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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1910)
C U THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JANUARY 16, 1010. Robert Mantel) in a Round of Classic Parts W "-Kb.'r!il'J,rMh."JNot Yet the Greatest but a Conscientious and much occasion for adverse Orlt Iclsm, some of which x- .iir1 In this department of J The Bee. Kor this reason. It for tin other. It la real pleasure to attest the excellence of Mr. Mantell' perform ances In Omaha during th week, when he Rave four of Shakespeare' tragedies at the Boyd. Not that Mr. Mantell has at tained perfection, or that he la no long"! open to critical comment, but he ha traveled a Ions way on the road to great ness, and has much more foundation for hi claim than he had at lha time It first put forward for him by hie press agent. In the beginning he had tuste of a discriminating character, intelligence and ambition. And these have led him upwards, as they must, till he has come much nearer his goal than It appeared he would. For the present he Is wrestling mightily with Much a task as only a strung man sets fur himself. To present one after another four of Shakespeare's most Important plays In n undertaking of no mean slse, and when this Is considered along with the further fact that he presented at least two others at Kansas City Just before he came to Omaha, and that only one day of rest in tervened, some Idea of the repertory achieved by Mr. Mantell may be had. To Intelligently portray the varying roles of Othello, Richard III. Macbeth. Hamlet, Romeo and I-ear In succession, as did Mr. Muntell In successive performances, giving to each character Its distinctive qualities of person and manner. Is excuse for claim to ability, even without having actually succeeded In giving either of the parts the distinction that warrants the meed of "greatness." And this he did do. Successful Actor Whosa Course is Upwards His Hamlet Sane and Satisfying in Detail In all nays Mr. Mantell shows strength and authority In hia Impersonations. lie has the confidence of ease, without the appearance of assurance, and clearly estab lishes his conception of the part he has In hand, so that It carries with It conviction In Its definitive outlines. So far as his Omaha engagement Is concerned, his most impressive work was done as Hamlet. To this, most difficult of roles ha brings no especial effort at 'new reading, nor does he slavishly follow In the path of tradi tion. Perhaps his most marked dprtr from Hamlets of other days Is his abandon ment of the "melancholy" phase of the role. Ha does not abate the sorrow of Hamlet for hia murdered father, nor In any way lessen his determination to be re venged, once he Is able to justify his sus picions. Tho purpose of Hamlet's quest Is kept fair and full In view, but his pro gress through the play's action la not made funereal nor even lugubrious. Mr. Mantell 1s quite convinced that Hamlet was merely shaming Insanity, and that behind this mask he hid his real mind. The one great scene, on which such a conclusion might be predicted, la omitted from the version tVed. It Is that In which Kosencrans and Uullderstern undertake to sound the mind of the unhappy prince, and lntox which old Pollnlus Interjects himself. This Is a really pretty scene, and In a measure Is pivotal for the plot. When omitted, It must yet be borne In mind, If the cour.ie of the drama I J to be Intelligently followed. and that is why one wonders that the less Important scene of the king at his prayers Is not sacrificed. Hamlet easily confounds the courtiers' and thwarts their attempts to draw him out, and then, when the amiable and garrulous old chamberlain undertakes to quia him, he assumes the air of a cracked-brained fellow, and con vinces Folonlus of his lunacy. "I'll fool him to the top of his bent," says Polonlua, little realizing It Is he who Is being fooled. As the old gentleman had before ob served, "It this be madness, then there la method In It." . self; Mantell's the evolution of this Idea to its modern form of Intelligent expres sion, "tho suiting of "the action to the word," and the speaking of "the speech trliplngly on the tongue." no lunger mouthing It." as .might the town-crler. Other Hamlets might be compared with that of Mantell, mostly to hia advantage, but the case may rsst on comparison with his own. Those who saw him five years ago and again on Tuesday night were as tonished at the change. He Is now Immess ureably ahead of his earlier efforts. Of "Macbeth" less may be ald. Mr. Mantell has contented himself ; far with outlining the character of the man, with out going deeply Into its subtleties. He will study It closer If he retains it In his repertory and Kive a more satisfactory performance In days to come. "Macbeth" Is one of the greatest of the Shakespearean tragedies and deserves the very best the actor can bring to It. The Mantell con ception Is good, but not complete. In "King Lear" the king was presented with confidence and generally made Impressive, yet Is also lacked something of the quality that deserves to be called great. . It is a much showier role than either Hamlet or Macbeth, and for this reason Is more dif ficult. The actor Is prone to rely on. the natural sympathy that goes out to a character In the predicament Lear Is landed In, and cornea to neglect the details of the character's development, depending on the broader outlines to carry him through. This Is In some ways true of the Mantell I-ear. But the difficulties of background against which his living char acters pictured his thought at the Boyd last week. It was not the most massive production ever seen at that theater; neither of the plays was put on with any thing approaching the sumptuous settings used bv Mr. Mansfield for "Henry V ' or "Julius Ceasar,'1 or by Hlr Henry Irving for "Merchant of Venice" or "Hoirtco and Juliet," but withal the staging was ex cellently done. It has come of late that so much attention is paid to the scenic equipment of the classic drama that fre quently much mediocrity on the parti of the company Is hidden beneath -the rich ness of the settings', just as defects in woodwork are often covered by putty and varnish. This Is not true of the Mantell pioductlons, for he has made a sincere ef fort to provide capable and competent actors for the minor roles of. the great plays he Is offering, at the same time giving them oeautiful mountings. This evidence of honesty of purpose on his part Is not the smallest element in support of his claim to eminence. Two well known exponents of comic opera brought new comic operas to Omaha during the week, and thus formed a sort of salad or' desert course after the more substantial offerings of the earlier days. Both Miss 8cheff and Mr. Hopper person ally pleased everyone who saw and heard them, but it Is doubtful If either "A mat Inee Idol" or "A Prima iHmna" will attain great longevity. Of the two the Herbert Blossom offering has far more merit, but It Is In too quiet a vein for Immortal pop ularity. Particularly those people who ad ine roie mane n me, more attractive, ana mIre lhe Gporge M. Cohan brand of must will be listed as among the realty ' great itid authoritative creations. One lingering regret forces itself on rec ognition In connection with this engage ment. It Is too bad that Hhakespeare and the entire company of players and writers of his day could not have wltnioSij these performances, to see how much ' appro priately artistic scenery and stage equip ment lend to the force of the drama. Ptoper environment Is so essential to the correct understanding of the drama that success without It Is no longer possible. True. Mr. Greet and his company made manful efforts to teach the people to take their Shakespeare straight, with no ac companiment of expensive stage dressings, but had only such success as comes to any novel departure from the conventions, with nothing of permanency. ' In other ways we are supported In our conclusion that Shakespeare ' was appreciative of the best In art, and so It Is fair to conclude that ha would have appreciated proper stage settings for his dramas. This being the case, he would have luxuriated In the fine AMI SKMBNTS. AMI SKMET, Z2C l rr ran theater M i Vixl Xsi prices: 15c25c50c-75c MATINKKS Wee', ana Sat. 10a, Be, Boo CKE SOLID WEEK, STARTING SUKDAY HAT., JAN. 16 USUAL WZDNESD AY AND SATURDAY MATINKK RETURN IF THE IMMENSE SUCCESS . STAIR AND HAVLIPf (IXC.) PRESENTS ' AMI SK ME NTS. AMI SKMEXTJ. SO ii (SO GUS EDWARDS' 610 SCREAM, WITH TillBERG AND THE CIRCLE THEATER, NEW YORK, ALL STAR CAST lirnn TIMBERG'S NEW SONGS llCWSl "SQUEEZE ME TIGHT" AND "LITTLE SNOWFLAXE" rr COMEDIANS GINGERS DANCERS cc 03 23-NEtf SOXS KITS-23 30-DANCINQ COPS-30 JvJ ROLLICKING BEAUTY CHORUS USSM n S SUNDAY, JAN. 23 HENRY D. HARRIS PRESENTS pi ASSD ft yj nit ou THE L3 Fa cat comedy are ready to enter a condemna tion of "A Prima Donna." No one ran Marathon race, there was not even any real romping, and no opportunity to laugh because some player was made to tall down suddenly. Mr. Blossom's comedy Is of a rather quieter vein, productive of more chuckles and smiles than guffaw. It is true on the other hand that the ii' BloBsom-Herbert production does not score quite the mark of 'IMlle. Modeste," and Miss Kcheff Is occasionally a little more sedate than is necessary. He Wolf Hopper's new offering Is not wholly original in subject, but yet not alto gether flut and stale. It dragged a little when Mr. Hopper was off the stage, for he himself Is entertaining and amusing, and several others of his company were not. Marie CaHll In "The Boys and Betty" and "The Merry Widow," were not displaced In general affection by either "A Matinee Idol" or "The Prima Donna," and the former two bid lair to go through the local season as the two brightest memories of this kind of stage offering for this 'Omaha year. BY CHARLES KLEIN, AUTHOR OF "THE THIRD DEGREE" FIRST TIME AT POPULAR PRICES. 'A ami lewwilllll. HIM aIMI I Ml Ml laW..iMi W.WI'IJI'MW'IIIL'I' WIMH J BOYD'S .S&j&t8 tMlOHIGlifl AMD AXXi WEEK MATS. WBD. AID I1T.I FREUEKIC TIIOVIHSUN rk'cnli THE BEST COMEDY COMPANY 111 AMERICA And the Orlylnal Production ot I Ysar in Kew York City Laughs (cqY (mm v rkm I T y pMnj J r Chicago A Dramatization of George Barr HcCutcheon's Famous Book GREATEST SHIP SCENE AMD STORM EFFECTS EVER SEEN A.YWHERE PB.ICXS Klghte, 11.80, tl.OO, TBo, 60o, BBo. Mat. 91-00, TBo, BOo 8 So. 4 DAYS Commencing NEXT SUNDAY, JAN. 23-Mat. Wd. HENRY B. HARRIS Announces THE TRAVELING SALESMAN A Comaxiy by JAMES FORBES, Author of "THE CHORUS LADY" Mall order now. Beat Thnraday a Day Commencing Wtxt Thursday January 97. Mat. Raturday. Tha On Bio Theatrical Xrml of the Bimod -Mart H. Blngar present HENRY WOODRUFF i.dfeuc'tloT ttV&lra Tlie Prince of Tonlflht Z iff Tin Tt) Y - -- Patriotism arid the Prima Donni Adjustable Sentiments that Fit Various Sections of the Country, All Aimed at Cultivation of Ent:nte Cordiale and the Most Lib eral Flow of G.toss, but Necessary, Dollars Into the Box Office Till. M Any one may supply the reason for Hamlet wlnhlntf to be. thought mad. In courae of lite purault of th murdrer of hia father. Po Mr. Mantell hia apparently discarded any doubt to the sanity of the youns man, and play him as one dl traottd by fcHof, but always master of hi own emotions and fully aware of the Im- poit of his words and actions. Nothing could be plainer than this, and in It re sides the distinctive feature of Mr, Man tell's characterisation. Not being mentally unbalanced, and being; normally healthy In body as well, It would 111 become Kaml?t , If ht- did not put on some semblance of cheerfulness when he met with such friends as Horatio and the lending player. Even his welcome of Rosencrans anl QuJIderctorn was hearty enough and sin cere, also, nnd he made no alteration In hl attitude toward them even aftr he had compelled tha ndmNelon that they had come to spy on him In the Interest of the king. In nono of his course did he aho-.v tha cunning of the craft of a dishonest one. His plans were those of a reasoning, morallv acute Individual, and he seems sans at all times. Bo Mr. Mantell's Hamlet Is neither intiane nor melancholy. . $ Ample warrant for this Interpretation may be found, not only In the text of the drama, but In comments upon It, and in adopting this Idea and making It th dom inant not of his presentment ot th part, Mr. Mantell has shown himself to be abreast f the thought of th times. In many other ways he has withdrawn from the traditional, and assumed a more ra tional Idea or the part. On of these Is his forswearing of a,ny attempt at oratory. Klv years ago, he. delivered many of the lines. Including the "voltloquy," in the most approved of oratorical fashion, thereby giving much offense, as well as outraging his own advice to the player. ' It was said In briefly reviewing his performance of Tuesday night, that he resembled in many ways Kdwtn Booth more than any other; Booth being aJmlttedly th greatest of Amerlvan Hamlets, and by some alleged to be the greatest of all. But In this one par ticular he outdid Booth. It was one of Dopth's faults that ti would fall into the ADA MB SCHUMANN - HEIKK oan certainly not complain of the condition of the musical market In Omaha, as the writer has been reliably Informed that she received the sum of twelve hundred pieces of sliver, each representing the purchasing power of one hundred cents, on the occasion of her recent vtsit here. And yet the Madame says: "In San Fram elsco, Los Angeles, Denver, St. Paul and tho largo cities of the Paoiflc coast tli audiences are critical, discriminating an. I appreciative" Omaha Is not mentioned ti. this class. The distinguished contralto (and messo soprano combined) his a very patriotic press representative who sometimes seems to color the facts somewhat unduly, if one Is to believe the papers. For example; In .a local paper the fol lowing notice appeared In advance of the cqricert: "Mme. Schumann-Helnk. who will be heard here li an Amerlcnn citizen, although born In T.ieben, near Prague, Bohemia. When asked a short time ago why she preferred America to Austria and Germany, she replied: 'All my luck, all my fortune, came to me hero. 1 want to be an American, but, most of all, 1 want my children to be Americans. In disordered mind, nor even i this wonderful country everyone is esti mated according to his worth, for here work Is respected, no matter of what sort It is. In Germany one must have titles, riches, position, to be anyone at all. Here I shake hands with everybody all are my friends. South, east, west, north every where I find such good friends. The southern "people are the loveliest I know of." ' iThis was evidently a southern In terview. ' In Omaha. Madame loved the west best of ull. In Chicago she sold: 1 love Chicago. I owe It so much. My love and gratitude go to its people.") The distinguished Madame hit quite un consciouslythe nail right square on the head vifhen she said: "Here, work It respected, no matter of what sort It Is." That Is the trouble. We have not the European standard, and "work Is re spected, no matter of what sort it Is." This Is the principal "standard" (?) nowadays: "He did the best he could." Therefore hoi a voice must b raised In considerate criticism.' Ati a very bright and Interesting young disciple of music said to the writer, once upon a time, "If the people ar satis fied, what's the difference?" Omaha has heard work here, orchestral, choral and vocal, which would make angels the "Star Spangled Banner" has been played with the loud pedal on, but Is It true? The musical editor of The Bee will ylld to no one. In his loyalty to the United States, Its laws, Its people and Its flag. But that famous saying, "My coun-.ry, may she always be right, but right or wrong, my country," sometimes Is twisted to read, "My country, may she always be right, but right or wrong, I will say that she's right." Now this kind of patriotism Is not t''ue patriotism. And one does not have to belittle- or misrepresent other Countries in order to proclaim himself a rjatrlot especially In times of peace! "In this wonderful country everyone is estimated according to his worth." So! Tou who were working in that position for, say twenty years, when the vacancy above you occured, why did the position go the "president's nephew, " or to 1 the "manager's cousin" instead of to you? Why do we use the civil service Idea In our postofflce. and stop when It comes to the postmaster?,- y Why is it that we so often read that American singers have no chance In our National Opera, because wo Americans will not accept them until they have been cbroad and had their good qualities "dis. covered?" Concert-goer is interviewed as saying: "When you telk of Kurope, you must re member that among the chief vocal teach ers there today are the Americans." And this 13 nlao true "In Germany." Does It lojk as though in Germany there Is less appreciation of talent than here? It is a significant fact that in the former Interview quoted at the beginning of this appreciation of Madame Schumann-Helnk these words were used: "All my luck, all my fortune, came to me here. I want to be an American." And In the latter Inter view In Chicago the estimable lady Is in terviewed as saying: "I am an American, I make my money here, I have my home here and I spend my money in my adopted country." Was 1st los"? Very much to the point were the words of Mme. Maiazln of the Manhattan opera house, In a Philadelphia Interview - re cently: "There are many American sjng ers In Europe, where they are In demand, and I naturally expected to find many of them here. This curious condition, I think, is due to the fact that the governmental authorities in tho United States have not sufficiently appreciated the economic and conserving force of music. Whatever in fluence elevates and cultivates the Indi vidual, must. In the end, elevate' and cul tivate the state. Music, In my opinion, Is one of the greatest spiritual forces,- if not the greatest, among men. Most of the governments In Europe thoroughly realize this fact. Public administrations in those countries have undertaken to utilize this force for its economic and preservative ef fect In the national life. They have founded various Institutions with the view of encouraging the growth and develop ment of musicians. I think I have noticed that music In your country Is re garded more as an amusement than a seri ous and educational Influence. In Euro pean countries music is re vexed and loved as a great and beautiful thing. It will I nnnm Ho m. ,o tr.l r,uA I TI h I'nlf i.fl KtfltOfl ! In the future, because music is an influ ence which cannot be defeated any more than the religious Impulses and feeling can be defeated." Madame Marazln ias sent the arrow to the mark. Too few of our musicians and teachers regard it as aj "serious and edu- i cational Influence." The uppermost ques tion in the musician's thought should not be "How's business?" Or "How many pu pils have you got?" It la a serious affair and an uplifting Influence, not a mere "shop" matter, nor an amusement. Let us reflect. The recital by the famous Dr. Wuellner is the center to which all things move and to which all attention is summoned Just now. Tuesday evening. The beauti ful new Auditorium of the Young Women's Christian association. This Is an oppor tunity which comes seldom. Tickets are on sale. A word to the wise is sufficient. t THOMAS J. KELLY. Musical Mote. The following program will be sung by Dr. Ludwig Wuellner at tne Young Women's Cnrlstlan association auditorium on Tuesday evening, January 18. As, on all such occasions, Dr. Wuellner will be as sisted at the piano by Conrad V. Has. F Schubert Der Wanderer, Du Llebst Mich Nlcht, Der Doppelganger, Erlkonig F Schubert Die Taubenpost, Die Forelle, Allnde, Kifersucht und Stolz, Das Lied Inn Grunen, Der Musensohn. Joh Brahms Auf Dem Klrchhofe, Verrat. Hugo Wolf-Fussrlese, Der Gartner. R. Strauss Das Lied des Stelnkloppers, Cachie R. s'chumann-MIt Myrthen und Rosen, Iter Soldat, WaldesKesprach, Die Belden Grenadlere. Musician's Mask Carnival r irrak m bwsj xem rswA n ti n f r Monday, January 24 $200 1K3 CASH PRIZES Admission 50c a Person Spectators - - 25c TMEO. L.IEBELA3, Costumer ' 14!O Howard Street ( Tickets 6n Sale at Auditorium, Monday, Afternoon, January 24th. ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE Matins KTry Day, a:18 Right, 8:16 WEEK STABTING TODAY At the Omaha Theaters "Brewster's Millions" to Fill the Week at the Boyd, While "School Lays" Takes the Time at the Krug Orpheum Has a Strong Vaudeville Bill and the Gayety Presents Its Usual Extravaganza. orktorluul style of expression at times, and weep and musicians grieve, and this sam whiltth fashion was then acceptable, be cause It was set by the highest of author ity. It Is now a custom more honored In the breech than the observance," Taste 1m altered as lutelllgric has advanced, and as th duty of the stage is still "to hold, as lwr. th mirror up to nature." so th actor must comfort himself at all times much as would a man under like condi tion. This has brought 'about the undoing of oratory on, the stage, and no offense 1 now more quickly marked dowu against an actor than "preaching." F(ir tho most tart Mr. Mantell has freed himself entirely from thla. It was In th quieter, more studious passages that he most resembled Booth; some very marked elements of similarity between thorn ar here noted. It Is beyond th power of man to fully establish this, as only memory may be called upon to bervo In aupport of what Booth did, but thus who recall him bt.it will agree that he was a atudluuj Hamlet; thoughtful and tamest, yet with the full tide of health pressing ever for freedom, so that he did not always show as being weighted down with th aspect of melan choly and th outward and visible evi dence of a great grief. In th stronger and more powerfully dramatic passages the divergent tn methods simply mark the aeparatiou of the two schools of acting lepirsiutcd. Booth's was a survival of tho liadltlons that had come don in direct line from th days of Khapespearc him- work, through diligent exploitation, has been greeted by large and "undlscrimlna ting" audiences; and Omaha has seen Henri Marteau, the violinist, now head of the Royal Hochschule of Berlin, and Gadowskl, the pianist, each play to a small and discriminating audience of less than twenty-five souls. But that is nothing. "Ths work is respected, no matter! of what sort it is." There was a time when even Schumann Heink herself sang a great program in Omaha, and did not find is necessaiy to remove a good old song like Mrs. Beach's "Ah Love, But a Day," (words by Brown ing) and sing Instead Nevln's "Rosary," twhlch has been parodied and re-parodied), not did she deem it wis to present such a ditty aa "Hi Lullaby," which la regularly advertised In a leading music Journal of wldo circulation as "Being sung everywhere by Mme. Schumann-Helnk and can b ob tained at the Bond Shop." Incidentally, why must Fthelbert Nevin be misrepresented so continually by his I "Iluary." The man urote far better things than that. "In Germany" says the article quoted "one must have titles, riches, position to be anyone at all." This Is quoted In con trast to the other statement: "In tills wonderful country everyone is estimated according to. his worth." This makes very Interesting reading after Now again "In Germany one must have titles, riches, position to be anyone at all." Do you happen to know that one of the leading bassos of the RoyaJ opera houao In Berlin, Germany, is Mr. Putnam Gi iswold, sn American? In Germany. Did you happen to know that Mr. Mac Lennan, tenor, was allowed six months on his contract at full pay, uniil he could work up the German rales well enough to sing In the same Royal Opera? In Ger many, What titles, riches and position did Geraldlne Furrar have, pray tell, when she went to Germany? Did she not first "make good" there, and is not Geraldlne Farrar a name to conjure with now at the great Amei-lcan opera center, New York? And In Germany. When the musical editor of The Bee first heard the Richard Strauss sensation "Salome" In Germany, the part of Salome was Bung by Frances Rose, an American. In Germany. ' When last year a number of Omaha peo ple heard "Tannhauser" at the Wagner festival In Munich, they heard In the part of ICIizabeth, an American, Maud, Fay. In Germany. t Madame Schumann-Helnk Is a very recent number of the Musical Leader and OOK readers and theatergoers alike are familiar with George Barr McCutcheon's fantastic talS of frenzied finance, "Brews' ter'a Millions." Imagine a young man trying to spend $1,000,000 in one year- in order to get 000.000! With but a few weeks remaining of the year, thla young man. who is named "Monty" Brewster, finds himself almost ready to give up the Job, but a storm helps him out, and it Is this storm that offers the opportunity to present a sensational stage picture and makes tho play on of the best of the season. Of course, the big tiling In the play and that which delights and thrills the spectator more than any thing else In It, is the work Bolejy of the producer, Frederic Thompson. A special moving stage to convey the picture of the ut..um vkl'1,1 tnsalnif in the throes ot a storm on the Mediterranean is employed. Tho motion is vivid and heightened by the manipulation of the back scenery. The clouds drifting past, the flashes of light ning, the receding shore and the passing lisht house, the roar of thunder, the ex cittd rushing about of the ship's officer and iassengeru, combine in action and pic ture that for realism has never been equalled. The Illusion of actual movement of the yacht Is perfect. The play will be nncented at the Boyd theater all this week, with a Wednesday and Saturday matinee, It opens tonight. "The Tallest Actor In the World" MR. GEORGE AUGER And His Plsys, in "JACK THE GIANT KILLER The Carmen Troupe In Their Daring Wire Athletics Henrv B. Harris' production of Janu Forbes' latest comedy success, "The Travel lng Salesman," will be seen at the Boyd four .days, beginning January 23, with u Wednesday matinee. "The Prince of Tonight," the latest o: musical plays from the Princess Theatei ccmpany, Chlciuo, where it ran for ovei 200 nights, will be sten at Boyd's theatei three days, on January 2", 2i and 1j. wliu matinee Saturday. The cast Is headed' by Henry Woodruff. V L DU. M'OWIO WIM.NKR. AT Y W. C. A Ai'DITOUHM TUESDAY EVENING NEXT, ".School Daya" -Is the title of Gus Ed ward's musical comedy that rUatr & Huv lln present for u week's engagement at the Krug ilieuter starting rJund.y. The pro duction is practically the same as that which toihed the country with great suc cess lust season and which has a long and successful run at the Circle theater. New York. "School Days" Is un entirely dif ferent production from the ordinary hack neyed musical comdy. The chorus Is com posed exclusively of young girls, a few, if any. over lb years old. Gus Edwards has done more thun Introduce a stageful of young people with the delightful musical numbers and dancing acts. He has sup plied a story that mixes in well with th tuneful melodies, and the quick, clever t animated dancing. In fact, this chorus wljh their animation and vim cannot be excelled. The musical numbers with which the three acts abound are all of a lively order and there are many genuine "hits" Including a number of original composi tions by Herman Timberg which are being heard for th first time this season. Horn of th song hits Include "Th Fighting Kid." "Merry-Go-Round," "Tittle Tattle, "When I'm an American Citixen" and such songs as "sunDonnei sue ana ,-cnooi Days." Herman Timberg is the star of the production. A. Mil of artistic features and novelties Is offered this week at the Orpheum theater. The headline act, a playlet called "Jack the Giant Killer," Is adapted from the familiar fairy tale, and Is made sen sr.Oonally realistic by the fact that the 1 giant is represented by George Auger, who I Is called the "greatest" actor In America by virtue of his gigantic proportions, and the hero. Jack, b pluyed by Brnest Brum mel, the smallest actor and singing come dian in this country. These extremes are assisted by a company of able actors, all of whom are pigmies compared to the colossal George Auger. The Carmen troupe of dancing wire athletes present a com bination of tricks In wire equilibrium and Htrrlght aerobatics. Nonette, who was formerly the specirl feature with "The Vassar Girls," comes with a musical offer ing In which she Introduces violin playing 1 ind singing. George Perry and M'hs Le White are slngors and enmed'ans. The act "nntrlbuted by Williams and Tucker is a limit classic u-lled "Sklnney's Finish." "Smirk and P-iylngs," Is the way Jumes P. McDonald dscrlhes his offering. The '-e nitifuily costumed nnd l'chted skating number of Reynolds and Donegan Is a enl novelty In the wav of musical comedy Vnces on roller skate. The klnedrome u s a rew scries of motion pictures to f'er. The Orpheum concert orchestra of fifteen will furnish a musical program it each entertainment. Louis Uoli'e's Knickerbocker Kxtrflva--anza 'company will be the attraction dur 'ng the coming six d:ys at the Gayety, starting this nftdnoon. The amuHlng romedy, "The Girls of Beaiitybmg." will be presented,. The opening skit is called "The Joy of Llvirg." the scenen being laid at West HaJen Mineral Springs. The playlet Introducea the full strength of the eompany. wit a half dozen comedians and big chorus of thirty well-drilled young women. One of the leading women of the company Is Miss Lucy Harrow, who has won a high ruputntion In Ilglit opera and muilcil comedy. Miss Zella DcMar enacts the purt of a dashing French siubrette who fascinates all the men at the health resort end, of course, Incurs .the dis pleasure of all the women. Her role Is that of a ParlHlan music hall singer. She will be uhly suppoited by Misses Virginia and riowen. Messrs. Wooley end AU-ims, James Rowland and other clever people. Starting Monday there will be a ladles' dime matinee daily. NONETTE Gifted Musician and Soloist ' GEORGE LEE PERRY and WHITE "l Comedy, Music and Conversation EVA JOE WILLIAMS and TUCKER Presenting the Slang Classic. "SKINNEY'S FINISH" James F. MacDsnald In Songs, and Sayings E A RLE 1 EL LIE REYNOLD an! DONEGAN Society and Stage Dancing on Rollers kInodroivie Always the Newest In Motion Pictures New Musical Fcftturo Extraordinary ORPHEUM CONCEHTORCBESTRA ' 15 Talented Artists 15 3AYETY XT'! GOOD Ssvotsd to Strictly High Grad Extravag ansa and Vaudrlll TWICE DAILY D8A'VX MAT. TODAY 1 ROBIE'S rt KmCKERBOCKEli EXTRAVAGANZA CO. "THE QIRX.S OF BEADTYBVEO" Hers' a Show That' Strong on VAU D EVI LLE HOLDEN & HARROW The Messenger Boy and the Show Girl WOOLEY & ADAMS In a German Talkfest PRlNCE& VIRGINIA In Sketch, "Bud s Slater." DVTfFGl WALSH Wooden Shoe Dancers. Prices 10c. 25c. 50c and 75c. Bowen, Lina & Moll Horizontal Har Kxperts Evening ftnd Sunday Mat., 150, 860, 6O0 and 7Bo ttt.v Ht 1 c a OKk a fW a", IHAia. I)1 - at BOo LADIES' I At any wesjk TirKKTM I Wi I ' Day Matinee. Dear Kdri . X put In thre enjoyable hours In Kansas City Thursday, gaalng at th Knickerbockers. VauaavlU admirers will b particularly plsaaed. B. X,. JOHVSOST, Mgr. Osysty Thatr MMMM Shortest Play Various nationalities contend over the distinction of having produced .the great est play ever written, but th re can be 110 contention over t tie smsllext play. It Is a complete five act tragedy entitled "Koh- munda.", written in Italy more than sixty years ago by the poet, Giovanni Ventura, and was produced with much succ.ss in Its dlmunltlve form at both Tu.ln and Milun. The playlet shows abundant action, as can be seen: "KOSMUNDA" Tragedy In Five Acts by Giovanni Ventura. Persons of the Pluy: Kin Albion, Kosmunda, daughter or King Kunlmond und wife of Albion. Pen dens, a slave. Albion (giving Hosmumla the skull of her father filltd with wine) -Drink! U is the Fkull of your father. Hnsmunda (horrified) h! Albion (commanding) I wish u Kosmunda Wrlnksj-Woe unto jou! Albion (affectionately' to HoHrnumlal .... 1 lHmunda-Can I be "h",wlse? Alblon-What is p.i!'t must be foigolten. KoHinurula-Do not K.ucli tne. Albion You hate ,, Ituamundf-Howrfi rtosmunda ft(exarniues cloaely a stiletto ''pldei'ia' (comes and kneels before hi r) - Kosmunda (passionately)-! love-you! PeiUleus tastoiilHied) Oh. my God! Kosmunda Come with me. (Krnbraces "lm ) ACT IV. (From adjoining room, wher.; King Al bion sleeps, snoring Is heard.) Kojniuuda (hands the sul.to to Peiicent.) t lj Vt til him! Pel id. ns (hesliatlng)-n he king? Kosmunda (quickly -The rival. Pendens (with determination and cour Oge) He shall die. (Goes determinedly to the sleeping apurt ment of Albion.) Albion (with stifled Vclce. off stage) "itoJmunda ( lisien!ng)-l le! Die! Die! perldens (rushes into th room with the Dr. Ludwig Wullner Famous Interpreter , ol Sonfl Y. W. C. A. AUDITORIUM Tuesday Eve., Jen. 18th. I'liccH, I.0U, and $2.K, on sale Monday and Tuesday, at OWL lilU'd CO., 16th and Harney ''fhrSiueTSonanielision For The Avsrage Man." an address by PRES. A. If. STORMS or Iowa State College SUNDAY. 4 P. M. V. IVI . C. A. bloody siilclt" In hand) H Is dead! Kohimimtii outtU'hc the stiletto and hold Ina It up to lu-aven, yells) Now, you drink. luiher-now, ou fli-ink! (Curtain.) Jjiter the little play was enlarged b i long, though without Improving th sti lUl dramaturgic elements all inbofllsd la the original.
