Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-11
GOODWIN'S PLAY A FAILURE
"The Cowboy and the Lady" Roasted
by Audience and Critics and
VIII lie withdrawn.

Copyright 1899, by Press Publishing Cob
LONDON, June 10.-(New York World
Cablegram-Special Telegram.) 1.-THE cow
boy and the Lady" with Nat Goodwin and
Maxine Elliott and their American com
pany. presented Monday at the duke OF
York's theater, caused genuine disappoint-
ment to the friendly audience, composed
principally of Americans. The play,
stripped of accessories. is built on the
familiar plot of an innocent hero accused
of murder. condemned at an impoDaole
trial saved at the last moment by the dis
closure of the real culprit and left to marry
the beautiful heroine as the curtain talis.
The author, Clyde Fitch, seemed quite out
of his element handling such SUBJECT
and the smatterng OF trivial Wit thrown
in at ill-chosen moments fell nat and tor
the most part reacted, making 1t appear
unusually shallow and insincere The hrst
act was filled with an unending succession
of cowboy oaths. Used as a source OF
humor in connection with the presence OF
women 1t was most marked ana proved
offensive to Americans and English alike.
A raEtime quadrille in the second act and
a cake walk headed by Goodwin and Elliott
were the most applauded features OF the
evening. Gertrude Elliott made personal
hit as a quaint child of the mountains, but
Goodwin, Maxine Elliott and other mem
bers of the excellent company had small
chance to show their ability.
At the final curtain there was much
kindly applause. Goodwin made witty
speech but Clyde Fitch's appearance was
greeted by jeers from the pit and gallery
and he beat hasty retreat
London critics have been outspoken In
their condemnation of the play. The Daily
Telegraph says: ut was poor affair at
best Actors could hope to make nothing
out of It, You cannot convert melodrama
into comedy by a liberal seasoning of bad
language The swearing startled by reason
OF its strength, coarseness and superhu-
ousness"
The Daily Mail begins: Zine acting
never yet made a success In England OF a
poor play and the play was very poor last
night. Stripped of its decorations 1t Is a
melodrama, and most mellow"
Echo says: 1.-THE latest American impor-
tation is but a silly, fiashy melodrama,
eked by variety entertainment, suffused by
a sham romantic atmosphere, backwoods
dialect and caricature. The entire produc-
ton is too naive for serious consideration"
Other critics spoke in much the same
vein.
W.
"An American Citizen" and ''In Mizzouri'
speedily, and possibly I'm Days OF Old"
Edward Roses adaptation of ''The Pris-
oner of Zenda' proved costly failure at
ST. James theater, and in consequence
George Alexander will close the theater in
two weeks and has abandoned his American
tour, which was apnounc q FOR next yea>
He has ceded TO Daniel lsrcl n the: Amer
lean right to Mrs. Craigie's "1he Ambas-
sador," which will be performed by the
Lyceum Stock company next season. Mr.
Frohman has also secured the right tc
'The Maneuvers Of Jane" and will make
that the first production of the Lyceum.
A large following will regret to hear that
E. ]. Morgan will not be the leading mar
there next season. He will be transferred
to one of Charles. Frohman's companies
while Jack Mason replaces him at the
Lyceum.