Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

While there was nothing at the theaters
tho fret half Of last week that would at
tract more than passing noti.e, Friday and
Saturday were Cf unusual interest Oh ac-
count Of one Of the greatest dramatic sue
eessos OF the century being given its first
Omaha production. Tho appearance here Of
Efie Ell5ler In Tho Christian" not only
attracted tho attention Of tho regular
heater going public, but Of those who ra-ely
Il ever visit tho playhouse. Considering
that three performances werc given of the
play the interoet manifested in 1t was even
greater than that caused by Richard Mans
fclI'g appearance at the Boyd last May in
"Cyrano do Bergerac.' In the presentation
OF "Cyrano de Berg5rac" therc was more
than the play to attract attention. there was
tho appearance Il one cf the greatest actors
If not the greate5t-upon the American
stage, and incidentally the presence { one OF
tho three great naval heroes of tho late
war. With "Tho Christian" interest cen
tered in tho play alone. No book or play
written during the century has been more
widely discussed than this cue by Hall
Calne. Tho book has enjoyed an eXtraor-
dinary sale, while The play has been running
in the east nearly two years and yet there
is no sign Of its popularity waning. With
Edmond Rostrand'1 famous play, which Gre
ated such a furor year ago, it seemed to
be more of a fad and Richard Mansfield
is already about to sheye 1t for a new one
Many who had read "The Christian" and
who saw the play last week were doubtless
disappointed because 1T did not follow the
lines of the novel more closely. Yet If they
were to stop to consider the merits of both
book and play separately they could hardly
fail to conclude that the latter was much
better in purpose and construction than the
novel with the same Inappropriate title.
Withal "Tha Christian as a religioun
drama can hardly be compared with Wilson
Barret.'s Sign of the Cross and while 1t
may help to bring the stage and the church
step nearer to each other, it can never APP
peal to the church goer as does this latter
piece. The Sign of the Cross depicts the
suffering OF Christian martyrs in the
tmo of paganism while Tho Christian"
merely tells of the strange adventures OF a
religious fanatic who seems to be driven
more by jealousy Of the girl he loves to take
up religious work than by the dictates of his
conscience. However, thero is room for
many moro of both such plays and one can
hardly help wishing that in the near fu-
ture they entirely supersede the farce COM
edy and others Of it's kind which just now
seem to predominate.
The week ending today promises little of
interest to theatergoers, with the possible
exception Of the appearance of Walker
Whtesides at the Boyd and the usual vaud-
eville bill at the Orpheum. Mr.. Whitesides
is indeed a promising young actor and
well worth seeing at any time. There will
be no theatrical bookings at the Boyd Mon
day, Tuesday or Wednesday nights. Can
collation. of several attractions caused the
gap. The theater, however, will not be
dark, as the three nights have been secured
by other attractions rental The Young
Mems Christian association have secured
Monday night for one of the lectures in its
entertainment course and the Misses Ne
brish will give a concert assisted by local
musicians of note, Tuesday night.
For some time the students of Creighton
university have been making elaborate prep
arations for the production of the we'll
known play, THE Heirs at-Law," in which
Joseph Jefferson made such a
hit some years ago. The stu
dents who are to assist in the play
have been rehearsing diligently for the past
month under the direction of Prof. Charles
F. Walking and have so mastered their
respective parts as to be fully competent
and ready to appear in public Wednesday |
evening. December 13. The entertainment |
will be given at the college. The members |
of the Dramatic circle are enthusiastic over |
the coming performance, as Is also the !
Students Library association, which is |
heartily cooperating with the dramatic club |
for the success of the play, inasmuch as the |
proceeds are to go for the support of the !
library. In fact, the dramatic entertain
ments are the principal source OF revenue for
the maintenance and development of the |
reading room and the library. which are al
ways open to the students, free of charge |
THE Heir is z splendid play and |
one that offers unlimited opportunities for
the display of talent The leading charac-
ter that of DR.. Pangloss, will be assumed /
by Daniel Hurley, young man we'll known /
in local amateur circles for his histrionic
ability. The role of Lord Duberly, alias
Daniel Dowlas, the unsophlsticated tallow-
chandler who has been suddenly raised to
the poerage, falls to Mathew Gleason; Da-
vid Murphy plays Lemuel Dowas, the poll
ished aristocrat; Guy Furay plays Dick, the
reckless youth whom fortune suddenly en-
braces; Paul Martin appears as Ezekiel Home
spun, the straightforward, manly rustic,
and Master Clement Lee ners5nates Jer-
en!y, Zek!al's young brother. In the under
plot Ed Learey appears as the lcug-los
heir, with NJ. j. OHeGrn as his faithful
companion; Andrew Flynn takes the part of
NtHuIlCh, IHc NoilC servant, ana u. CfelSn-
ton and II, Fii2gihbcn are to appear in
small parts,
Discussion of the immoral play and its
effect upon the drama is just now rife. n 4
only in the east, but all over the w,rll.
Play censors have been appointed in many
countries where the play is the thing"
and an effort is being made by the east rn
press to establish such an office in this
country. great many of the Lad ns
actors are putting themselves on record as
8Eg-"~QsN Wy a w