Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-03

bill Of fare offered for the week TO come is
not over and above appetizlng. II would seem
that The evil days u the drama arc upon our
little world, whereof We read In the Forum
IN a recent essay II the veteran actor, John
Malone, in published interviews with Nine.
Janauschek and Nine. Modjeska, IN news.
papers and magazines generally to such a
degree and in such volume as to carry con-
riction, on the principle that SO thick a
smoke betokens its due proportion Of fire.
In Omaha, as elsewhere, the theaters have
felt In their most vital part, that is to say
in their box offices, the stress of this difficult
financial period. Yet II is a significant fact
that all over the United States, in our own
town as well as elsewhere, attractions de-
serving of patronage have quite generally re-
ceived a good measure Of Il, while the poorer
shows have gone begging.
The present theatrical situation Is rorcibly
set forth in the current number of the Cen
trry. in which the editorial writer charges
the 'debased condition Of the American
stage to the greed, ignorance and incapdcity
OF a large majority of the men who have es-
tablished a virtual monopoly in the control
or the theater, and, temporarily at least,
have put an end to healthy competition.
One Of the greatest obstacles" he goes on
to say, lin the way of reform is the inability
of those same men, for obvious reasons, to
discern the trend of intelligent, to say moth
ing Of cultivated public opinion, or to in
form themselves OF the widespread craving
for higher and better entertainment
. Over and over it has been demon
strated beyond possibility Of cavil or ques-
tion that the play-going public will pay
double or treble for the privilege Of wit
Messing a good performance of a good play,
and yet the managers fail to profit by the
experience and persist in adhering to their
fatuous and destructive policy Of cheap and
coarse sensationalism or nonsensical eX-
travagance, contenting themselves with an
occasional whine about the lack Of patriot
Ism on the part Of Americans, who fill the
pockets of foreigners and treat home talent
with ~Contemptuous neglect,
The simple fact, of course, is that the de-
velopment of native ability has been checked.
II not altogether crushed by the star circuit
system, which has made a few spectators
rich and has deprived the great body of
actors of nearly all opportunities for in
struction or advancement. Things have, IN
deed, come to such a pass that il any
manager should become inspired with an
ambition to form an American stock com
pany capable Of satisfactory a~ll-round work,
capable, that is, of giving competent repre-
sensations of old and new comedy and poetic
tragedy as in the days Of the preceding gen
eration-he would be puzzled sorely where
to look for native acting material.
Just now in all the theatrical world there
is a bitter cry of hard times. The last sea-
son ended prematurely and in general dis
a2ter; the coming one is late in opening
and not too rich in promise. What there is
to commend-and it is almost wholly of
foreign origin-will throw into cruel relief
tho Intellectual and dramatic poverty Of
most Of our theatrical exhibitions. The
triumph Of a few real artists may be re
garded as the outward and visible expression
of the deep and constant protest which the
intelligent part of the public-upon whose
support the rational theater is mainly de
pendent-is making against the foulness and
the foolishness blazoned of late before the
footlights. This is not to be COMPOUNDED with
the discriminating denunciatiOns of the
stage which issue now and then from the
pulpit, but voices the WEAKNESS and disgust
Of true and ardent lovers of the theater, who
regard 1t in its proper estate as a repository
Of all manner Of treasures Of literature and
art, a most charming and influential school
of manners, a source Of varied and delightful
entertainment, and, withal, a potent and
bsneficent teacher, both of morals and learn
ing.
at is no small and exclusive class of
prudes, or pedants, or faddists which is re-
voting against the uses to which the stage
Is now put, but a very large proportion of the
best kind of citizens ever found within the
| walls of a theater-schOlars, clubmen, law
| yern, merchants, and thinking men generally.
They are beginning to absent themselves,
not only on account Of the offensiveness OF
many Of the plays presented, but also on
Account VI lHtlI scIeIdl lttDltlltsS diu
emptiness, the vanity and v~exation of it all.
They are sick of seeing the same play over
and over again under different titles, OF the
interminable procession of old and tiresome
| types, reproduced from an original which
was popular three or four seasons back. OF
| cheap or stale melodramatic eXpedients, and
of the buffoonerles which lost all their power
of amusement long ago. . . In short,
they are bored inexpressibly by actors who do
not act and by plays destitute OF real merit,
however startling they may be as expositions
Of millinery or of queer social sentiment.
Nobody pretends that the theater ought
to BE- solely, or even primarily. a vehicle
for mere solid instruction. All playgOers
wish to be interested, and most of th5m
wish to be amused. But the bulk OF them
their interest or their merriment, and resent
even a successful effort to amuse them, II
the subject fails to commend itself to them
upon later reflection. This winter, appar-
entity, the local managers, unmindful of the
past, intend to adhere to the policy which
proved so Improbable last season. Their
main reliance seems to be upon plays which
achieved a very moderate share OF success
in London, even when presented by actors
Of much higher repute than will appear in
them here. For some of them foreign stars
have been engaged, and their presence may
stimulate public curiosity. But there will
be no hope and no real prosperity for the
American stage as a free and Independent
organization so long as 1t is used simply
as a provincial adjunct to the London thea
ters. " Let the American theater be
devoted first to American interests, and
1t will not be long before the race of Amer
lean actors will be revived, or before the
institution will regain the public favor which
has been diverted from 1t. IL 1t continues
on its present course it will lose its hold
upon the educated classes altogether, and
will sink gradually to the level Of the music
halls which it has been initiating"
All this is so true as to need no explanation
. gtapaa 10 hiring II homo If iS
not without it's application to our own local
managers. either, VINO would do well to take
its lesson to heart, although 1t is mainly di-
rected, and very properly, toward those mag
mates Of the stage who furnish originally the
pabulum which the theaters must take now
adays or close their doors.
On general principles and apropos OF moth
ing that has recently afflicted Omaha, it may
be doubted If the ethics of the drama are
properly guarded 'by the travelling manager
standing in the rear Of the auditorium and,
by the constant and violent striking Of his
right upon his left hand, Stimulating the audi
ence to that enthusiastic applause OF which
we read next morning. 1t Is also an open
question whether the ushers of the house
should assist him in his purpose. 1t may be
argued that this Is fictitious excitement and
consequently a hindrance to the best interests
of the stage. On the other hand. many in
the audience are so wearied by their day S
work that they cannot always realize when
It Is time to applaud. Furtherpore, by long
training and eagle-eyed attention the tfdNtIlhg
manager and the ushers are exceptionally
qualified to start the indications OF approval,