Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-01
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Politics in usurping the attention Of all
American mankind, has not spared the thea
tcrs during the past wotK. 1t is a deadly
week everywhere. the one which Immediately
precedos election day; much dreaded by all
theatrical folk and anticipated by them with
dismal forebodings, omaha has not done so
badly, when that universal fact is kept in
view. a delectabe list OF attractions has
been presented and each has been fairly
we'll patronZcd. one at least having no cause
for complaint on its two nights business,
oven at advanced prices.
"rrilby" and "Charley's Aunt" came as
old and well loved acquaintances. Neither
would seem to have worn out its welcome
even now, although Mr.. Thomas comedy
will sooner or later have to take its cat and
its aunt and go back to Brazil or wherever
the chestnuts come from. "Trilby" which
no one thought could be successfully
dramatized much less hold the stage for
two triumphant years. came from a tour of
Australia, which actually proved to be rec
ord-breaking in point of business. 1t played
what was said to be its first Sunday engage
ment here. The Sunday audiences which
saw it were evidently made up largely of
people who were taking their first sight of
the play, for they gasped and laughed and
wept and shuddered as those do who observe
a prodigy
Lillian Russell is she who drew the largest
audiences of the week. She denies, with
some show of Indignation, the report spread
abroad by envious detractors to the effect
that she is about to take on another hus-
band, in conformity to habit which she
acquired in quite early youth. II seems
fortunate that she is not meaning to rush
madly into wedlock again. at least until
the present legal partner of her joys and
sorrows is sundered from her by the divorce
courts. Since she says so. she Is probably
nnt uni 70 tn hn haG Tor or
omitted to keep track. However her matri-
monial inclinations may lead her, she has
been induced by good fortune to associate
herself with some exceedingly clever people
in her new piece. Her press agent insists,
as If 1t were n matter OF some Importance,
that the entertainment is called IAN Amer-
can Beauty" with special reference to Miss
Russel's claims to physical attractiveness.
As a matter of fact, the piece is not much,
although there is some undeniably good
music in 1t and some excellent specalties.
1t is openly and confessedly designed, first
and foremost, to celebrate the charms of
this star, whose brilliancy would be more
generally recognized and allowed If she were
not 50 vulgarly conscious OF 1t herself. She
Is still fair of face and plump of figure, but
she should remember that there are others;
her voice has not gone of unduly, but she
has apparently forgotten that 1t is not the
only one; and her ample person is covered
with diamonds until she CLEANS under the
cdltlum Ike a lOGtnllGut procession, Dul
again, and even so, there are others. why
she should be allowed continually to monop-
Ollie the center of the stage and to kill,
with her diamonds and her everlasting cal
cium. scenery which people wanted to look
at, does not fully appear. even after several
days thoughtful consideration of the mat
ter
Madame Sans Gene" suffered at the
hands of our public first. because of the
IL. 4
on account of a lack OF exact knowledge on
the part of theatergoers as to the character
of the production. 1t lis hoped both these
obstacles may be removed against its second
coming, and that nothing may hinder the
most ample patronage and the fullest en-
joyment of what will doubtless prove one of
the greatest artistic treats OF other seasons,
as it has Of this ).t +
Coming Events.
"Tn Gay New York" the merry melange
OF burlesque travestrS. spectacle, farce,
opera, specially and comedy that sent the
dramatic reviewers on hunt for new ad-
jectves to describe its scope and intent
during its long midsummer run at the
Casino in New York will be exploited on the
stage of the Creighton theater this after
noon, tonight and tomorrow night.
1t is described as merry jumble of color,
music and comic characterization, a veritable
maze of entertaining features and a vada
mecum of jingles. jests and whimsicalities
Ostensibly Il review of The season and as
such following in general tread the paths Of
The Passing Show" and THE Merry
World 1t is in reality a musical burlesque
in three acts, written by Hugh Morton and
with music by Gustave Kerker. Its story
chronicles the strange adventures of Johnny
Brown and his bride Sally on their honey
moon to and through gay New York. In
the first scene the audience is introduced to
tho newly welded pair and their friends on
the village green at Huckleberry Center,
Me. In the next scene is witnessed their ar
rival and reception at the Grand Central
depot. The Marmalade sisters. who as the
Smith girls. were former associates of the
welded pair, have spread among their associ-
ates the news OF the coming TO the metropo-
lis of Johnny and Sally and the further in
formation that Johnny has money to inciner-
ate. AS a consequence a motley throng oil
bunco steerers, gold brick operators,
stranded Thespans and other interesting and
picturesque characters welcome the pair,
anxious to show the sights Of gay Gotham,
and, incidentally, to separate Johnny from
his wealth. Other scenes picture the eX-
terror of the Hotel Waldorf. the lobby and
stage of the Casino and the West End of
Coney Island. From their arrival to the
moment of their departure Johnny and
Sally are given a rapid run for their coin.
Their introduction to the stage of the
Casino gives opportunity for a wide range
Of diversion. The entire working of the
stage is shown with the grips striking
and setting scenes, and the members OF
the company presenting burlesques on popu-
lar plays and caricatures OF noted person
ages. Descriptive dances and ballets, richly
Costumed and arranged by Sig. Franciola
are introduced. Lively, tuneful and catchy
music is contributed and several of the
songs, notably MOLLY, Take Me Down to
Coney Isle" and the Chorus of the Grip
pie Creek Bandits" have made lasting hits.
A. C. Wheeler, dramatic critic of the
New York World. says:
Wherever Joshua Whitcomb's name is
mentioned now there is a strain awakened
like the far-off bells of New England
He brought the smell of the sweet clover
into our native drama and set up there the
New England home with all It's precious
memories.
He might have ransacked the world and
he could not have got aotheme that would
touch so many American hearts as "Old
Homestead" # 3n
And If New Englandais the land of home
seads, the cradle of commOnwealths, the
school house of patriots, the academy of
statesmen, it was after-all in the homestead
that our Websters. ouU -Aaamses. our Ever
etts, our Longfellows southeir earliest in
spration and imbibedE the principles that
made them known to the world
That old homestead stands there yet on
the stony hills and In the shady valleys
just as 1t stood when "B,inker Hill was fit"
1t has sent out generation after generation
OF brave men and wome1 who have made
the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi to