Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-24
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About the only events that attracted more
than ordinary interest at any of the local
theaters last week were the beautiful pro-
duction OF Bronson Towards success OF ten
years ago, Shenandoah" given at Boyd's
the first half Of the week, and the debut, in
vaudeville, of a well knowu young Omaha
woman at the Orpheum, Wednesday night.
Shenandoah" has been frequently pre-
scented in this city during the last ten years,
but never before was it given such a truly
magnificent production as that seen here
last week. IL is enc OF the p]rettiest and
best constructed s~o-called military dramas
OF the century. Its author, thinking that it
dad outlived its popularity, shelved it some
seasons ago. However, shortly after the
opening of the late war with Spain, Jacob
Lift saw a splendid opportunity fer the repe-
tition Of its former success and produced 1t
In both Chicago and New York, celebrating
upon the scenario, thus adding new luster
TO the piece. In both cities it enjoyed an
entire seasons run. AT each CT the local
performances last week Boyd's theater was
crowded
Miss Nellie Paris debut at the Orpheum
proved most successful. The theater was
crowded with her admiring friends, all Of
whom were much pleased with her first pro-
fessional effort. She expects to secure east
ern engagements soon, and will doubtless
succeed on the stage.
The Trocadero Opera company presented
the usual opera-comique production, this
time THE Chimes OF Normandy" Light
opera Is becoming decidedly popular In
Omaha, and promises to continue so for an
indefinite time. The weeks production was
q oreditablo one in every way.
For the week commencing today one new
play is to be offered. 1t will be the three
act farce, Dear Old Charley which was
first produced in Chicago last spring and,
while the press at that time was not very
fattering in its criticisms, it is said that
the rough edges, always noticeable in a
first presentation, have been smoothed off
and that the piece is really a clever one.
The principals in the cast are well known
here as capable artists. They are George
G. Boniface, jr., George Ober, Kathryn Os-
terman and Bertha Waltslnger. The other
attraction at the Boyd, AT Piney Ridge" is
an old but meretcrious one. AT the Troca-
dero, "Girofe- Girola," Lecocq's comic opera,
will be sung. At the Orpheum Minnie
Palmer will head the bill. Altogether, a
weeks list of fairly good entertainments is
offered.
William Riley Hatch, the first leading
baritone engaged for the new opera COM
pany, and who left 1t recently to join the
Woodward Stock company in Kansas City,
has been re-engaged and will be in the cast
OF "Girole- Giroha' this week. Mr.. Hatch
made friends in Omaha during his previous
short engagement, all CT whom are glad to
have him return.
Mentioning the Woodward Stock company
brings to mind the fact that since it left
Omaha three weeks ago it has been playing
to record breaking audiences at the Audi
forum in Kansas City. 1T has produced so
far about the same line of pieces that it did
In Omaha, including THE Muskcteers'' and
Northern Lights" These plays, which
Omaha theater-goers patronized in a way
anything but liberal, have been filling the
theater in the City on the Kaw. Since the
Woodward company has been absent this
time local patrons Of the theater have had
inflicted upon them some attractions that
could in no way compare with the Wood
wards, yet the theater-gOers have been COM
PEELED to pay twice the price of admission
to- see these inferior entertainments. This
Is bringing the people to realize, but too
late, just what a splendid organization the
Woodward Stock company was.
Many plays are written, but few are
chosen. The conventional idea seems to be
that playwriting is something easy, and that
dramas are dashed off after dinner or be-
tween days, as a mere diversion. The fact
Is that writing a play is no easy exploit in
romance and several degrees more difficult
to do than to put a book together.
Not long ago in New York a theatrical
manager was approached by a callow young
man who desired permission to see the
stage. He stated frankly that he had writ
ten a play and was now very DESTROYS to
see the unknown world behind the scenes.
Such instances of technical ignorance are
frequent experiences with a manager, but
the good, brave work of playwriting moves
on as merrily as ever. j. j. Rosenthal. one
of the best known managers of theatrical
attractions in this country, who was in the
city on business last week, said that In
three months he had read no less than sew
enty-one new plays that were submitted to
him, and failed to find a single one that. to
his mind, had suflciency of merit to risk
producing. He had given up all hope of
securing a new farce for this season until
he received a letter from a friend in Lon
don telling him that Charles Brookfeld had
Just completed a new comedy called Dear
Old Charley" He cabled at once to send
the manuscript. 1t was just the thing he
wanted.
The most important new plays produced In
New York last week were The Gadfy," a
religious drama by Stuart Robson, and an
operatic version of Rostand's ANGUS ICY
rano de Bergerac," by Francis Wilson. So
Ear as the critics were concerned both plays
were fiat failures, but during the week they
drew standing room only" houses. All OF
the critics roasted" THE Gadhy." and be-
low Will be found portions of some of their
criticisms.
The Pest said: ''Of all the problems sug-
gested by The Gadhy,' a nightmare in four
acts, which was inflicted upon a loug-suffer-
ing audience, the most difficult to solve is
the one how 1t could have been possible