Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-21
ADJUSTMENTS.


Probably a very small proportion of the
good sized audience which was attracted tc
the Creighton last night by the modest an
nouncements of the opening Of an engage
ment by Mr.. Clay Clement went to the
play with a definite idea of the kind of en-
tertainment which would he provided, or
with any expectation that the German com
edy held forth would be other than of that
interesting type whereof the wooden shoe
and the Tyrolean MARBLE are apparent sym
bols, and Charles a. Gardner and Fritz EN-
nett the most admired prophets. That pre-
portion was doubtless prepared for what it
saw and heard: to all the rest the work of
Mr.. Clement and his supporting players came
as a surprise no less pleasant than COM
plete.
Mr.. Clement was heralded, without undue
flourish of trumpets, as a new star in the
west. Certainly he has been heretofore to all
intents and purposes unknown in Omaha, and
that, in the light of last evenings perform
ance, has not been good for Omaha and has
prevented this very clever artist from max
ing some good friends among those who died
before he came; for "The New Dominion"
as he not appropriately calls the play
which forms the vehicle for his quite I'M
usual talents, not only serves to introduce
the very best comedian of this type who has
appeared since the lamented George S.
knight, but 1t made a hit as well. 1t is
most gratifying to record so emphatic and SO
well-deserved a success, attested by the fire.
quent and hearty applause of q discriminat-
ing parquet not less than a gallery which
cherlshes the yodel and the alpenstock. The
impression is somehow conveyed that Mr..
Clement is responsible for the play, although
his name does not appear In the bills as
author. Neither he nor any one, however,
need take shame to have written it. 1t is
fashioned in a workmanlike manner, and
constructed simply and naturally. Brilliant
is not too strong a word to apply to the
dialogue. That part of 1t allotted to the
Baron is especially noteworthy, although the
star has by no means a monopoly of the
good things provided by the dramatist.
Mr.. Clements Hohenstauffen is one of the
best bits Of high-class comedy presented
here in a long time by any actor, bar none.
its faults, IL it has any, lying in its I'M
evenness. The Baron is surprisingly fluent
and idiomatic in the English of his less
s~prightly lines, only lapsing into humorously
imperfect speech upon occasion. This, how
ever, is a minor defect, and one which time
will doubtless remedy.
May Buckley Clayton made a charming
impression in an ingenus role, her Virginia
accent being truly admirable. Kara Ken
wyn, a statuesque blonde beauty, pleased eye
and ear as the young widow, and Nina
Graul Adelman made much of a small part.
or the men, after the star, perhaps the
best was Lee Arthur, who presented a de-
lightful character sketch of an old negro
servant. One retains pleasant memories of
w. Brown Smith In the part of youthful
lover, and Joseph Adelman did commendable
work in the ungrateful role of Marshall
Boner.
A good many people doubtless will BE- able
to 90 to the Damrosch opera but once or
twice, but 1t should be remembered that a
great saving will be made IL season tickets
are secured. The season tickets are trans-
fsrable, and a good scheme would be to make
up parties, one party to use the ticket one
night and another the next night, etc., etc.
Season ticket holders have the first choice
of seats.
Judged by the strict rules OF stage criticism
the minstrel entertainment given in Creighton
hall last evening, under the auspices of the
Young Mems institute, lacked in the best
characteristics Of the professional bands of
minstrels, but judged by the mirth the per-
formers got out of their work and the laughter
and frequent encores by the large number of
persons present, the affair was a grand sue
cess. Every seat in the main hall and a
large number Of those in the gallery were
occupied, and the proceeds, which will be used