Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-17

~ 'teaAC NAr HHNha ~ aH1s 1
goers from summer vacations and a general
awakening of interest in thestricals gen.
orally combined 10 greatly increase the size
Of the audiences at the theaters last week.
AL this, in the face OF the fact that there
was little or practically nothing out Of the
ordinary presented at any OF the playhouses,
kseems TO BIO a pretty good indication that
when the exposition closes and some OF the
big productions OF new plays ceme along
there will not be room enough In the
theaters to accommodate the people anxious
10 attend. The Boyd did not enjoy quite the
prosperity that the Orpheum and Trocadero
did. Since the opening of the season its
management has presented nothing but farce
comedy, and as theater-goerH are not partial
TO farce comedy unless It be backed by a
particularly strong company, produced by
Frohman or written by Hoyt, they will not
flock to see II. The farce, Mrs. B. Onslaught
Messy" offered last week, was a new one and
served TO introduce a new star. Miss St.
George Hussey, who has frequently been
seen here. She is a clever actress in her
line and her play was not by any means a
bad one, but the company supporting her was
about as bad a one as has been seen In this
city for many a day, and impressed one as
having lately graduated from some amateur
dramatic school. With anything like capable
support Miss Hus3ey might have enjoyed
much better patronage.
The Orpheum presented a vaudeville bill
which included two particularly good num-
bers, Miss Idalene Cotton's representation OF
one of Mrs. Leslie Carter's strongest scenes
On "Zaza" and Henry Lees character imper-
sonations. Miss Cotton is certainly a clever
actress and the scene she gave from Mr..
Belasco's popular play certainly whetted the
appetltes of all VINO witnessed 1t for the en-
production, which Is to be presented in
Omaha later in the season. Mr.. Lees i'm
presentations WERE, in several ways, different
from any of this kind ever seen here, and
were decidedly p~raiseworthy.
The Trocadero theater enjoyed better
patronage than has been accorded its stock
opera company during any week since its
\ opening, and that there is room In this city
for a theater presenting this form Of amuse-
ment there can now be no doubt.
For the week opening today there are
some good things promised. Hoyt's "a Milk
White Flag" which, while not new, is al
ways interesting, comes to Boyd's this aft
ernoon and evening. Jacob Lifts big pro-
duction of Bronson Towards Shenandoah"
which was so popular a few years ago, is
Sanother old one that comes the first half
of the weok. For the last half of the
week "A Romance of Coon Hollow" will
be given. This is not a new play. hay-
ing been seen here last fall.
The Trocadero Opera company will this
week sing Planquette's opera comique,
"The Chimes of Normandy"
The Creighton-o rpheum promises a meri-
torious vaudeville bill, headed by the
Florenz troupe Of acrobats.
The friends of Carl Ekstrom in this city
will doubtless be pleased to learn that he
has secured an engagement with one of
Charles Frohman's companies, playing
Chamerat, a small part in 1.-THE
Girl from Maxim's," which had its first pro-
duction IN New York recently, and is now
running at the Criterion theater there. Mr..
Ekstrom, who has lived in Omaha nearly
all his life, left this city about a year ago
to attend the Academy of Dramatic Arts in
New York, from which he graduated re-
GENTLY. Mr.. FTohman saw in his work
promise Of greatness and engaged him i'm
mediately upon his graduation. Mr.. Elk
strom was quite popular in Omaha anna
teur dramatic circles.
Through the generosity Of the different
theatrical managers the Thurston Rifles
Company l. Of the First Nebraska volun.
teers) are enjoying the hospitality Of the
different p~layhouses. Last week they were
the guests on Tuesday evening OF the
Trocadero management, and are to attend
the performance at the Creighton Orpheum
in a body on the coming Tuesday night
The invitations include their ladies, and as
the boys have been so long absent from
was to be had they are taking advantage
\ OF the opportunities almost to a man.
' Miss Nellie Paris, who recently announced
her intention of going upon the stage. Is
to make her debut at the Creighton-Or.
pheum on Wednesday night, and will Offer
a singing speciality. Miss Paris has beer
a resident of Omaha nearly all her life
\ and her many friends are anxious to SCI
y her succeed in her new venture.
New York theatergoers enjoyed quite
feast of new plays last week, there beins
at least a half-dozen offered, among tn,
most important of which was THE Tyrann!
of Tears" with John Drew and Isabel Irv
ing as the bright particular stars. "Th'
Tyranny of Tears" while new in America
was produced in London a year ago. 1t is
comedy from the pen of Haddon Chambers
one OF England's leading dramatists. II
their criticisms of the play and its inter
prefers the New York papers, with the ex
ception of the World, were very profuse II
their praise of both. The World says:
st is a true comedy in the highest sens
of the word. 1t is full Of observation ant
gentle philosophy; its characters and situa
lions are for the most part very life-like
and they are ~skilfully presented; while tn
dialogue Is naturally and Spontaneously
clever. That the career of the play, how
ever, will have the full measure of prosper
dty 1t deserves Is not so sure.
1.-THE principal danger 1t runs is that tn
average theatergoer will not find In 1t suf
fcient dramatic interest to hold his atten
ton. The little scenes of everyday humdrur
existence with which it deals do not la
hold OF the heartstrlngs or excite the nerve!
They simply present moderately interestin
people in a moderately interesting situation
with an under-current Of instructive trut
thrown in for those who care to thin
about 1t.
There are also one or two details Of In
depreciation that may exert an unfavorabl
influence on the success Of the comedy. Ret
erence to them, however, will be better un
derstood after a brief outline OF the pie
has been given.
"a young literary man, Parbury, has bee
married for five years to a charming littl
wife whom he loves dearly and who return
his affection to the full. The only blot O
his happiness is the over-sensitiveness
his wife. She wants to be by his side alway