Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-12

An abundance OF amusement was afforded
at the theaters last week, and as the week
opening today promises even more than its
predecessor those who have found fault with
the quantity or quality Of the attractions
presented so far during the season will have
TO find some new cause Of complaint.
The season is now opening up in earnest,
and theatergoers may from now on expect
attractions worthy Of their patronage. few
a.eptical ones will say, This Is the same
old promise which the theatrical managers Of
Omaha make every month or So" but a
glance al the following list OF plays and
players booked for appearance here between
now and January ! should be convincing
Charles Dixon in Mistakes Will Happen; "
Jefferson DeAngelis in the Jolly Mushe-
teer;" Frohmans purple Lady" Madam
Modjeska in repertore Charles Coghlan N
"a Royal Box "Humpty Dumpty'' ex-
travangza, Hotel Topsy Turvy;" THE
Colonial Glrl;" THE Christian" THE Tele-
phone Girl" THE Bcstonians' and
"Phroso." These attractions have all scored
a success in the east. Many OF the actors
identified with these coming attractions have
been seen here and their ability is well
known.
Last week the offerings at the different
play houses we're really first class. some
thing quite unusual The feature of the week
was the Hungarian Boys Band at the
Orpheum. 1t is certainly wonderful or
ganization, when it is considered that IL is
made up Of mere boys They are all thorough
musicians, educated by the Hungarian gov
ernment. and any one Of them is capable Of
solo work upon the instrument he plays.
The programs they rendered last week were
well selected and demonstrated that their
leader Is in touch with American ideas. The
programs included classical numbers and
popular airs Of the day. Last season this
band appeared in Omaha at one OF the lead
ing theaters and demanded twice the price
of admission charged by the Orpheum man
agement last week to hear them in connec-
tion with fairly good vaudeville program,
made up Of six other acts.
The band is composed of thirty FIVE boys,
ranging in age from to II years. They
were chosen from among 300 others who
are being educated by the government of
Austro-Hungary at their national musical
school. The ones in the band are still
under the Hungarian governments jurs-
dction and expect to return soon to their
native country. They are all manly looking
little fellows and lead military life daily,
marching to and from their hotel, practicing
a certain number of hours every day and
drilling and studying the balance Of the
time. Immediately after their concerts they
scamper to their respective dressing rooms,
change their gorgeous red stage uniforms
for one more plain-a dark blue, trimmed
in red, with long red overcoats-and then
hurry back to the stage door, where they
fall in at the command of their captain,
answer roll call, and march home to be
put Immediately TO bed. They are shy little
fellows and only two Of them speak Eng
lsh. They do not care to mingle with
Americans and the reason given by one of
them, who speaks English, is rather anus
ing He stated, when asked why the boys
were SO timd, that before leaving their
country they had been told by their teach
ers and parents that they must have moth
ing to do with Americans, as they would
kidnap them, starve them, not furnish them
proper clothing and make them play for
nothing, so when an American makes an
effort to talk to one OF them he gets
frightened stare and sees the lad turn on
his heels and move away at lively gait
Their teachers doubtless fully realize their
ability and fearing that some thrifty Amer
lean might tempt tueEn W Sbdy upoh Ills
side by an offer OF money has told them
this bugaboo story to prevent such hap
pening. or course their parents want them
to return and they are excusable for tell
ing such falsehood.
The attractions at Boyd's theater last
week enjoyed better patronage than any
that have appeared at this house during
nd
seats we're at a premium and standing room
was sold downstairs. The entertainments
all merited the attendance.
II Primrose & Dockstader have not made
money and plenty of 1t since they started
out early in August, 1t is not their fault,
for they have one OF the most refined, clean
est and best minstrel shows ever seen in
this city.
The Female Drummer" with pretty lit
tie Johnstone Bennett in the title role, was
at Boyd's three nights and made a most
favorable impression. Like all farce come
dies thare was little to the piece with the
exception OF some clever specalties. 1t is
a satire on the department store written in
that we'll known Hoyt style, with the Hoyt
vulgarity eliminated, however, and the fun
kept going so rapidly that ons is constantly
wondering what Is to come next. John
stone Bennett is show in herself and alone