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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 1898)
THE COURIER. ! if V THE THEATRE Last Thursday the Oliver was opened by Madame Helene Modjeaka and her large company in Cleopatra. The house was filled with a brilliant" audience among which were those who had seen Madame Modjeaka play many parts. As Cleopatra she was lissome and giaceful and her costumes were gorgeous and of superb color but she was not Cleopatra. Not that it mattered, whatever Mod jeska plays she makes the heart beat with the sweet cadence of her voice and her en wrapping womanliness. The company was costumed in exquisite taste and most richly. The scenery was very elaborate and beautiful. The support was exceptionally good, especially the leading man who played Antony, and the two littin Egyptians, Iris aud Char mian. The subjoined tribute to Mod jeska is taken from "The Passing Show" by Miss Cather, published in this paper last March: In New York I went to see Modjeaka in "Mary Stuart." I had not seen her for six years aud I was almost afraid to go afraid that she might have changed too greatly. She has changed, indeed, but only as a flower from which the rains have washed the brilliance of its color, or as an antique marble which time has ravaged but never lost its high significance . The old poetic charm, the old regal manner are still hers. To me there has always been something of the mediaeval in this woman, something of that spiritual fineness and delicate re serve which the age of chivalry bred in women; eomethiDg of that dignity which walked between the shadow of the clois ter and the effulgence of the court, something that accords with the mellow notes of the flute, something .that be longed to the days when men thought a woman's love worth sacrifices, and pil grimages, and hard fought battles, like the Holy Grail or the sepulcher of Christ. When I see her play I can understand how Dante loved Beatrice for a life-time, and how Petrarch sang of Laura in a dungeon, how knights of old died to kiss their mistress' hand.how the old chatelaines, believing in the vir gin, caught on their own brows the re fulgent light that shone about Mary's head and became to men, mediators with God rather than ministers of plea sure. Idealism lived in men until it died in women. To step from the son.id, blatant, nak- ed materialism of such plays as "The Tree of Knowledge" and The Conquer ors" into this woman's presence is to en ter another world, a wcrld in which the imagination soars rather than that in which the senses riot. You remember it was just the same whatever the play. If her Camille was too refined.it was be cause poesy cannot be gross, and a queen cannot be common. Ah! the pity of it that this woman must grow old! Never, surely, did we so need such serenity of soul as her's, never before did we so need to hive life set to musi. Her s is indeed the charm which age cannot wither nor custom stale. There is no woman on our stage today who can read bUnk versa as she can. The technical perfection of her reading, despite her accent, always awes nu a little. The metre never hampers her; she handles it as freely as prose. Her sentiment is of the kind that is most naiurauy expreuseu id veree. iyuoubub needs breath she pauses and takes it naturally expressed in verse. When she raiuer man uiur a epuuueu ur uurrjr a line to its end. Ah, Lady, when shall we look upon your like again? Our world is given over to Anna Held and Julia Opp and Maude Adams and their kind, to daughters of joy and brazen in competence and china playthings, Cor delia, stay a little! Last Friday at the Funke Charles Dickson, Henrietta Crossman and Nan ette Comatock in "Mistakes Will Hap pen" played to a moderate business. This company of nine are artiits every one. Their, performance was finished. The perfection of workmanship was not lost on those who were there but they 6hould have played to standing room only. It is rare indeed that so good a play and so good a company appear here. Reproaches are frequently addressed to the theatre managers that they do not get the best here. Well the best was at the Funke last Friday and lacked a representative audience. The Lincoln public responds to a name of extra familiar fame like that of Modjeaka. Joe Jefferson or Crane, but when a company composed of the best modern actors ar rives we are not sufficiently acquainted with the modern stage to take an excel lent performance for granted. In on sequenco actors of acknowledged pres tige have played to poor houses in Lin coln, and to tell the plain truth the place is not popular with them. The .other members of tho "Mistakes Will Happen" company are Charles liar bury, William Hawley, Franklin Gar land, Edmund Lawrence, Ben Deane. Adah Eckert and Carrie Behr. Carrie Behr's song and dance with Edmund Lawrence made a hit worth chronicling. Henrietta Crossman was graceful, quick witted, and coquettish as she always is. Nanette Comatock is charming. Her mellow voice vanquishes what defenses her beauty leaves, and she uses it as Maude Adams does to stay. Mr. Dick sou has the cool, nonchalance that William Gillette has made popular. Oliver theatre patrons are delighted with the new curtain whose soft blue draperies forever conceal the horrid old witches and the fountain of youth which was impossible in drawing and color. The sallow old women are painted out and the new picture soothes whore the old irritated. It is .unfortunate that the artist has chosen to paint his name so large on one of the marble steps in the picture. Artists generally place their names in the corner of the picture where it harmonizes with the composi tion and must be searched for by an ad mirer. The sign on this curtain is a blot and should be placed less conspicu ously in a corner. The "Gay Matinee Girl" on Thursday and "A Milk White Flag" on Saturday were of mpdiocre merit in cast and play. The Milk White Flag besides the usual Hoyt coarseness has a repulsive plot. The corpse is a swindler, his wife ie a wretched cheap imitation, the other women are only a shade better and the men are not membars of good society. 1 the whole play there is not a charac- ter we would like to know. It is the work of a man without delicacy and without respect for humanity. An Eclipse, which can bs seen with the naked eye, will occur Monday, Oct. 21th, at 8:15 p. m. at tho Funke opera house, when the Warner Opera company, the society favorites, will give their init ial performance. This company is, with out a doubt, the strongest company touring the west this season, universally extolled as wearing the purple of super iority. They have selected from their choice lepeitoire of plays, O. E. flol burn's masterpiece, the beautiful four act comedy, "Mercie'a Marriage," as their opening bill for Monday night, scened in the most extravagant manner. - Gorgeous costumes and every attention jjoiu tu uctan. uuu i mu iu nee ura Don't fail to see Cora Warner, the world's greatest illusion dancer in her bewildering serpentine, tire, and lily dance with all the very lat est electric and calcium light effects. Also beautiful illustrated songs at each and every performance. Prices If, 20 and 30 cents, with ladies free Monday night under usual conditions. Rush for seat9. We present in the advertisement an outline cut of Louise M. Brehany, the famous prima donna of the Louise Breh any Ballad and Opera company, who are soon to favor us with a visit. She has gained a national reputation through her success with Sousa s Band, the Chicago Marine Band, Edouard Re- menyi, Bernard Listeraann company and other great organizations, and this year heads her own company, giving an act of the grand opera Martha in costume in addition to a regular concert program. THE OLIVER THEATRE JN. WEN. J. Manager. ONE NIGHT ONbY Monday, Ootober S-tm r She is a famous ballad singer; in fact, she is considered the best in America, and has for her support some renowned artists. This will be a rare musical treat and should Lo largely attended, as it is a rare thing for our music loving citizens to hear a portion of any opera by such singers. Secure seats at once at Box office. At the Oliver Monday, October 21. Prices-81.00. 75;:, 50c, 25c. AX tti& Funke all Next ITeek rtc a i Ml TKAUIION $'ir; TJH -t jUHSTtATIO r.iiOl EftPEMTiM flRElNftLllYatMCE IVY- Prices. 10, 20 and 30 cents. Ladies free Monday night un der the usual conditions. : anon I 4057 Brace Blc. Isabella A. Fickler, Proprietor. Office hours 9 to 5. Wednes day evening 7 to 9. Explana- ! Ltions and Health Book free. IMIMMMIIMMHIIIMmHl flfcW ' h- s. ri - 50CIETY y&cik yw'vF 1' I !Cl&iS-x rt .1 J t mmw 9EPEMTIMF W VIAI THE L0HIS BREHANY BALLAD AND OPERA CONCERTS. Louiai Brehony, America's favorite Prima Donna, assist ed by a superb coterie of well known American artists in a choice musical program, concluding with a portion of the grand opera "Martha." beautifully costumed. A great musical entertain ment. Pricf s, 81, 75c, 50 and 25c. Seats on sale Friday, October 21. MUSICAL MENTION. Mr. Henry Eames and wife will bo lo cated at Mr. Paul Bartlett's new resi dence on II street. The Cadet band will furnish tho music at the afternoon exercises of tho dedication of the Mechanic Arts build ing and the orchestra and male quartette in tho evening. Among the new arrivals at tho School of Mupic this week were Lulu Wonder of Blue Springs, Susanna Asbmun of Atchison, Kansas, and Eva Comatock of Neligb, Nebraska. The Univerdity School of Music has engaged the eminent pianist, Fannie Bloomh'eld Zeisler, for a recital on De cember 3d. Madame Zeisler has not visited Lincoln and is known as the greatest American woman pianist On Wednesday evening, October 19th, at the University chapel the first artist recital of the series of 1898-9 was given by Mr. Henry Eames, who has recently been secured as the head of the piano department of the university school of music. Mr. Eames comes from Chicago with many flattering notices both as re gards his musiciahship and social stand ing. Tho program he presented was a severe one, calculated to test the various qualities of touch and technic which the artist possesses, and it was given from first to last with a degree of intelli gence and virtuosity that will make Mr. Eames' future appearances of pleasure to al. We should be glad to hear Mr. Eames in a program of popular numbers and understand that ho expects to give such a program in the near future. The following is the program presented: Hindel Theme and varia ions. E major. Beethoven Sonate, C minor, Opp 13. Grave-Allegro. Adagio. Rondo. Gluck-Joseffy Airde Ballet. Rachmaninoff Prelude, C sharp minor. Grieg The Birds. The Brook. March Funebre. Schumann Faschingschwank. Op.2G. Allegro. Chopin Nocturnes, C sharp minor and F major. Waltz, C sharp minor. Three short preludes. Prelude, D flat major. Etude, C minor. Brahms Intermezzo E Hat. Ballade D minor. Liszt Rbapsodie Hongroise, No. 15. XR. 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