The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-04-03

HiosSu W Soou cooihScS
on Monday night at the Lansing though
not so good as the play and the COM
pany deserved. Both were excellent.
/ was glad / had not read Opie Reads
book from which the play is dramatized.
1t is SO easy to transfer the impressions
the book has made to the dramatization.
In Trilby and The Prisoner Of Zenda.
the two most important book plays that
Lave SEN, the plot is not apparent or
inteiligible 10 that part Of the audience
which has not read the book. The com
preston of the life stories of some ten
or fifteen people into one evenings ex
preston is too much for the average play
wright, Shakspere's dramas Away
begin lifetime or 50 before the play
begins. 1t is in this way that the
miracle Of time, that wonderful impress
sion of the silent passage Of years with
their effect on the persons OF the play,
works upon an audience. But Shaks
pere is the only man that can reproduce
the noiseless journey OF life the soil, the
fatigue, the nausea. the holdups, the
plots of vice and the final triumph OF in
nocence and virtue. In spite Of the
lives that have been lived the combine
ton is rarely duplicated. 1t is the same
City two old cards but they do not deal
twice alike. Therefore is every situa-
tion in a measure unique. The dramat.
ist can no. depend on perfect
enunciation and quiet house
for the unfolding OF his plot
1t should be made Ineligible to the
audience by action rather than by mono
lcgue or dialogue. 1t was the end of
the third act of The Jucklins,' before
We were quite sure that Guinea Juck-
liu was engaged to Chydster Lunds-
ford and that Dan Stuart had no claim
upon her. that General Lunosford cent
Guinea to boarding school in order that
che might be fitting mate for his son,
and the exact relationship Of Harry
Harper. the telegraph operator. to the
plot. Such uncertainty and mistiness
invariably characterize dranatized
plays. The playwright unconsciously
presupposes acquaintance with the plot
and persons Of the drama, instead OF
ruthlessly cutting out and putting in
whatever is not essential 10 the CO.
herency and development OF the plot. In
eplte OF which criticism on the class of
playe, 10 which "Ihe Jucklins'. belongs,
it is a very interesting drama and as
good sermon as "Shpre Acres" There
seems to have been q revulsion from the
suggestive plays Of Hoyt, in which the
interest centers upon the efforts the
head OF the family makes 10 conceal a
low intrigue from his wife. by means of
prodigious lying. to scenes of domestic
fidelity aud happiness in humble sur
roundings. To be sure, such an en-
vironment does not please school girls,
clerks and work a-dsy people who make
up the average audience. We want to
see ladies Of the court, or gen.
tlemen in real yachting suits who
own a steam yacht or handsome fabul-
ously wealth, clubmen who light a
cigar and throw it away with the
abandon only known in dreame.
What do We care for people Who save
car fare and repair their own dresses!
We pay our money to be admitted for
an hour or two into the luxurious
society which splashes US with mud and
orders us from across the counter 10 the
day time. Nevertheless, the "Old Home
stead playes are in vogue and the stage