Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-08
...AMUSEMENTS...


~ femnle
An extravaganza in three acts, by Charles
T.. Blaney, presented at Boyd's theater by
Johnstone Bennett and company.
THE CAST.
Haza Bargain. Female Drummer a..... .
-. ...............;. ..,.,,..,.. TOMBSTONE bsnnVt
Wood b. Smooth. i;,,, James H. Sn'''h
Op,o"" Iadell
Super Litious, porter. Willis P. swe2tnom
Eorss, Erss Floor WaKeT AT'0p2 on L. Ym Fsman
Mr.. Buyer er............,........,, W, T. MsTrN
Cash Girl No. l3 49,. Nellie n,
Mrs. Wood b. Smooth........E Eva Randolph
The election return bulletin boards did
not attract quite the entire population OF the
city Tuesday night, as one of the largest
audiences of the season sat in Boyd's the
ater to witness one of Mr.. Blaney's latest
efforts in the comedy line. Upon the pro-
gram 1t is put down as an extravaganza,
but as a matter OF fact it is farce comedy,
pure and simple, written in the well-known
Hoyt vein. Jack" Bennett, as she is
called down east, is, OF course. the central
figure, the comedy seemingly having been
written around her. 1t proves a splendid
vehicle and is especially suited to Miss Ben
nett's peculiar personality, giving her un-
limited opportunities to display her talents
as an imitator of the masculine gender.
There is but a trace of plot to the piece
in which feminine knight Of the grip, rep
resenting a corset and hosiery house, calls
upon large New York department store
and endeavors to sell the propretors bill
of goods 1t takes her the entire three
acts to accomplish the desired end, and
the original way in which she goes about
it furnishes plenty of amusement. There
are a number OF other interesting character
studies introduced in telling the story, in
Guiding a dyspeptic old merchant, his more
up-to-date partner, foorwalker, sales
lady, elevator boy, cash girls and others.
A number of clever speciaties interpoated
at times when the fun of the piece begins
to drag keeps the audience interested during
the entire two hours and half. The seen
cry is all new, decidedly unique and pretty.
The first act, represents the office of a
New York department store;4 Act II the
interior of the same store on a busy day and
the last act palisade on the Hudson river
at night. In the latter scene the effects
are especially brilliant.
The costumes are all pretty and In keep-
ing with the balance of the splendid pro-
duction. The company is unusually large
and a thoroughly capable one.
Johnstone Bennett was last seen in Omaha
as a vaudeville star and will be remem-
bered as having presented a decidedly or
iginal and interesting act Besides her reg
ular part in "The Female Drummer" she
offers this same act. Miss Bennett has an
individuality all her own and quite unlike
that of any other woman upon the stage.
In her line of work she is cleverness itself
and stands alone, having proved so far in
imitable. Among the specialtes offered be-
sides Miss Benefits was Willis P. Sweat
nam's blackface monologue speciality. the
dancing of Harry Ladel and Nellie ONeil
Mr.. Figman song, "The SWEETEST Thing"
and the Imperial quartet's rendition Of
Hugo Schlam's popular song II Amt Seen
No Messenger Boy and "I'll Leave My
Happy Home for You" The engagement
continues this afternoon and evening, clos
ing with Thursday nights performance.