Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-10
ssssss sssMM@@@M@#a y $3.50
4. n
i ADJUSTMENTS. s'
~ Tof "
II n u y II II II II II II u n u II

! Considerable curiosity was felt among
local theater goers the past week as to
| what kind OF entertainment "Pudd' 'nhead
| Wilson" would provide' with dear old Frank
Mayo out of the cast Many predicted that
1t would be another case of Hamlet with no
mention OF the melancholy Dane. Others
scnguine. hoped for better results, remem-
bering that men have passed away before,
leaving hearts inconsolable and vacancy
in the world which no one seemed large
enough to fill, and that, nevertheless, the
wound has healed over and the gap closed
over somehow.
The event proved the latter and less SEN
timental hypothesis to be founded on the
deeper knowledge of human nature The
play is intrlnsically stable enough to en-
dure, at least for a time, and another Is
playing the title part so well that, although
he never causes the strong and gentle orig
inal to be forgotten, he goes far to satisfy
even the eXacting requirements OF Mr..
Mayo's most ardent admirers. Mr.. Hamil-
tons conception of the role and method OF
interpreting 1t are different from those of his
predecessors, in that he does not wholly
succeed in conveying the impression of sim
plcity and guilelessness which was the
chief heart charm of Mr. Mayo's impersona-
tion. 1t may be doubted whether the "se-
lect idiots" of Dawsons Landing would have
needed to wait a quarter of a century to
find out what manner of man Mr.. Hamil-
toms David Wilson was. Even in the mat
ter OF the dog, one cannot conceive OF this
Pudd'nhead expressing desire for fractional
possession otherwise than with such a know
ing expression of countenance that even
the wise men Of Dawson must have been
warned of his real quality. But this is
largely a question of temperament, and
temperament cannot be put on and off like
coat. Mark Twain may have had Frank
Mayo in mind when he wrote the story.
Mayo assuredly had himself in mind when
he prepared it for the stage. But although
no one but his originator could play Wilson
perfectly, 1t is much to be thankful for
that one has been found who can play him
so conscientiousl and in a manner so gen
orally acceptable as Theodore Hamilton.
Leaving the title role out Of further con-
sideration the present cast will average
quite as strong as that with which our
play-goers became familiar last season. 1t
is in many respects the same. Mr.. Cam
peau still offers his admirable impersona-
tion of the blackguard Tom, one OF the
most thoroughly enjoyable character studies
furnished by the contemporary stage. Miss
Grahame Mrs, Edwin f. Mayo fills, as
heretofore the full measure of the ingenue
role of Rowy. Mr.. Aiken, that excellent
actor of an old school, has his former part
of York Driscol, and Miss La Verne brings
to bear upon the lines and business OF
Aunt Patsy her accustomed delightful com
edy method assisted in no small degree
by the fashion plates of fifty years ago.
Nlessrs Tucker and Gill deserve special
mention as usual Theirs Is the only DIT
of comedy in the piece which its famil-
lars can wait for with confidence, and en-
Joy, when it comes, with full consciousness
of hopes fully realized The sheriffs or
der in the cotv' was anXiously stayed
for. but it proved a poor and feeble thing
and got few laughs. The controversy over
the general dog" however, and the little
bit about the evidence to sift' are joys 1or-
ever, or at least so long as these two clever
people have them in hand.
OF the newcomers, Emily Rigl easily
leads, as she generally does in any com
pany. Mr.. Smiles is much like young DAILY
in the part of Chambers, and is quite as
acceptable in every essential particular
Edwin F. Mayo does better than might nave
been expected. with vthe sheriff, although
It is dificult to understand how lie could
ever have been considered in connection
with the title role.
Although in the nature OF things COM
parisons must have been made, 1t was found
that by reducing them to. the smallest
possible extent, enjoyment or the present
"Pudd'nhead" was vastly enhanced Judged
strictly on its merits, 1t is an excellent
performance and one which quite deserves
and will no doubt continue to receive
An apology is due Edgar l.. Davenport,
whose verses. entitled To-day" appeared In
last Sundays Bee. By an unfortunate error
of the compostor which was again unlor-
tunately overlooked by the proofreader, Mr.
Davenport was made to talk sentimehtally
of a game of craps" whereas he wrote
and doubtless meant, "a game OF cards "a
very different thing and much better adapiel
20 the purposes of serious poetry win tpe
associations suggested by the line as printed
the following line, "a flash of steel must
inevitably be miscCnstrued The whole thlnS
Is deplorable and 1t Is to be hopea that
neither Mr.. Davenport's stellar asoiration5
nor his poetic genius may suffer blight
throught this instrumentalify.
Nine Adelaide Hermann writes to the dra-
matte editor, asking him to print the tol-
lowing from last Sundays New York her
aid. The request is cheerfully complied
with as the information contained In the
clipping will be of interest to the many
friends hereabouts of the dead magician
IN. Leon Hermann, nephew of the late
Alexander Hermann, whom ne hopeS 10
succeed in popular favor In the Unlted states
as a prestiGigitateur arrived on the Paris
Yesterday He bears striking resemblance
to his uncle. The chief physical point OF
difference between them is that Leon is
somewhat the shorter. His features are OF
the same amlably MepnlStCpnelean cast nc
is about 30 years old and is son Of the
late Alexander's brother. Benjamin, He
studied and practiced the black art wlth
his Oldest uncle, Carl Hermann, OF VIENNA
who died some years ago.
Even If my uncle Alexander had not
died said he Il would have come to Amer
lea although not so soon. for he was ar
ranging with me to join him. expect to
take up my uncle's work as far as possible,
in cooperation with Nine. Hermann, about
the middle of the month. Meantime | intend
to devote myself to the study OF English, as
my professional experience, with the eXcep-
tion OF one month in London, has been con
fined to the continent and South America
1T will be some time before M. Herr
mann acquires his uncle's remarkable ilu-
ency Of speech, although he has no diiii-
Guilty in making himself understood In
English That he has the family knack of
sleight OF hand, however, is quite probable,
as The tricks with CARDS and apples which
he did last night were quite as clever and
mysulfying as any of the same class Of
tricks performed by his uncle"
The cnematographe has not drawn this
week at Boyd's as It should have drawn,
because it was handicapped by
association with dramatic company so bad
that people woulds not willingly suffer the
aiIlicton of 1t. 1t wouId seem that "one woe
doth tread upon anhther's heels, so fast they
follow" The Bittners with the vtascope are
outdone by the Newells with the cinemato-
1T