Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-04
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The theatrical season just closed has not
been a remarkable one in any way save
financially. Few OF tho seasons new sue
cesses have v~entured this far west. and
there have been so many OF them that have
had big eastern runs that there has been
a dearth here OF novelties. During the
latter part OF the season the only legitimate
theater In Omaha was dark about one-third
of the time, owing to the fact that It was
impossible for the management to secure
attractions that 1t considered OF sufficient
merit to draw the larger portion of the
theater-g oers. The plays that were offered,
however, made good money with a few ex-
c%eptions, and Manager Burgess stated to
the writer that in his eight years of mana
gerial experience in Omaha he had not
made so much money as this season. The
class of attractions that were presented
were, generally speaking, uniformly OF a
high character. The most distinctive dram
attic productions Of the local season we're
those given by Julia Marlowe, Henry Mil
Ter and Richard Mansfield. Miss Marlowe
in her Countess valeska," scored the great
est triumph that she has ever achieved
in Omaha.
Henry Miller's "Heartsease" was the first
real mcritorious new play offered during
the season, and one OF the most thoroughly
artistic. Richard Mansfeld's "Cyrano de
Bergerac' was, OF course. the real event
that stood out prominently, and will go
down in the theatrical history of this city as
n record breaker in many ways. There were
many Of his admirers who thought his
Beau Brummel" more artistic than
"Cyrano,'' and others who liked his "Dr.
Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde best, but all Of these
characters are so widely different that there
is no doubt left in any ones mind of his
versatility. The other new dramatic pro-
auctions worthy OF more than passing mem
tion were THE Moth and Flame" THE
Sign OF the Cross ION and on" THE
Meddler" and THE Hon. John Grigsby."
One thing proven conclusively during the
season of '9S-'99 is that Omaha is a comic
opera-loving community. The people do not
seem to want the classics; they will patron
lie grand opera only scantily and If the dra-
matte production be OF enough merit and
comes with the proper recommendation they
will patronize II literally, but let a comic
opera come and no matter what its merit
may be they will crowd the theater almost to
the doors to see it. Realizing this fact the
management OF Boyd's theater secured about
all CT the good comic opera troupes for the
season and air of them were big successes
from a financial standpoint. From a musical,
scenic and comedy standpoint 1.-The Fortune
Teller" with Alice Nielsen as the bright
particular star, was the best of the dozen or
so offered. De Wolf Hopper's 'Charlatan"
came next in point of merit, then Frank
Daniels Idols Eye and Wizard of the
Nile,' followed by The Serenade'' and THE
Jolly Musketeer." The only prominent comic
opera stars that failed to visit Omaha were
Francis Wilson and Della Fox, both Of whom
are said to have had exceptionally good OPP
eras.
Among the new theatrical stars who asked
for consideration at the hands of the local
playgoers we're Blanche Walsh, Jefferson De
Angels, Herbert Kelley, Fife Shannon, Alice
Nielsen, Belle Archer and Henry Miller, and
OF these the first named and the last prob
ably made the best impression. AS to a sue
cessor to Fanny Davenport, in Sardou roles.
Miss Walsh certainly showed herself capable
ia every way and bright things seem to be
In store for her as a leading star next sea-
son. Mr.. Miller is already acknowledged to
be we'll up among the foremost in his pro-
fession. In fact there were none of the
above mentioned that proved to be failures,
all of them making favorable impressions.
Another very important theatrical event
was the permanent introduction OF vaude-
willie in Omaha during the season. There Is
hardly a city of any size In the country that
does not possess u HTSI-CldSS nv
alter and at the present time this city Is
fortunate enough to have two of them. Each
strives to out-do the other by presenting the
very best that is available In this line OF
amusement, with a result that theater-goers
here are ~profiting by the fight for recognition
and are enabled to see vaudeville attractions
as good as in any OF the big eastern Clues
Both houses are conducted upon a first-class
plan and cater to the better class OF people.
Vaudeville promises to be a permanent IN
s%titution in Omaha and will doubtless i've
as long as the theaters are conducted upon
the present plan.
During the recent Omaha engagement or
the Bcstonians Conductor Studley found II
necessary to "call down rather harshly
some persons who happened to be sitting
close to him and who persisted In carrying
on a conversation rather than listen TO the
opera. Mr.. Studley stood 1t until his pa
thence gave out and, dropping his baton, he
turned souarely around facing the offenders
and at the same time addressing a rather
gruff 'Will you please keep still?" to them,
much to the satisfaction of those seated near
them who we're unable to fully enjoy the
piece on account OF the loud conversation.
This is a matter that many theater- goers
give but little thought to and 1t Is not an
uncommon thing to sit close TO someone who
persists In telling his nelgnDor all ABOUT
what is going to happen in the play or COM
menting upon 1t aloud, annoying everybody
in his Immediate neighborhood. There were
many in the audience who heard Studley's
request and would have applauded 1t had it
not been for interrupting the play. If more
conductors would follow his example this
annoying habit OF a few theater-goers might
be cured somewhat. 1t is needless to say
that the ones Mr.. Studley addressed re-
manned quiet as mice during the rest of the
performance.
The news reached this country last week
IN a very roundabout way that Hortense
B~arbe-Loret. known to the world as Rhea,
had died in France. The date of her pass
ing away was not set down in the letter, nor
has any news come OF the last weeks OF her
A PRETTY LIN
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