Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29

drama produced mere tnlS SebSOH' OuL Dl
forty-iour performances given at this thea
ter during the present season thirty-eght
have been farce. comedies 1t Is no wonder
that people get out OF the notion OF thea
ter-going and are a trihe backward about
attending the meritorious attractions that
come along every month or SO.
The advent OF Eugene Blair as a star,
with one Of the most talked about plays OF
the past season, was anticipated with real
pleasure, and few IL any were disappointed
in either the play or the star. That Miss
Blair possesses the ability, beauty, figure,
and in fact everything to make her shine
as a stellar light no one who saw her
as Clorinda Wildairs, can reasonably deny
II is really too bad that the splendid pro-
duction OF Stephen Townsends dramatiza-
tion OF this beautiful play and Miss Blair's
clever portrayal Of the leading role have
to suffer some detraction by association
with a company decidedly mediocre. There
is but one person in the cast besides Miss
Blair that is worthy OF even passing notice.
This is William Bramwell. who gives much
promise OF attaining fame in the dramatic
field. Mr. Bramwel is an old Omaha boy,
and his many friends were much pleased
with his work Miss Blair can consider
herself fortunate in having such capable
leading man, for without him the play
hOulu De IUDUtu VI lluCu vi IT'S Deduly.
There have been few plays or books more
widely discussed during the past year than
"A Lady Of Quality" perhaps because the
theme is a new one, rather than that 1t
possesses any real literary merit. Yet it Is
by no means devoid OF literary worth. The
principal point in the discussion OF this pro-
duction seems to be the morality OF the
piece. There are many critics, and COM
petent ones too, who declare it not fit for
the American stage, while others, equally
capable of giving correct and unbiased
opinions, say that it is moral, uplifting, and
that 1t teaches a lesson not often found in
popular novels OF the day 1t is toward this
latten opinion that the writer leans, and
his reasons are identical with those ex-
pressed by Miss Blair. 1t is the first in
stance where a play has been written in
which the woman, starting almost from the
lowest depths, is allowed to live down her
follies and in the end triumphs over man
This erratic Clorinda Wildairs, mother
less, harum-scarum girl, who knew no such
thing as refinement allows herself to be led
by shrewd, deliberate scoundrel who
merely for a bet drags her down, in the
end only to suffer death at her hands After
Sir John Oxon had won his bet and
become tired Of his prey he decides to tel
he finds that at this news she does not
weep and tear her hair, but receives hi,
decision calmly and without any show o.
concern and orders the cur back to his
kennel, he feels that he has a small flame
OF love for her, which soon kindles to
burning desire to make her his own. Thi
is her hour, and her triumph is so com
plete and the moral so pointed that on,
can hardly realize how the piece can b.
called degrading even in the slightest de
gree. The play proved so popular herr
that instead Of finishing the latter hal
Of the week with Sardou's "Divorcons," a
originally intended, 1t was retained on Fri
day and Saturday nights. Sunday and Mon
day nights brought only fair sized audience
to see Miss Blair. but the balance OF tn
week the theater enjoyed the best patronag
OF the season.
At the Orpheum a bill above the standar
was presented 1t wae by Lillian Burkhar
one of the cleverest little actresses upon tn
American stage, and it attracted UNUSUAL
large crowds. Miss Burkhart, who was gee
here last season. is quite out OF her elemer
on the vaudeville stage and would certainl
succeed at the head OF some good compan,
Her dainty methods are original with herse
and are quite charming.
At the Trocadero The Bohemian Girl
was repeated and did not prove much OF
magnet. 1t was, however, we'll given an
beautifully costumed.
The many Omaha friends OF Mrs. Gertrud
Berkely Enos, remembered as having bee
associated with the Woodward Stock con
pany, will be panied to learn OF her seriol
Illness in Kansas City. Mrs. Enos was con
PEELED to retire from the cast over a wes
ago. Her recovery is said to be doubtful
During the last ten days New York HI
witnessed the production OF several ne
plays, the majority proving successful. TT
newest plays offered are: THE Children
tho Ghetto" THE Girl in the Barracks
''The Dairy Farm" Barbara Frietchi,
and an opera, "The Singing Girl"
The Times says A noteworthy and m
morial play Is Barbara Frietchle," by ely
Fitch, with Julia Marlowe in the title rol
1t tells. simply and tenderly, yet with mu
dramatic ingenuity, a love story with
tragic ending which does not depress 4
spectators mind by its sadness, but leav
him elated by its exhibition Of heroism a
devotion.
Such ls the effect Of poetical tragedy, pro
erly acted, and this play while II is writ
in prose and not in the form of poetic ira
edy, sounds the genuine tragic note in
stronger scenes But, as in life itself, col
edy is mingled with ito tragedy.
Tho play begins with a ripple Of laught'
In its development human wnims and foibl
are denoted with gently satirical touch
we'll as the passion and sorrow OF existent
1t deals with war. This is one more pl
picturing the phase OF the conflict OF 10
ago between the north and the south a
IN it's poetical quality 1t is the best OF
OF them There Is no cant In the pie
though its sentiments may once in VIII
have sort Of perfunctory sound. 1t
written, for the most part, fiuently and el
quently, and some OF its dialogue, like I
love scene on the stoop OF an old fashion
village dwelling in act |, and the speech
Barbara TO her father in act H. has l
been surpassed in contemporary dram
While it is not all of quite this degree
excellence, 1t is free from banality and bu
combe. This dramatist knows well, too, I
value of a moment of silence in developi
dramatic action, and can carry on see
with monosyllabc utterances TO fine effect
o. Miss Nielsen's new opera, the N