attendance has begun
lo wane a bit Frank Onrson is going lo
take It off. "Its weekly expenses," he told
me, "are Just double what It cost to run
Ia Toupee' at the same theater ten years
ago.' And they are more than double those
of 'The Chinese Honeymoon.' which ran
for over l.OnO consecutive performances at
the Strand theater. It Is only the enormous
expense of musical plays liko 'Miss Hook of
Holland' that prevents them from eclipsing
the records made some yeara ago."
The successor to "Miss Hook of Holland"
will be produced on April 21. Thus far It
has been given only a tentative title, "The
Land of Flowers." It ia by the same au
thors, Paul Rubens and Austen Hurgon,
and the same company will appear In It.
The scene of the story Is oh the Rlveira, It
occupies two acts and all the characters
are of French nationality and in humble
life. "Tho story," said. Mr. Curzon, "will
depend on Its simplicity, but It will le full
of color and will have a military element
supplied by the aoldiers of a French zouave
regiment."
( nmlnx Events.
The engagement of "The Virginian" at
the Boyd, starting Sunday. April 12, for
four nights, matinee Wednesday, will
doubtless afford much satisfaction to th
patrons of that theater. This play has al
ready proven one of the most successful
dramatization of recent priductlon, for It
has captivated even those unfnmtllar wit
Owen Wlster's novel, while with the multl
tude to whom the story has become
loved association the rlay Is especially ap
predated. The Klrke La Phelle company
has the reputation of selecting players wh
w'lii portray each character true to llf
and this season has engaged an exception
ally strong cast, Including W. 8. Hart and
Frank Campeau. Mr. Hart needs no Intro
ductlon to the theatergoers: h will be re
membered with pleasure for his clever
work ns Messala In "Ben Hur" and his
great success In "The Pqnaw Man." He
wilt be the Virginian and Frank Campeau
win again be s--en as Trumpas.
In selecting an opening bill for the Wood
ward Stock company at the Boyd theater,
Stage Director Livingstone had in mind not
only the peculiar conditions that surround
the launching of such a venture, but also
took Into consideration the tastes of the
clientele to which the management will
especially cater. This Jed him to select a
play that has been approved by the great
est of modern managers, Mr. Charles Froh
man, and presented by his chief star, Mr,
John Drew, who was assisted in the under
taking by Miss Margaret Illlngton, who is
Mrs. Daniel Frohman In private life. The
opening bill will be Arthur Wing Plnero's
masterpiece, "His House in Order." Mr.
Plnero is the very first of English dra
matists, a complete master of stagecraft,
with a fine eye for effects, and the very
leader of all In dramatic composition. His
plays have an air of smartness about them
no other writer has ever been able to at
tain, and at the same time are enjoyable
in every aspect. In his use of English
flnero la Incomparable, and a Plnero play
Is really an advanced lesson In the elegant
use of our mother tongue. "His House In
Order tells a simple story. It is a power
ful play in this regard, and the aceno be.
tween Hilary and Nina In the third act la
one of the greatest In English drama. Mr,
Livingstone Is preparing a most ap
propriate production ot the first bill and
has arranged the cast aa follows:
Forshaw, representative of a -provincial
newspaper Walter n i.-,,,it.
Fllmer Jesson Frank Denlthorne
Hillary Jesson Alhert Mnr,.i..,n
Geraldlne Ridgely. first wife elster..
Rose Evans
Derek Jesson, first wife's son
Olnrlr U.i..V,nll
M'lle Thome, the governess. .Colotta Power
Nina. . .
Alice Fleming
Geraldine's mother
I-Mill, ,,.,.,,.,
Lady Ridgely,
Blyth. FHmer's servant YVMiur.i ..i,rr,.i.
Sjryan. Alvln Emerson
major raaurewarue, rrtend of the family
oi ';r","."U.". ..Harry Nelson
air Daniel Rhlgeley, Geraldine's father .
U;v; K- M. Wallock
Pryce Rhlgeley, Geraldine's brother...
r. '" Raymond Wllber
Dr. rniinott, the mayor o. M. Paul
"Blg-learted Jhn" will be the attraction
at the Krug for four days, starting matinee
today. "Big-Hearted Jim" is a big, hearty
play and one not a sensational melodrama,
but a wholesome, worthy, atrong American
play, with the genuine appeal of the true
melodrama. There are a dozen good
characters, besides the fearless but tender
hearted Montana sheriff, und all are In
good hands. Four western staze nicture.
true to life, are shown, and the scenic dis
play Is decidedly picturesque in detail.
. "Bunco In Arizona" is the title of Miss
Lillian Hortimer's latest offering this sea
son, which appears at the Krug theater Tor
three daya commencing Thursduy, April
lti. The scenerio provides four large dis
tinct, specially built scenes true In detail
to western surroundiiiga and comprlsta a
rancher's homo, a typical western saloon,
an Indian camp, with their teppees, a
shaft of a mine in the midst of tho Rockies,
with full working machinery. To add to
me plctureaqucnesa of the scene the James
L. Veronec Amusement company have en
gaged Indians direct from their reservation
and cowboys with the bronchos fresh from
the prairie.
For- tho week starting tomorrow, the
Burwood Stock company will produce a
play especially written for Stage Director
Frank Bacon and called "Tho Hills of
California." As a pastoral play It will be
found to be a rural classic. The best re
commendation that can be given It is the
praise bestowed upon it by Omaha papers
when Mr. Bacon presented it at Boyd's
theater four or fivo seasons ago. The Beo
said In part: "The Hills of California
demonstrated that its simplicity of style
and pure and natural comedy, so entirely
devoid of buffoonery and horse-play suited
tho public's fancy. It enabled Frank
Bacon to display his quaint personality
which is going to place him among Amer
ica greatest comedians." The World
Herald' said In party "Frank Bacon, who
playa Amos i a comedian of the dry,
quaintly, humorous class and his 'Hills of
California' pleased the largo audience
present." The News said: "A good-sized
audience gave closest attention to thla
simple, natural and Interesting story of
fortuno and nobility as found In human
character and as a' most appreciated
climax, love for after all what would any
such drama where human elements are al
lowed to play their parts, be without love,
sweet love." The Burwood's new leading
man. Wilfrid Roger, will I- seen as a
briefless attorney. Much attention il ba
given lo the mounting of the play, par
ticularly the farm scene In the second act.
which will be ao natural that unlesa you
are thoroughly city broke, you are almost
ure to get homesick. Today will wltnesa
the last two performances of "The Only
Way." Starting Monday. April to. Amir
leas greatest war drama, "Secret Ser
vice." will be staged. Seals for Secret
Service are now readv.
A big bill, distinguished with an un
usually largo number of- stellar feature
and of an excellence not equaled at I he
Orpbtum la many weeks la promised
A!Mt .EMET9.
BOYD'S
TCM1GHT, MONDAY, TUESDAT. WEO. :: MATINEE WEBNESBAY
THE KIltKK 17 MIKM.E COMPANY TnKSKXTS
Tho Wonderful Drama, of tho llatiRO
DRAMATIZED IT OWIM WltTER Afip KIRKC LA HELLK
W. S. HART aa "Th Virginian" FKAXK CAMfKAU as "Twtipw"
NEXT SATURDAY EVEN'G
OPKXING OF THK OLD FAVOKITK
WOODWARD STOCK CO.
Presenting for the Firnt Week JOHN DIIKW'S g Success
HIS HOUSE ORDER
No Change in Prices
Seats on Sale
uu urrin, Jt-tiirM rKOM o A. M. TO lo F. M.
1,111,1,1111 IHMill I II" 'J.J.XIl..lJlU..l.WWl.AJia,.B,Hf ! Ll.sa..LSUI1.4saM,,Bt
5V W In AW ()ME1
'"-1 PHONES - Bell,Dou3. 1506 ;ind. A-1506
Tfiynnnnuf and all
uiiauiiuu iff ivr
WEEK
8TA(iK IIIRKCTOR MACON'S
The Hills of California
RKPLKTK WITH LA VGHTKU AM) TKARS
EVtRr EVNiNS, MITINEE5 TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY.
TODAY: Jast two times of THK ONLY WAY.
April 20th and Week: America's Greatest War Play, SKCRLT SKRVICF..
VfFUlL DRESS SDITSf?
M, S.SUCARMAN if, I
matinee and night today and for the en
suing week. One of a number of top-line
attraction to vie for first faver will be
John C. Rice and Sally Cohen In the brisk
farcette entitled "A Bachelor's Wife." de
clared to bristle with uproarously funny
lines. Pauline Hall, the popular queen of
comic opera, who was on the opening bill
at the Orpheum more than nine years ago
and who has not appeared at the theater
since, returns with those vocal and physical
charms that brought her fame as a prima
dona. Nellie Klorede and her "Six English
Rockers," a bevy of dainty and sprightly
little singing girls have an act In four
scenes, each with characteristic songs and
appropriate and beautiful costumes, tho
catchy songs being "Fluffy Ruffles of
Long Ago," "Prow, FVow," "I'm a Regular
College Chap" and "The Qlii In the Rock
ing Chair." Bertie Heron, "The Minstrel
Miss," does-tha burnt cork guise and
amuses with song, dance and story. The
Flchlanie troupe, Italian' gymnasts, five
women and three Ynen( are reported to have
one or tne best as well as biggest acts In
their line yet brought here. Imman's
troupe, including tiger-hounds, Newfound
lands, toy-spaniels and terriers, is sched
uled to provide something new and enter
taining In dumb circus stunts. Bailey &
Austin, "The American Beauties," gro
tesque fun makers and the klnodrome
showing 'Any Barrels' to Sell." "The Tu
lips" and "Too Much Champagne" round
out the program.
When "The Fade-ltes" come to the Or
pheum next week their program will he
made up of numbers proven most popular
by vote. Each patron of tho Orpheum is
invited to send In a list of the comDOsltlons
nd from pieces given having the majority
f admirers according to these lists the
aily program of "The Fadettes" will bo
rranged. No limit Is placed on the char
cter'of the numbers selected; they may
range from rag-time to classic; but to make
orchestration porlb)e, all the cnmposltiona
ubnittted must be recognized In the lift
of standard work. For the convenience
of patrons a blank coupon will be printed
In the programs used today and all tho
coming week.
General Manager Beck has now added a
producing department to the organization
of the Orpheum circuit and next season ex
pects to produce some one-act musical
comedies. Mr. Beck has made arrange
ment with Reginald De Koven for four
operettas, which will be staged by the new
producing department under . the direction
of Mr. Charles Fcloky. Mr. Do Kovcn will
have as a colaborator Robert B. Smith,
uthor of "A Knight for a Day," "Fatama"
and other pieces.
Stargeland Gossip.
Truly Shattuck will sing "Kove Me. and
the World 1 Mine" at the Berlin winter
garteu in German.
The loss of diamonds by actresses is now
an old story, hut in the case of Rose Buhl
losing a diamond necklace valued at ll.ouu
the tile Is quite true. Miss Stahl is offer
ing VM for its return.
The mayor of Galena, III., who is also
manager of the Galena theater, haa noti
fied Henry B. Harris that the engagement
of "The Lion and the Mouse" has been
canceled. The reaaons stated are that the
data falls on General Grant's birthday,
when a ball game is to be played In Galena,
and that "The Uon and the Mouae" has
not a sufficient reputation for merit to bs
tried at that time on Galena's theater
goer. The trend of thought of the men who
name the modern song la aptly llluatrated
by the title to the songs in "Hotieymoun
Trail." They are "When I Feel Uke
Irving." "You Can't Be a Friend to
Hverybody," "One Little Boy Had Money,"
"Nothing to De but Do Nothing," "Honey
moon Trail," "Whose Little Girl Are You?,"
"The Golden West," "There'a a Reason,"
"I'm Going to Steal the Moon" and "I
Don't Want a Million Dollars."
"I don't go much on schools of acting."
said David Warfleld, but he aaid It thought
fully, as though he had frequently con
demned dramatic schools, but was Mill
willing to give thern another trial which
Inofieiisive expression of hi view Is char
acteristic. "They're good enough to khi a
fellow a Job, maybe, but they're dang rou.
They take all the ahlne out of him. They
teach him one aet of geitui.. Fjr ln
stsnce, this mesns fear, this means ra,
thai means love, this means sorrow, mil
when they graduate they are wililna; t
play anything from Hhukeapeure to () org
Ada without really knowing tin) feeling
they're trying to expres. Ain't that it?"
W. H. Crane wua talking about "Father
and the Boya." "Let me tell you a funny
thing that hajipeni j in Huffalo th el he
night," he said. "Mr. Crr and Mr. Mi Kay,
who play the 'boy,' went to a reuiaurant
to have a bite to eat after the play. Al a
neighboring table sat a hig Uelinan. who
also had been at the play and who recog
nized the two 'boya.' lie looked a proaper
oua merchant and he eyed them with a lot
of Interest. A ho left the restaurant he
topped at their table and.' laying hia hand
en one shoulder, said: 'Well, I haff two
boya also wuo are not woith a cuaa.' "
AMrsr,METi
THEATER
HE
lOc and 25c
One Week In Advance
Mkenil I nto THIO OIl HO.MK
jSTKAI) nn. I SIIOHK ACKKS
OWN PASTORAL CLASSIC.
Puwno Doug. 44
ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE
Mat. Daily 2:15 Ever Night 8:15
Week Starting Mat. Today
I 'MIMUMaiKS,i Ai.HfltflgB
" --
John C. Rice & Sally Cohen
Presenting "A Bachelor's Wife"
Her Six Enarlish
FLOrfEOE and ROCKEftS
Dainty 8lngers and Dancers.
r-
BERTIE HERON
The Minstrel Miss.
8--PICHIANIS--8
Athletes Par Excellence.
HP
Circus Pet's Surprises.
The American Beauties
Bailey & Austin.
Pauline Hall
THE QUEEN of COMIC OPERA
KINODROME
Always the newest In motion pictures
FRiCE S-10c. 25c and 50c
(((jn THEATRE
lIIUU 15.j5.50.75u
Matin
Today,
10-85-60
A Diyi Starting
Mil. Weaneslay.
MATINEE TODAY
THE GREAT AMERICAN
COMEDY-DRAMA ,
. BBG-
HEARTED
A OK.MIXE CREATION OF I JFK
IN MONTANA 20 VI5ARS AGO. '
3 Wl Thurs. April 16
J. L. VKRONKK AMUSEMENT
N COMPANY OFFERS
LILLIAN MORTIMER
IN
BUNCO IN
GREAT RATTLE SCENE RE.
TWEEN REAIj INDIANS
AND CO WHO VS.
5 TRAINED BRONCOS 5
The Boyd Theatre
School oi Acting
(A practical training school
for dramatic and operatic
tstage)
rcnrtli Season Now Open
Student' Matinee tntragamont.
LILLIAN FITCH. Director
W. J. BURGESS. Manager
1
IS