Omaha daily bee., 1895-10-13

Omaha has been unusually favored Of late
in the matter Of the presence OF playwrights
in town, no less than three out of the four
ENGAGEMENTS Of the week having been adorned
by the bodily appearance OF the authors OF
the plays presented, in connection with the
work of their hands, or pens, as the case may
be. Mr.. Hoyt did not act in "a Coutented
Woman" he left that to his wife, who, to be
sure. did not act either, but whose lovely
face left a more than commonly permanent
impression upon the p %retina, although the
natural sweetness of that face in repose is
sadly marred by self consciousness before an
audience. Mr.. Hoyt, however, made a speech
after the third act, and assured his hearers
that his play had no local significance pecu-
liar to Omaha, which was calculated to reas-
sure any who were inclined to credit the
author, in addition to his other large endow-
ments, with such gift Of prophecy as enabled
him to foresee the coincidence Of the produc-
ton Of his play with the existence hereabouts
of q strong tendency toward reform in poll
tics. 1t may be doubted whether even the
needless thousands who crowded Boyds the
alter throughout the Hoyt engagement, and
who usually join with like-minded thousands
elsewhere in fervent praise Of anything which
bears the name of Hoyt, cared overmuch for
"a Contented Woman" Not because 1t was
vulgar, not because the characters depicted
were lacking in ladylike and gentlemanly In
stincts, not because the humor was Of that
kind which smites one like a falling house
all these charges might be maintained, but
then one expects these qualities In a Hoyt
farce. One also expects, what one did not
find in "a Contented Woman" as presented
here. a competent cast. Mr.. Hoyt has clever
people about him. as a rule, but he seems to
have depended. for the success of this latest
effort, less upon the qualifications of the sup
porting company than upon the regular fea-
lures OF Caroline Miskel and upon the quality
OF his own dialogue, which is neither higher
nor lower than the average OF that which
adorns his plays. The performance OF Mrs.
Clarke was briefly but favorably commented
on In an early notice OF the piece. 1t still
remains a bright spot against a background
of mediocrity. 1t will be a pleasure to see
this artist again in more coIgenial surround
ings. Aside from her Characterization Of the
ODER along the lines Of farce, there was moth
ing In the representation TO raise play or
players even to the customary Hoyt level.
The appearance of ION the Bowery" at
Boyd's theater on this Sunday evening and
the two following evenings will prove a most
interesting event, and already considerable
interest Is evinced. Everybody knows that
this play by r. N. Stephens Is the one In
which is displayed the personality Of that
muCn ntaTu Oh new 1oTk pTOuuCt, OttNt
Brodie. 1t was a profitable thought to make
such a typical Bowery character as Brodie a
figure in a play touching on Bowery life. The
Brodie of the stage and the Brodie of real life
are one and the same. The play tells a melo
dramatic story as exciting as may be found
in any New York sensational drama on the
contemporary stage. A young reporter falsely
accused OF robbing the father OF his sweet
heart must be free to prove his innocence and
80 escapes through a window. The pursuing
policeman blund captures an innocent
old farmer In his stead. The crime was
really committed by two burglars and was
witnessed by the reporters rival, who has
obtained some Of the plumber. This fact is
known To a woman whom the rival has de-
ce!yed and is trying to avoid. The rival sets
about putting this girl out OF the way, as her
existence imperlls both his safety and his
prospects OF marrying the reporters sweet
heart. He finds the burglars on the Bowery
and by threats Of exposure and promises TO
psy he secures their aid in his scheme to
lure the deceived girl to Brooklyn bridge at
night-on promise OF marrying her In Brook
lyn-and to drop her from the bridge into
the East river. The reporter. who has found