Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-05

The joyous festival OF Easter this year
comedies reasonably we'll in point Of time
with the resurrectloNof theatrical amuse-
ments in Omaha, to which, after a week like
the one just past, we are prone to look for
ward with hope which varies in strength
with individual tenfperRinents and individual
wisdom in the ways 'bf'managers. With all
reverence It is not probable that the Easter
of 1896 was made to fall with reference to
the local theatrical season or to anything
save the moon, which governs tides and the
movable feasts Of the church. But 1t hap
pens that the most barren and deadly dull
week Of the season is this day succeeded by
one which holds out somewhat brighter
promise, and the bookings at the different
houses are such, so far as they have been
revealed, that no repetition of last weeks
experience is looked for.
Boyd's has been given over for eight days
and nights to that kind of entertainment
which one expects for dime As was sug-
gested during a former visitation of the
Woodward company at this theater, the
audiences without doubt have been getting
the not extravagant worth of their money.
With no wish, however, to detract from the
presumably well earned fame of this organi-
zaton. 1t may be said with some show of
truth that city Of the size and pretensions
Of Omaha is in evil case when II has to
choose between attractions like this and stay-
ing at home.
Eddie Foy cannot be credited with having
sensibly raised the average of the week by
his excursion in our presence into the straiter
paths of what, by contrast with his previous
displays, may be called legitimate comedy.
In general an actor deserves commentator
for a conscientious endeavor to work up
from a lower to higher plane of his art.
To hat lie tp nut
his ambition is mistaken one being akin
to the laudable but futile purpose of him
who undertakes in defiance of natures laws
to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. At
the risk of misconytruction it seems a duty
to advise Foy to get "Off the Earth" again.
He is carrying come good people with him.
to be sure; and his piece Is calculated to
please in a milder degree the people who en-
joyed "Charleys Aunt" when it had only
been here eleven times. But the humor of
Miss Brown" like that of the Aunt" suits
better the true hearted British readers of
Punch than a public nourished on the lighter
fare of Puck and Life. 1t is not very
funny play, to American eyes, though poesl.
bly, it is not so dreary played by American
actors as it would be with the parts in the
hands of third rate Engishmen imported "for
the occasion" With better and brighter
farces. written by Americans to be had in
quantities to suit, 1t is curious to observe
the perSisency with which managers stick
to the Inferior product from over seas Sooner
or later the modern English farce, like the
English burlesque and the English problem
drama, must go from American SOIL or con-
fine itself to New York, where its roots seem
to find safe and permanent anchorage. 1t is
not morally CGclean, 1t does not paint the
cheek of modesty with the blush Of shame
it is simply and solely snd deadly dull
TIT
To +hnsa reoderr NJ, g'ho Poo uho oo,to,,,
plate writing to any of the great actors or
managers with iewIto going on the stage
the following letter. b actually received by
Charles Frohman and duly added to his vast
collection, may be of interest as model
~. EAST ORANGE, N. j.,
11e 81 rr' g. IS. SO.
Dear Mr.. Frohman- --'9i'E
1 write to ask a favor of you, although
am total stranger TO you your name is
familiar to me. ypt 9n'r ff.' ....
The fact is L waut4to go on the stage, that
is the reason I am writing to you Mr. Froh-
man, to see II you caan help me any have
never been on the stage but am not afraid
to go before large audience as l had an ex-
perlance of that kind last year.
Sometimes when am on the street go to
thinking Of the stage so that / can hardly
keep my mouth closed, because l am burning
to go on the stage.
So Mr.. Frohman, II you can do anything
for me will you please do it.
If you want to see me personally I can
come down to the city
Goodbye Mr.. Frohman.
Yours forever