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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1918)
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JANUARY 27, 1918. T B' -ll1 ( o - SitiilyOhtn Whitman fa J? An tA Jiatttf Short Plays Vogue of the One-Act Drama Gains Strength With Change in Taste of Public at s Theater INGULARLY enoueh. SI though not entirely with I out reason, more than ever serious attention is oeing given to the one-act play. Thic to in enm a fipncp 9Q - xribable to the vogue" of the" "liflle" theater, but closer consideration may disclose deeper and sounder reasons tor the growing popularity ot tne short play. First of all; it has come to be., realized that length does not necessarily mean strength of action or argument, and that in proper proportions quite as much may be packed into a few moments as is con taincd in the way of suspended inter est, surprise, and even shock, when extended over some hours. The longer drama form does not always act to the improvement of the story, although it may serve to permit; in troduction of extraneous or superflu ous characters, the addition of non- . essential dialogue, and similar ex pedients for carrying on the tale over jt;be time its author or director hopes ' (o consume in its presentation. Just as the several volume novel is no longer first in favor, so the long drawn out play is giving way to the shorter form, in which the central idea is forcefully shown, without the . elaborate effort to work up to and then down from the climax. If will not do to say that the ond J act 'play is . going to supersede all .-. other forms immediately, for that :s expecting too much, bat it is certain to fill a larger share in the life of the theater. It is not out of the range i of possibilities that the near future will see the evening at the theater given, over to the presentation of one ; or two short dramas or comedies, : with . appropriate musical interludes, and some opportunity for social in ,' terrningling of the auditors, rather than to have the time entirely occu pied by the unfolding of a play ; through, three or four acts, some- times almost divorced In matter of i'i interest, frequently episodic, and sel dom holding great surprise for any K who . has analyzed the situation de : yeloped Jn the opening. Several good, 'i reasons support such change, chief '.; among which is that it will reduce the time now taken up at the theater. .Many people in these days of sub urban tife and downtown playhouses, ' find the trip- to and from the theater - something of . a chore. It requires ' early dinner and preparation to start in reason, and invariably ensures late . return, two facts that militate against the pleasure that ought to be had from the experience. Hurry before Land 'does not inspire the proper mental - attitude nor increase the re ceptive mood, while worry through out; the performance over possibility ffvnrissing the train home adds but ktle to capacity for enjoyment of the actor's efforts. The shorter pro- -fam would ior:cdy this condition. 'That the public is prepared for such v diange in a considerable measure i'shown by the success that has been nttained at the vaudeville houses. The non'arity of this form of entertain- ; ment is indisputable, and it is equally ?rin?rent that this popularity rests as Tiuch on the diversity as on the dual ity of the amusement offered. That the sKort p'av need not be "tabloid" ror fraTmentary has often been ''emSrstr?ted. In one season Omaha had the joy of witnessing three of the most complete of these short dramas ever presented two of tragic find one of comedy form. Mr. E. S. Willard. in "The Man that Was." showed how a story of considerable Jength could be mirrored forth in the nace. allotted for a single act: Mr. Walker Whiteside, in "Jewels of Fire." gave us a domestic tragedy of such poignancy as seldom is equalled in the extended drama, and Mr. Francis J -0 I Every I 1 Afternoon JiJ , a Prices: ; I iocto50c 2 i ' ' ' '-All k,A I with a full week's showing of six acts of vaudeville of high grade, booked by the Western Vaudeville Manag ers association in amliation with the Orpheum circuit and the 'U. B. O." Three shows will be given daily at 2:15, 7:15 and 9:15. Alt seats on the main floor are to be reserved seats, reservation by telephone being as sured by a box office force in per manency from 10 in the morning to 11 at night On Saturdays and bun days prices are to be thf same for the matinee as for the evening perform ance. The Pathe News Weekly, the most up-to-date film newspaper, will be shown in conrection with this vaudeville and there will be a Sidney Drew comedy on each program. The opening bill is headed by Pepple and Greenwald's "1918 Song and Dance Revue," the classiest girl act in vau deville with six special sets of scenery and the latest popular medleys of the day. The three Weston sisters, pop ular musical maids, are also on the opening program. A harmony sing ing and comedy quartet, the Hippo drome Four, one of the best singing organizations on the circuit, has a place of prominence on the Brandeis Hippodrome opening bill. W. S. Har vey and company, "Room Upside Down," and two other acts of high standard complete this six-act feature vaudeville offering which is a fair sample of the quality of entertain ment '.vhich is to be the offering in Omaha's newest amusement center. Ernest Nordin's orchestra has been increased to the proportion of a con cert orchestra of 10 pieces and will render musical selections ranging from the biggest overtures down to the most porular music of the day.. The miniature musical comedy, "The Four Husbands," with Jack Doyle and Kitty Bryan and company is registered to headline at the Or pheum for the week of February 3. "The Four Husbands" was written jointly by William B. Fricdlander, who supplied the lyrics and music, and Will M. Hough, who wrote the book. Winona Winter introducing her latest song successes will be a special fea ture of the bill. Miss Winter, one of the sweetest and most charming girls in vaudeville, is a daughter of Banks Winter, a favorite of a former generation. Tlie till opening at the Empress to day is a live one from start to finish. It is headed by the Hughes Musical Trio, who offer an entertaining instru mental and singing number. Fiddle and Cole, colored men, present a sing ing, talking and musical skit billed as "The New Chinese Cook and the Entertainer." Not since the day of Charles rarsloe have we had as per fect a eharacte riiation of a Chinaman ras is presented br lr. Fiddler. Van i j - i . . i. . - i. . i i ana xoricpresriu innr cipiii-vynuuer, advance model 1918 vehicle, "A Fat Chance and a Slim Excuse." Mr. Van is about the slimmest man imagination will allow us to conjure, while Miss York is a buxom maid of ample breadth. The Buch brothers present a comedy acrobatic number which they call "S'hip Ahoy." For the last half, the bill is header by Mile. Asxoria and company who will bill themselves "World's Fastest Dancers." Two Carl tons, exceptionally good looking young chaps, present an unusual rou tine of haud balancing feats. Gilbert and McKutcheon "In Moments Mus ical" and Tom Brown, "Tom Brown in Black," complete the bill for the last half. Thi wrrk at the nonular Gavetv theater should mark capacity business, n'n lit . I T,t tor Miawg liiny waison ana inc Rurfocmir Wonder Show" is billed to appear there. It is a show that, where it does not otter anytning out oi tne ordinary, will be found to provide that nl4 feature in such & wav that it takes on a new appearance. Anyway, those who go to the show and pay the proper amount ot attention to tne chorus will go away admitting that tins organization ccriainiy uas ionic wonderful girls. "Sliding Billy Wat son" always insists on a wonderful rlinriic nl ttie nroflinf r in order to satisfy him, have to go to unusual pains in selecting the choristers who are to dance and sing for the public's entertainment They are, without ex ception, girls of great individual beauty and they- arc girls who, col lectively, harmonize wen logetner. Hut their sineinc and dftncinz ability makes them quite as wonderful as does their beauty, todays matinee starts at 3; week day matinee at 2. S These are strenuous times for mem bers of the star cast of the New York Winter Garden "Show of Wonders.'-' Recently all of the 150 members told their right name. But it took a gov ernment order to make them do this. According to the new income tax rul ing all stage folk have to give their stage names, their right names and their home addresses. Some startl ing disclosures followed the enforce ment of this rule, and many pretty little stage names gathered from Pull man cars were shattered by cpnfes sions of the real ones. The "Show of Wonders" is to appear at the Boyd theater Thursday, Friday and Satur day, the 7th, 8th and 9th of February. Phone Douglaa 494 SUPERIOR VAUDEVILLE Every Night at 8:15. Prices: 10c to 75c T TffC BKANDEtS Wilson, in "A Little Father of the Wilderness," proved that perfect com edy does not need to be stretched over three hours' time when it can be told in 40 minutes. Mr. Stuart Walker's Portmanteau Theater exhib ited to Omaha such convincing evi dence of the value of using two or three short plays for an evening's program that he won many converts for his thought. $ The serial story will not disappear from literature, nor the' multiple-reel film from the "movie," for each has its place and its followers, and equally so the three and four-act play is not going to vanish from the stage. But the story, the tone-reel film, and the one-av.t play are gaining in popular estimation each day, and that writers and managers are slow in coming to recognize what actors have long known is but a tribute to the con servatism that finds in convention the soundest support for its reluctance to accept change. One of vaudeville's most successful stars, Miss Nan Halperin, is to top the Orpheum bill for the current week. Although she excells a"s a singer of ballads, she is a comedienne uncom monly gifted with a sense of humor. The songs she is using were written for her by Wiiliam B. Friedlander. Emily Ann Wellman is fo present a striking one-act drama called "Young Mrs. Stanford." The offering is quite as unique as was "On Trial." Miss Wellman has spent the major portion of her professional career in the com panies of Louis Mann. Fradkin is one of the few American violinists to acquire international fame. During the past three years he was the Yiolin soloist with the imperial Russian ballet. He makes his first appearance in vaudeville. With h?m comes charming Jean Tell, a soprano of un usual attainments. Percy Bronson and Winnie Baldwin are to present what they call a "1918 Swngology." Sing ing, dancing and light comedy are the chief attributes of their act. The weighty comedian, Ben Linn, will b an amusing feature of the bill. The Bert Hughes company of cyclists ac complish a number of sensational feats. Their game of foot ball, played on bicycles, a-ouses greatest interesr. Raymond Wiibert, in his amusing act, "On the Golf Links," presents a very good reason for an added interest tn the outdoor sport. Outdoor life In Montana will be shown in motion pic tures by the Orpheum Travel Weekly, and another feature will be the port of Marseilles. The Hippodrome vaudeville makes its opet.ing today at the Brandeis, K STUQ S1KMV, Ml 27 MR bin In a Character Song Cycle Music and Lyrics by William B. Friedlander Percy Bronson and Winnie Baldwin In "A 1918 Songology" Ben Linn The Weighty Comedian Mrs. Edward MacDowell Piano PtciUl MacDowell Compositions Y. W. C. A. AUDITORIUM Saturday Evening, February 2nd - Tickets 73c and $1.00 at SchmolUr A Mueller Music Stora. Ht mm World Renowned Violinist Assisted by nn I II iv-iv- 1 1 1 1 II I I TELL Soprano The Bert Hughes Company Of European Novelty Cyclists Raymond Wiibert Presenting "On the Golf Links" OMAHA'S FUN CENTER .Dl'y Mat., 18c, JSe,50 'Ev'is, 25c, 50c, 7Se, 1 Hen's Mia Haaaa Sailnal Ceatov "SLIDING" BILLY WATSON asa (he BURLESQUE W0N0ER SHOW. Billy Wetwa all tnnuik tke shew. Sseneer, flit A Deify. Hsraeslms: til Ueti' Oraeker Jacks. Beauty Cherus ef Beaabe. LADIES' DIME MATIN El WEEK DAYS ORPHEUM TRAVEL WEEKLY - Around the World With the Orpheum Circuity Motion Picture Photographers 1 IK w HA N -in- "YOUNG MRS. STANFORD" A Flash Drama Written by Edward Eisner and Miss Wellman A Two-Hour Play Flashed in Eleven Climacteric Scenes Prices, Including U. S. Gov't War Tax: Mate., 11c to 55c; Night, 11c, 28c, 55c, 83c. Grand Opening TODAY The Home of the Mammoth Entertdnnent 8-BIG FEATURES 8 Pepple & Greenwald's 1910 SONG AND DANCE REVUE . With The Paorika Girl KAT1IRYN ricGOIIIIELL fQp Ford Hanford Toots McConnell r A- HIPP0DE10I3J FOUR luutnoiiv ame d comedy aj'ai 3fl 'The night School 3 DESTOn SISTERS, DAINTY MUSICAL MAIDS 32 looks and Melody' W 'I m V W. S. HAHWEV;; ASSISTED BY MISS MADGE AIIDERSOn - 'In His Original Olferln j 'A Room Upside Down' .4 v. i -1 ' : - - ' v'-i. Mimic Comedian M Scream-' m v European Novelty "Clever Clumsiness" ' f ):'- ( : 'I1 1111 .1 ..".If --. ' ' - ' .iff' ,v.- . :kr'4 Wl ' ' ' ' " -EHEST HORBISB AUGMENTED COiiCEflT ORCHESTRA 1A niCACt? A IH iu riuuco iu I f tfiin m i ni'i-in Her r st Pthe News Daily Matinee 2:15 P. M. 15c and 25c Saturday and Sunday Matineaa Same at Night." 2 SHOWS EVERY NIGHT 7:15 and 9:15 Orchestra and Boxes Reserved At All Performances. Phone D. 600 lew Show Every Sunday Si ne": p Drew ; Comedy P m K re 9
