6
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: MAY 17, 1908.
Gossip About Plays, Players and Playhouses
WICB the Boyd theater wi
packed to the limit to attest to
Maude Adntns that her popu
larity does not (trow less ait
years g-o on. She ha long held
Omal.a captive. Jut as she has
T
the rest of the world, and to her sweetness
nj gentleness la pnld the willing tribute
of lavish praise. But mnny a wirm a1
mlrer of thla winsome and cnpable woman
woolrl have liked to have Been her In some
thing more nearly fitting her talents than
the. part ahe hna In "Tho Jesters." The
comedy lacks something of vitality; It had
not the element of whimsical fancy that
made "Peter Pan" aurh a delight, and It
ha little or nothing of the human touch
that hna endeared to us "My I-ady of the
Ringlets" or Lady Pahby. It la quaint In
a way, but It misses the mark at many
points, and never gets above the ordinary,
while at many places It sinks to the level
of medncrlty. To Chicot Miss Adams gives
all her effort, and almost succeeds In In
venting It with something of Interest. Blie
ahows some touches of the boy yho didn't
care to grow up In her reading of the lines
Bet down for the part, and her queer little
laugh and the saucy teas of her curly
head Is the same, but the spirit la not
there. Chicot Is not worthy of tho pains
bestowed upon It.
In thla Instance the piny Is plainly not
the thing. But why should she not be
given a chance for a rest? Chicot la Just
a romp for Mlsa Adams after a long series
of creative efforts, during which Bhe haa
given to us somo of the most delightfully
charming characters the American stage
haa ever seen. Maude Adams' LAdy Babblo
will be one of the classics of the American
drama when It has advanced far enough
to have such. Her Peter Pan will remain
forever as one of the most satisfying em
bodiments of an Idea that Is common to all
mankind ever given. It Is the essence of
that existence that falls away from us at
eome time In our lives, but whoso memory
ever remains. And other things she has
done well. Bo why should she not have one
season of comparative ease, without with
drawing from active work? None will be
grudge her this. And for next season she
promises eomethlng that will also be worth
while. As Viola in "Twelfth Nlghf she
should be a revelation. Marie Walnwrlght
has long held front place In this character.
Viola Allen haa undertaken It most re
cently, and with but Indifferent success,
while others have at times essayed the
characterlatlon of one of Shakespeare's
most delightful of maidens. Miss Adams
ought to find the part one much to her
liking. It will give her ample opportunity
to Indulge' her whim for strutting In doub
let and hose and a pretty figure of a bud
ding youth she Is, too but above all It
will allow her an outlet for her bubbling
humor, which springs from an everlasting
fount. Her temperamental bent Is for such
roles, and In "Twelfth Night" she will find
a way that may lead hor even deeper Into
the realm of classic comedy, and we may
yet have a revival of a number of the plays
that are falling Into disuse for want of
ome woman of capacity to -recreate the
characters that once were bo familiar to
all.
Vhat' In a name?" In the case of
Vesta Victoria there seems to have been
about $100,000 of good American money dur
ing the last season. Without disparaging
Miss Victoria's ability as a music hall
lnger, she Isn't worth It. She sang all
week In Omaha and delighted aa many peo
ple as could crowd Into the Orpheum the
ater twice a day with her London ditties,
but Bhe didn't sing them any better than
they have been sung here many times be
fore. For M1b Victoria didn't copyright
her songs when Bho was over a couple of
seasons ago, but rather allowed the Amer
ican publishers to print as many aa cnuld
be sold. The result was that all the world
and his wife are familiar with the Vesta
Victoria songs. The last season, when
Klaw & Erlanger mado their sensational
and expensive dip Into vaudeville, Vesta
Victoria was brought back at a weekly
ttlpend of $2,500 and a guarantee of forty
weeks. When she first appeared In Chi
cago at the opening of tho "advanced"
vaudeville season thero one of the Chicago
critics had the temerity to say in his paper
that America Is full of Boubrettes who can
equal Miss Victoria and some who excel
her at her own game, and for this he drew
down on his head the clamorous wrath of
the clique that was trying to boost the
venture Into success. But the end came,
and the contract with Vesta Victoria was
taken over by tho Orpheum people rather
as a liability. She has now ended her
forty weeks, and has been paid her $100,000,
and will go back to dear old foggy Lon
don with more good money In her posses
sion than she ever expected to accumulate
In her life on the stage. She has done
all she agreed to do, and all she sets up
to do. She entertains well, she sings her
ongs with spirit and verve, but she isn't
worth the price. And this brings to mind
' what another importation once Bald of
America. Nearly twenty years ago "Aus
tralian Billy" Murphy came to San Fran
cisco and engaged in a prize fight with
"Spider" Ike Weir. It matters not now as
to what the outcome of the fight was.
Weir got the short end and went through
Omaha a few days after the battle with
Well lined pockets and an Inscrutable smile
on his- faoe, going back to Boston. A little
later came the Australian. In an interview
the night he reached Omaha he said. In
dialect that would have charmed the fair
Vesta could she have heard it: "W'y,
lll've got fifteen thousan' bloomlnk dol
lar In me bleedln' kick. That's more
No Slip
OXFORDS
HE heel
lining in
Gotzian"no
slip" ox
fords is
-made of a
special
leather, which prevents
slipping and chafing1.
The device isnew and ef
fective. Ask jour dealer.
Writs for our ntw stylo book.
It will plc&M you.
C GOTZIAN & CO.
T ho ST rkvi mi"n
Eotziair!
Shoe
money than Hl'd ave made-in all me
bally lolfe flghtln' in Austilia. This la'
a bloomlnk fine country." And that's the
answer.
America Is still the Innd of dollars to the
foreign artist. Music hall singer or grand
opera diva, vaudeville actor or star of tho
upper firmament, they all como hither to
line their pockets from the golden stream
that flows unstintedly. Our tastes and our
manners are made subjects of Jest and our
prodigality Is looked upon as a species of
mild Insanity. And. faith. It must be so,
for under whit other Bun than that of
America could a music hall singer carry
off for singing seven short songs twice a
day a check that calls for as much money
ns Is paid the governor of the state sha
was visiting, or the venerable and learned
chief Justice of the supreme court of that
state men who are entrusted with the lib
erties and property of their fellow citizens
and vested with the most saored and hon
orable of responsibilities? If Vesta Vic
toria doesn't laugh when she gets well
under way toward her home across the,
Bcas It will be because she hasn't the
sense of humor of which she Is suspected.
And, by that same token, It Is not likely
she will ever fill another engagement In
America at the same price.
Tho season Is over In Omaha, save for
tho stock companies, which will continue
until the weather man sends all the people
to the parks. This means until some time
either Just before or Just after the Fourth
of July. Last night the Krug and the
Orpheum ended their seasons, both suc
cessful. The Boyd had closed Its regular
season some time ago, the engagement of
Maudo Adams being an after'senson event.
At the Burwood Mrs. Fiske is yet to
appear, and that will be all until next fall.
It was a profitable year for the managers
of Omaha theaters, the only venture that
did not bring expected returns being the
10-cent vaudeville at the Burwood.
Out of her bitterness borne, perhaps, of
the failure of her great adventure, "Tho
Music and Musical Notes
N all the friendships of our life I
TT 1 we often fail to take Into ac
I count the friends we have who
speak for us when we are not
present to defend ourselves,
who read what we say and
find therein an Impulse toward each
other. Emerson said once: "My great
God gave them to me." "High
thanks I owe you who carry out the world
for me to new and noble depths and en
large the meaning of all my thoughts."
I am very grateful for the fact that a
man whom I have long admired and re
spected signs himself, "Your friend,
George L. Miller."
And I am more than glad that tho dis
tinguished doctor has taken the pains to
write me a communication which is bo
full of beauty and music that I feel sure
he will not think of me as betraying a
confidence If I share it with the readers
of this column. We have heard and read
the wise sayings of Dr. Miller on subjects
political, social, economic, civic and his
toric, but I do not remember having read
his views on music before.
My mind turnB back to happy momenta
spent In converse with the rare soul of
the doctor, In the days of exposition mem
ory, anent music and musical matters, but
that is long ago. And here Is the letter:
The Norma. ..lie. May 12, . 1908 My Dear
Mr. Kelly: In common with many more,
I read your criticisms on music In The
Bee with Interest from week to week. The
vocabulary of phrase puzzles and con
founds me so that I am often put to guess
ing. This, of course, arises In lgnorancn
of tho art whose masters live In enduring
fame, and In one of my age may be readily
pardoned. It la all worse than Greek to
me, but I can "catch on," and since genius
has boxed the natural voices of the Ca
rusos. the Plancons, the Tetrazztnis and
aive ior me uses of a remote posterity,
and I have opened a homo opera, with
permanent engagements with the queens
and kings of song, I am beginning to real
ize my deficiencies and am doing my beat
w mitu up wnn ine procession. "
But. mv dear 1I.IV thuro la annlh Irl,1
of music to which my willing ear has been
attuned for seventy y.ars, In appreciation
and love of which I yield no second rank
to any of tho children of men, neither to
Mario, Jenny Lind, Mozart, Wagner, Te
trazzlnl, Beethoven, or even to Tom Kelly.
I refer to the unwritten music of which
this beautiful world Is so full, and which
was described by a writer for the Ameri
can Monthly Magazine of N. P. Willis,
seventy-tilne years ago, as follows:
"There is no sound of simple Nature
that is not music. It is all God s work, so
harmony. You mav mlnirle aiut rilvi.la nl
strengthen the passages of Its great an-
iiiyrn, uui ii is stiu melody, melody.
"The low winds of summer blow over the
waterfalls and the brooks, and bring their
voices to your ear as if their sweetness
was linked by an accurate finger; vet the
wind Is but a fitful player; and you may
go out when the tempest Is up and hear the
strong trees moaning as they lean before
It, and the long grass hissing aa It sweeps
through, and Its own Bolerr.n montony over
an diiu me aimpie or mat same brook,
and the waterfall's unaltered bass shall
still reach you In the Intervals of its power,
as much In harmony as before, and ar
much a. part of Its perpetual hymn.
There Is no accident of Nature's causing
which can bring in discord. The loosened
rock may fall Into the ebyss. and the over
blown tree rush down through the branches
of the wood, and the thunder peal awfully
in uro Buy; ann suclilen and violent as
these changes seem, their tumult goes up
with the sound of wind and waters, and
the exquisite ear of the musician can de
tect no Jar."
These beautiful thoughts on the music
of nature are true music In themselves.
And Nature teaches a great lesson. Her
harmonies are made up of melodies Inter
twined and Joined together. This Is the
true "Counter iotnt," where one melody,
Joined to other melodies makes harmony.
Sit on your front porch when tha next
rainstorm Is Just abating.
Many times have I found myself the Bole
porch occupant of the block, listening to
the wonderful music of the orchestra of
Nature. The winds blowing through the
haves of a silver birch, or a maple sound
ing like a melody of the strings; the wind
In the lurger tot ton woods coming to my ear
with a melody all their own, as If from
distant reeds; the occasional calls of birds,
like the Incidental entrances of the flutes;
tho sighing of the uboes, aa the wind
whistled through the leaves; the rhythm
of the kettle drums, as large drops of
rain fell from the commonplace spout on
the very prosaic, but poetical, tin roof of
a bay window.
Oh, I know the delights of Nature's
music! And It is Counterpoint, the reul
cocnterpolnt, theme Interweaving with
theme, forming a texture of harmonious
beauty.
All musicians must lovo nature and Its
music. It they would be true musicians.
The groat trouble with the manner of
listening to music is this, that people listen
too much to the "one" melody.
As the words which the Doctor c.uotes
are beautiful, thty are also as true as they
are beautiful. In nature we hear the va
rious "melodies" melted Into ore "har
mony." We do not confine our ears to
the "low winds," or to the "waterfall," or
to tha "moaning cf the trees." or to the
"hissing of the grass," or the "falling
tree," or ths "pealing thunder." No! We
listen to "all" of these and we are moved
by tha pnnrours of ti sweet sounds and
Christian Pilgrim," Henrietta Crosmao
discourses thinly:
I hw-s art pay? Not In the theater In
America. Tho people here want amuse
ment and they are unable to derive enjoy
ment and Instruction from the same source.
In America the people look upon the
theater aa they would upon a circus. It
Is a place to go and be amused. It Is not
taken seriously and the player here who
takes his audience seriously Is sure of
disappointment. I do not say this In
Bptrlt of dlsiippolntment myself; I have
overcome, that, and I am trying to meet
conditions as they are. By this I do not
mean to say that I am debasing my art,
but I appreciate the fact that, if we are to
help th people out of their "slough of
desjond," we must do It gradually, and
cannot hope to have them, by one leap,
rench a higher plane.
It Is with regret that I watch my fellow
players demean the theater and their art
In an effort to hit the popular chord. Most
of us have started out with high Ideals
and it takes a pretty strong-minded person
to stick to the straight path, when she
sees others reaping financial success and
reward from methods that are to be con
demned. Probably commercialism In the
theater is responsible, but I doubt it.
To achieve a lasting success all projects
must be on ft sound financial basis, so I
don't think It Is that that Is lowering the
tone and ideals of our theater.
For one thing. It is a very easy matter
to have pure Kngllsh spoken In our the
aters, but It is more often bad English
that we hear. The managers and pro
ducers am mostly responsible for this,
and It Is because they don't know what Is
good English. .
We might also have good diction even If
we cannot have good plays. There Is no
excuse for Ignorance In the theater. Good
Kngllsh and diction would not revolutlon
l.o things, hut they would be a step In the
right direction and the great mass of
theater-goers would receive, unknowingly,
a benefit. And that Is the only way by
which we can raise our standard; the
people must take their Instruction sugar
coated with entertainment. They must
not know they are taking It.
Then after awhile, when they get more
used to it, we can take off, little by little,
the sugar, until they are able to take It
without making a face; In fact, enjoy It.
But that is when they become thinkers
and derive enjoyment from thought. A
long and tedious evolution and one not to
be accomplished In a day or a year In
this hustling country of ours.
First of nil, let us have good Kngllsh in
the theater, which we do not always have
In many first-class companies, because the
head of It Is incompetent. Then when we
the bold, the temlnlne and tho masculine
elements of tone.
No! Any ono of these would be monot
ony Itself. . We could not stand It. Men
have gone Insane listening to writer drop-drop-drop,
and drlp-drip-drip!
But It Is the Counterpoint we love, one
theme ' blending with another theme
"pointed counter" to It; and one other,
counter to both of those; and still another,
counter to, or differing from, all three, and
so on; but all of the counter-themeB form
ing perfect melody.
Now, what we musicians are earnestly
striving for is to get the people to listen
to the "other" themes In music. We are
trying to get them to hear all the themes
which form the harmony, and as this kind
of harmony exists only In the best music
of the best masters, we are urging the peo
ple, for their own sakes, to forsake those
things In music which give them only one
theme and an accompaniment (as found in
the popular song, or the trivial march or
waltz), and learn to listen. In music, to
what they like In nature the weaving and
counter-weaving and Interweaving of theme
and theme, In musical texture. In other
words, to get away from the piece which
"has a tune In it" to the piece which has
"many tunes" in it! The Philistines say
that we are trying to get them away from
"melody" Into rules of harmony and classic
music, whlclf has (they say) no beauty,
"no tune," to it. But that is not so; we
are merely trying to get them to go on
from the one-melody piece to the piece
which has "many tunes" in It.
Tha great musicians have loved the music
of nature. Do you remember the wonder
ful "Good Friday Spell" music of "Parsi
fal," in which Richard Wagner makes his
characters become Impressed by the en
chantment, or spell, of tho vernul equinox?
Do you happen to have seen the picture
of Beethoven In the woods? It shows the
great Master walking among the trees and
shrubs, and bure-headed! Can one forget
the nature-love of the man in hla pastoral
symphony? Can one forget the wonderful
love of nature depicted by that apostle of
nature, Haydn? Brahms has anecdotes to
his credit, many in number, regarding his
love for nature. Chopin was swept by it.
Mendelssohn was saturated with It he who
listened to the breezes playing through the
garden, and transcribed, rather than com
posed, his Spring Song.
Schubert heard the volco of nature and
waa glad and gave us his best touches In
the writings of the brooks and the larks,
und the mountains and the sunshine. Schu
mann felt his poetic soul thrill with this
nature and gave us his best thoughts and
dicams, his forest music and his songB
which the petals of the flowers whispered
to him. Handel was. awed by its thunders
and Its lightnings, and yet could lull Ills
feelings sufficiently to write to a "plane
tree" the wonderful melody which has
come to us as the "Largo."
What composer has not been In love with
nature? Where can we find ono "Immor
tal" in music, whose writings have not de
picted the scenes which his soul loved, and
who has not sung again the songs which
nature had sung to hlmT
What we need nowadays la a return to
Nature. We need the study of Nature's
music We have spent too much time
studying "Implements." the machinery, the
technique, the abstruse lorm, ana ine soul
less "school."
Let us get tack from the Implement
house to the garden, to the fields, to the
mountains, the brooks, the birds, the flow
ers, the waters, the sunshine and the
moonlight, and let us bathe In the music
of Nature and be satisfied.
I thank my cherished friend. Dr. Miller,
fur his words and for his Interest, and I
know that others will thank him. too, for
his presence In this column today.
THOMAS J. KELLY.
Musical Notes.
Miss Helen Mackin announces a pupils'
rerlial to be given at the Bchmollrr fc
Mueller auditorium on Thursday evening
next. All those who are intureeted In
pianoforte music are Invited to attend.
tingle tickets will be on sale for the
Omaha May Music Festival at the music
stores or tan tie obtained by addressing
the Oratorio Society, 612 Bran.lels Building.
Omaha. These tickets can then be reserved
by going to the Auditorium box office. May
X and thereafter. Those holding season
tickets can reserve their o Murium,
May '. at same rluce.
From St. Philip's rectory there comes to
me a letter from my esteemed friend, Ryv.
John Albert Williams, regarding the ap
pearance of Mme. E. Azalla Hackley.
, .r th I.vrtc theater
on May 26. Kver since 1 heard, when a
boy, the original ns i i""il
Hlngers I have been much interested in
the olUdv of the music of these paople
w hose voices have the richness and smooth,
ness wh'ch we of pJer complexion lack.
me uote a sentence from the letter:
My object In bringing representative peo
ple of our race to our city from time to
time. In musical and other lines. Is to
encourage our people to strive for higher
things by giving them concrete examples
of thoee who have made or are making
, . , , . i, . friends of the
opposite race see what rereaentative
The program will be presented later In
this culuron.
art that we will be ready for another step
and will find that the public Is ready to
step with us.
FROM W ECLECTTO S)l,TOO A WEEK
Plays that Hare V'-en Klrklnar Afeoat
Pigeonholes 00r Tea Vears.
LONDON, May . (Special Corre
spondence.) W. Somerset Maugham's ex
perience ought to gladden the hearts of
would-bo dramatists, whose number Is
estimated at about one-third of the total
play-going population in England and
America. They say tnat "Mrs. lot,"
which was produced here by Charles
Frohman and Arthur Chudleigh at tho
Comedy theater on Monday night, with
Marie Tempest In the title role, had been
kicking about In managers' pigeon-holes
for three years until it had become so
disreputable looking that It had to bo re
typed. Yet Its success was assured from
the first ten minutes. The first-night
audience forgot to look bored and crit
ical and 'ha ha'd" unrestrainedly, because
It couldn't help Itself. After it was all
over the audience refused to go until the
playwright himself, had come out to bow
his acknowledgments.
Tills "dark-complected," saturnine, un
romantlc looking man of thirty odd now
has three comedies going in fashionable
London theaters and all of them big suc
cesses, and another announced by Lewis
Waller; whereas a year ago he was al
most unknown. One play of his, called
"A Man of Honor," had been produced
and had attracted a little attention among
the young "Intellectual," but had not
been a financial success. It was a grim,
sordid, powerful, disagreeable play, con
taining some real life and some real
drama enough to make the managers so
afraid of him that, although he turned
his hand to light comedy, no one would
take a play of his.
Finally, through some lucky chance, his
"Lady Frederick" was put on as a stop
gap at the Court theater last autumn,
with Ethel Irving in the principal part.
It is safe to say that Maugham could
have had half a dozen contracts to sign
the very next morning if he had been so
disposed. The play outlived its alloted
term at the Court and moved on to the
Garrlck, where It also outlasted its lease,
and on the same night when "Mrs. Dot"
was produced at the Comedy "Lady
Frederick" moved a third timu i o.
Criterion and is apparently going strong
as ever. A rew weeks ago "Jack Straw's
Castle," by Maugham was put on with
Hawtrey in the principal part, and this
likewise made an instantaneous hit.
"Lady Frederick," contracted for when
the author was unknown, probably brings
him only 6 per cent of the gross receipts
or perhaps a little over say 400 a week
net to the author. "Jack Straw's Cas
tle" probably nets him at least. V603 a
week and "Mrs. Dot" will certalnlv vi.i,i
him $700 a week a total of $1,700 a
week from London theaters alone. Amer
ican rights will soon be bringing him
as much more, and the English provinces,
Australia and the continent will presently
add their quota. The publishers are
after the lucky dramatist also for book
rights of his plays. I believe J. M. Bar
He once had three play all making
money at once in London, but with this
exception Maugham probably breaks the
record.'
With the exception of "A Man of
Honor," which failed, none of the Maugham
plays pretenda to be anything more than
entertainment witty, polished and deft
If the author were to write another jplay
now aa sincere and sound and thoughtful
as "A Man of Honor" there would be al
most no question of lta Immediate, ac
ceptance. It might not make so much
money at first aa "Mrs. Dot," but it
would be remembered for more years. It
will be interesting to see if Maugham
has the courage or the ambition.
Herbert Beerbohm Tree, greatest of
English, actor-managers and producers,
bus Just celebrated his coming of age as
a manager "on his own." Twenty-one
years ago he opened a season at the Com
edy theater with Outram Yistram's play,
-The Red Lamp," which he atlll retains
In his repertory, reviving It not longer
ago than last spring, and so big a suc
cess did it prove that he was able out
of the proceeds to take a lease of the
Haymarket. Nine years later he built hl
present home. His Majesty's, with the
backing, It is said, of the Rothschilds.
At the time of his first launch Into
management Mr. Tree had been a profes
sional actor for nine years, and as an
amateur actor for somo considerable time
before that. Ho was S3 years of age and
had already made a name for himself. Tho
parts Macarl. In "Called Back" n.
Hartfleld In "Jim, the Penman," and the
line part In "The Private Secretary"
widely differed In their character and nv
a taste of versatility which was to prove
me outstanding feature of the actor's sub
sequent career.
I suppose one of Tree's greatest distinc
tions Is the fact that he haa made Shakes
peare "pay." Even Sir Henry Irving came
to the conclusion during the management
of the Lyceum that it was necessary In
order to furnish the funds for his gorgeous
Shakespearean productions, to alternate
them with something of the nature of
popular melodrama. But at His Majesty's
the bard has filled the coffers and modern
authors have occasionally almost emptied
them. In his courage, his almost unlimited
ambition and his praiseworthy subordina
tion of the considerations of the box offlc?,
there Is a striking slmlllarlty between Mr!
Tree and the late Richard Mansfield.
Some of the London newspaper men have
been trying to get Tetrazzlnnl to say some
thing disparaging about her reception In
New York, but the Italian singer is much
too foxy to do any such thing, even If she
were so disposed. She knowns where her
bread la buttered. As a matter of fact I
gathered the Impression from what Fhe told
me and the rest of the men who call.d
upon her,' at the Cecil, that, while she was
very grateful to London for Its reception
of her last year, the English metropolis
was of secondary Importance as compared
with New York.
"I have been engaged for twenty-four
performances," the prima donna to'd me in
speaking of her plans, "but I hope to ap
pear more often that that, especially If I
am received with the enthusiasm that
marked my last visit here. I believe the
role of 'Lucia' Is my favorite, but during
my London stay I hope also to appear in
a revival of 'La Scmnanibula,' which I
think 1 especially suited to my voice." It
Is Impossible to secure a seat for either of
the two performances at which she la al
ready announced to appear.
The busy and versatile Cosmo Hamilton,
at Charlea Frohman's bidding, rushed
tbraugfa his adaptation of the French farce.
"Bouteea-Traln," at almost record speed
for production by Cyril Maude at the Play
house Wednesday night. The public In
sists that Mauds shall appear in "silly-good-feiww"
parts, ard refuses to support
him mhenever he does something a llttla
more serious, as In A. E. W. Mason's play,
"Marjory Strode." The new farce, which
has been christened "Pro Tern," Is a noisy,
bustling, rollocklng story of a brainless
youth who was mistaken for princa and
got into trouble enough to keep tha audience
well amused for thre acts.
JOHN AVA CARPENTER.
Com In a Events.
The bill at the Boyd this week promises
one of the best yet undertaken by the
Woodward Stock company players. Mr.
Livingston has chosrn the pretty play
made by Paul Armstrong from Bret Harte's
stories, "Salomy Jane." an Idyl of life In
California In the far away golden days of
'49, whon Ufa was a poem and events
moved slowly at times and rushed at
others. Mr. Armstrong has well preserved
the. fragrance of the Bret Harte concep
tions and tha atmosphere of the story. It
contains some of the most uniquely daring
of Ideas and situations that fairly capti
vate and hold the listener. The piece has
never been seen In Omaha, but has been
much praised by both London and New
York critics. In the role of Salomy Jane
Miss Fleming will have a part that fits
her well, being eminently suited to her
peculiar Btyle, while Mr. Morrison will be
returned to his place at the head of the
company, and will bo seen as "The Man"
on whose Identity the whole affair turns.
The others In the company are well placed,
and the rehearsals promise a fine perform
ance. The piece will be offered first at
a matinee this afternoon, and during the
week, with the usual matinees.
That "The Christian" Is to be the bill
the comlr.g week at the Burwood will be
most welcome Information to the thousands
of readers of Hall Cane's novel by the same
name, and there Is much doubt If ever a
book was more generally read on either
side of the water. In dramatized form the
story loses none of Its attracttvenesss,
many even preferring the stage story to
the book itself. The play has not been
seen In Omaha In over two years, at which
time It was accorded the largest business
ever played to in the Burwood theater up
to that time, although "Old Heidelberg"
surpassed It this season. "John Storm"
will be played by Mr. Roger. He has
played tho role many times, notably at San
Francisco, where for fourteen nights the
Colonial theater was packed to the doors
to witness his superb rendition of this ex
ceptionally exacting part. Ills personality
Is peculiarly adapted to the part of "John
Storm," and It Is expected that he will
repeat here the triumph he achieved on
the coast. Mr. Bacon. Mr. Ingraham and
Miss Jeffrey played their respective roles
in "The Christian" In support of Katherlne
Grey on the road and Mr. Farnum of the
Burwood company played "Horatio Drake"
with Effie Ellsler. Other members of the
company have also played In the piece be
fore, so a wonderfully smooth performance
may bo expected as, next week's produc
tion Is virtually a revival for the ma
jority of the company. The usual matinees
will be given. Following Tuesday's matinee
Mr. Ingraham and Mr. CUsbee, assisted
by Miss LesBlng, will hold an Informal re
ception on the stage. Two opportunities
remain today to see Mr. Roger as Sher
lock Holmes in "The Sign of the Four."
The engagement of Ackerman & W
feld's German players, which organisation
win piay at the Burwood theater Monriav
Tuesday and Wednesday, with a matinee
vveunesaay, June 1, 2 and 3, Is creating un
usual Interest, as It Is generally understood
among German-speaking people that 'the
company Is of the very highest class. Seats
for the entire engagement will be put on
sale Monday morning, May 18, at the Bur
wood box office. The following excellent
repertoire has been chosen: Mondav even
ing, "Der Herr Senator;" Tuesday even
ing, "Der Llebe Onkel;" Wednesday mati
nee, Der Jubllaums Brunnen;" Wednes
day evening, "Die Schmetterllngs " Ach
lacht." Special scenery will be brought
from the German players' own theater In
jjavenporr. ror each production.
"Rosmersholm,""byV"Henrik Ibf-en, Is to be
Madame Flake's offering at the Burwood
theater June i, 5 and 6. It is said that the
production carried by Mrs. Flske is one of
the most elaborate that she has yet of
fered the American people. The engage
ment next month will be the first time this
world-famous actress has appeared In
Omaha In four years.
Tho management t the Omaha May
Music Festival are providing for the wants
of thousands of music lovers who are
desirous of attending the great concerts in
this festival by making a popular price of
26 cents for a large number of reserved
seats In the balcony. Other seats in rilf.
ferent locations, CO cents, 75 cents and $1.00.
I his is a move In the right direction.
These prices will be appreciated and a
large attendance will be the result.
. The Hillman Ideal Stock company will
open their summer engagement at the Air
Dome, on the corner of Eighteenth and
Douglas streets, next Wednesday evening.
This company Is probably one pf the best
known In the middle west; the cast la
composed of fourteen people, and Includes
Miss Lucy Hayes and Miss Marie Snowdo.i,
both Omaha girls, who have won an envia
ble reputation In the theatrical world.
Mr. Robert Blayluck, who Is also well
known and a great favorite of the theater
going people, Is a. member of the company.
The opening play, 'Tho Westerner," Is a
beautiful roclety drama In four acts. There
will be' singing and dancing specialties be
tween acts.
Gossip from Stoarelnnd.
Gertrude Cotjhlan, daughter of ihe actor,
Charles Coghlan, has decided: "When a
girl reaches the Interrogative age. to my
notion, is when she should be allowed to
see proper plays, played by competent
player folk. Some mothers object to their
daughters vlewlnc scenes of love, but,
believe me, the human heart Is born tj
love, and at the theater only can a girl
see Interpreted the most beautiful love
storlen known to histoiy and to fiction.
Nowhere In the world are wrong and right
bo carefully placed before the vision as In
the - theater."
Amy Ricard, playing one of the principal
roles In "Girls," a Clyde Fitch satire on
the bachelor girl, has become a suffragette
and has Joined the Progressive Woman Suf
frage union of New York. She takes part
In their meetings and speaks In public. In
Colorado Amy used to vote.
Willie Edouln, the comedian who died re
cently, wus a much greuter fjvorl'.e In
England than he ever was here.. Before
Nat Goodwin made his vogue as a Unlit
comedian Edouln appeared wllh great suc
cess in "Photos, or Fun In a Phot jgrrfph
Oallery," but his wlf, th la:e Alien
Atherton, one of the best commedlenni s of
her time, nearly always eclipsed him In
popularity on this side of tho water. In
later years his methods became so thor
oughly English that New York audi, n es
tailed to Blow eiilhusiast'c over hi:n. Hla
Tweedlepunch In "Florodora" was c.imjar
atively a failure.
Maude Raymond, who sings a coon Bon
In "The Oiy White Way." was relected by
William A. Brady to play Topsy In his
"all-star" production of "I'ncle Tom's
Cabin." In private life Miss Raymond is
the wife of Gui Rogfrs uf the Rogers
brothers.
A long deferred, but by no mens aban
doned, ambition of Maude Ai'ams is to
spend a summer vacation In Dublin and
to study at Trinity college, the alma mater
of Burks and Goldsmith.
J M Bsrrie's new play deals with the
greatest of all the social problems: "Which
Is the right woman to marry? Should a
man know her well before marrlagM or
wait to know her afterward? Is there a
cas oa rtcvrd of his aver knowing her
AMllGME.tTI.
ansa hates
Leading Lady at the Air Pome,
Corner istn aim uougias mree'tv
THE OPENING OF THE SUMMER
EVENING, MAY 20TH.
riUCES GENERAL ADMISSION 10 CENTS, RESERVED SEATS 20 CENTS
If
PHONES Bell.
Orpheum patrons ara advisad to trans
far thalr aast orders for tha bslanea of
tha saason to ths Burwood Thastra
THE CHRISTIAN
Matiness-TUE.S., THURS.. SAT. and SUNDAY
Reception by Messrs. Clisbte and Ingraham, assisted by Miss tesslng, Tua. Afternoon
TODAY Last two times of Mr. ogr as "Sherlock Holmes."
Jnna 1-3-3 1 Oarman Players In Bslsot Kepartolra. Seat sal opens tomorrow.
Jons 4-B-6I Mrs. risk In Hsnrlk Ibssn's Bosmsrsholm. 'Beat sale opana May SB.
BOYD'S THEATER
TODAY 2:30-TONICHT 8:15-ALL WEEK
The Woodward Stock Co.
Presenting Eleanor Robton'e Success
"SALOMY JANE"
PRICES 10c and 25c
MATINEES: Sunday, Tuasd'ay, Thursday and Saturdsy
NEXT WeiK--"CHARLEY'S AUNT"
f
SEE THE
Big South Omaha
MAY CARNIVAL
C. W. PARKER
Shows and Attractions
May 18 to 23
-'-TI
.s, rt
well at all. and If there Is one such case
namely, the gentleman of the play would
he not have been more comfortable had
he. like the rest of us. remained In Ignor
ance?" Mareuerlta Sylva. the American prima
donna, who deserted comic opera to go '
abroad and continue her muskl studies,
hna Hirnin mark, a hz hit. In "Faust" re
cently at lierne, Switzerland. Miss Sylva
sang" the rele of Marguerite, and the word
from there Is that she created a positive
sensation In the part. The Kint timo .Miss
Sylva uppeared here was several si-usuns
back, when she played a vaudeville en
gagement at the Columbia. Krom vaude
ville to grand opera at Heine Is traveling:
some In a few short seasons.
These. Indeed, are the days of strenuous
titles In the theatrical field. Owen J"t'"
son provided "The Comet" fur Mme. Alia
Naalmova; Arthur Winn I'inero has writ
ten a new play called "The Thur-lerbolt.
which George Alexander Is preparing for
the St. James theater In London and Mary
Shaw threatens to appear In "The Whirl
pool," a new offerii-K y Algernon bt.
John-Brnch.
Julia Marlowe Is at her country place
In the Adlrondacks, tiying to recover from
a nervous breakdown. Miss Marlowe s tour
was canceled on April 13. After arriving
she grew worse and the company was given
a two weeks' notice. Miss Marlowe s physi
cian said that her condition demanded com
plete rest.
Douglas Qerrard, leading Juvenile mart
In support of Grace George in ''Uvorcm.'
at the Grand opera house, Is one of WUllam
A. Urndy's English Importations. Mr. Ger
Tard has a record as an actor In London
and the provinces. He starred for two
years In Australia.
In one scene In her newest' failure In
London. Mrs. Langtry gets down on the
floor In the attitude of a scribwomarw and
crawls all over the stage, making believe
" look for a pearl. "M.s. Langtry. on her
hands and knees." writes a correspondent,
"is seen to different advantage than ever
I,! fore. She was given well, hard-earned
appluuse. but I wonder how her dress with
stood It."
George Bernard Shaw was once Invited
by a friend to hear ar, Italian iijartel of
instrumentalists, repeats Hel,a Dale of T I he
Merry Widow" He went and sat through
out the performance with a stony counte
nance. Ills friend, thinking to draw a lit
tle uralBe from him, remarked:
"You know. Mr. Shaw, tnese men have
been playing together for twelve years.
"G. B." looked at him Incredulously for
a moment before he replied:
Twelve years? Surely we have been
here longer than that."
Mme Vera Komlsorxhevsky has packed
her trunks and name and gone bovk to
Ilussia. before she went awsy she was
given a testimonial signed by lu.u.0 persons,
a necklace and two iruckloads of tlowers.
"The Servant In the House." playing at
the Savoy theater. New York. ha had Its
Becond indorsement by the Masonic : fra
ternity within a month. As a se.iiiel to the
performance of the play In the grand lodge
room of the Masonic temple In New Yora
Sonrlav night. April 6, Hcltiah Kilo Mason,
to the number ot n.-arly l.w" ull.ndet
representation of the plV at the bavoy
last Monday night. !)! fay Mr Ken
nedy has presented in tins play the big,
ill embracing, basic principles ot their
order.
Miss Ida Oreeley-Smlth. who played Mrs.
Prnhsm Lane, a London .society .woman .In
Mr i,.hn Lirew'i "My N lfe. is a granu
daughter of Horace Greeley. She began
her drama,. c career three year, ago,
, hr first appearance In Augustus
Thome? "The Other Girl." "1 I'.ve the
.W nd the hope that spring.
Is with me." said the young actress. None
of the Greeley, or Smith, have taken to
the .tage. so I am neither Inspired or
handicapped by heredity. Actre.se. may
happen in a literary family, though the
preponderance of evidence appears to be
that they happen more frequently In a
Tlpperary family."
AHIRGME.XTI.
MS. KIXIiMAH.
Proprletrr and Manager, Hillman Stock
Company.
SEASON WILL 11H WEDNESDAY
DouS. 1506 llnd. A-1506
TOMORROW week
II ALL, CAUSE'S Marvelous HI ay
l.-fM -t W.M.l,J,MUllllll.Jl....l..i,.l.KII.
1
OMAHA
-vs-
SIOUX CITY
May 17, 18, 19, 20
Monday, May 18, Ladies' Day.
GAMES CALLED 5:4S
The Boyd Theatre
School of Acting
(A practical training school
for dramatic and peratij
' stage) : .Uf ,
Fourth Season Now Open
Students' Matinee Engagements,
LILLIAN FITCH. Director
W. J. BURGESS. Manager
May lYIusic
Festival
AUDITORITJM, MAT 38-39
Splendid Artists In Solo Work both
Vocal and Instrumental.
M1N2V NFAFCXiXH SYMPHOITY
OPCHESTBA
Larg-e Mixed Chorus Rendering
Hydn's Creation.
rOUB SUBURB CONCERTS
TICKETS Now on sals at Muslo and
Drug- Stores 330 to $1.
SEASON PICKETS Any seat In the
House 62.00.
FOR HIRE
FULL DRESS SUITS
S. SUC ARM AN
Of Course
You're Going
TO THE
Republican
Convention
CHICAGO
June 16, 1003
A chance to be In at the "doing
and enjoy a visit to the city ot
parks, boulevards and mammoth
buildings, where you may find en
joyment in plenty.
A cool summer vacation on the shora
of the lake. Lako and rail lines
afford cheap excursions to all tha
Great Lake resorts.
Round-trip tickets at
SPECIAL RATES
to Chicago from all Hock Island
points. '
Conven ent trains vlt the lioclc Island
land you In the heart of the city at
Lasalle Station-
only one on the
elevated railway
loop. .
Ask for Illustra
ted Conventki
folder.
F. P.
RUTHERFORD.
Dir. Pass. Aent, Omaha, NeU
A. O. HOWE.
City Pass. Agent, Oman. , N j