Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-10

Va thtu VI Oudud 5 three ltaQlUB
t%heaters nightly last week, announced the
fact that a new theatrical season was born.
The opening Of Boyd's and the Orpheum
old no: create the interest or enthusiasm
that their managers had confidently ex-
pected; on the contrary, both theaters
opened TO comparatively small aud undemon-
strative audiences. In fact. the attendance
at all OF the different indoor amusement re-
sorts during the first half OF the week was
unusually light, and rather discouraging to
managerial hopes. However. Thursday. Fri
day and Saturday, with the change In
weather came an increase in attendance, and
now that the Indications are for continued
cool weather when theatergoers can sit
through a performance with comfort, there
is no reason why the playhouses should not
be filled nightly. especially as there is not
the least complaint to be raised against the
merits OF the attractions.
The Boyd offered two funny farces,
Browns in Town" and an uD-to-date YER
sion OF Natural Gas" both being presented
by capable companies. The Orpheum's
vaudeville bill, while not as good as was
expected for the opening. was one which
averaged we'll throughout, and 1t is a ques-
ton II a bill made up OF eight good acts is
not more enjoyable than one comprising one
or two extraordinary features, with the bal
uINp ollllgo 80 $3.50
be enjoyed throughout, while in the latter
the audience must actually be forced for
an hour or so for a half hours enjoyment.
1t would seem that in vaudeville entertain
ment tn former plan would be the better,
and II is hoped will be adopted by the Or
pheum management. The Trocadero pre-
scented another popular opera in the same
praise worthy manner that has characterized
all OF tho productions given under Maurice
Hageman's direction. Mr.. Hageman Is one
Of the oldest stage directors in the country,
and has been responsible for the success OF
a number OF different leading opera COM
panies. Theatergoers are just commencing
TO appreciate the splendid work he Is get
ting out of this we'll balanced company.
There Is a noticeable contrast In the in
terror decorations that have been made in the
Boyd and Creighton Orpheum theaters dur
ing the summer. The latter has been amost
entirely rc-decorated throughout, a complete
lot OF new scenery painted and with the ex-
ception OF the large curtain. which remains
the same as last year. the theater looks as
bright and new inside as upon the day 1t
was first opened. At the Boyd, which has
been sadly in need Of a little fresh paint for
several seapns. there has been practically
nothing done, save that the box seats have
been newly upholstered, the old carpets
cleaned and some new lot OF scenery added.
Due credit must be given the management
for the latter. as II is very rich and beauti-
full, and gives the stage a much brighter
appearance. But for the lack of re-decora-
ton in the auditorium, either the owner OF
the theater or the management Is deserving
OF a good brown roast The Boyd was
originally one OF the most beautiful theaters
in the country and there is no reason why
1t should not be so now. A little fresh paint
and some new carpets and drapeies would
work a wonderful transformation and the
first week the theater is dark during the
season these things should be attended to.
Almost all theater-goers are interested In
the new plays that are being produced now
in New York and especially so where there
is a probability OF their being seen in this
city before the present season closes, or
shortly after the opening Of the next one.
Therefore, hereafter The Bee will, through
this department, try to keep Its readers in
touch with them by publishing extracts from
the criticisms Of the best known eastern
writer's on the drama.
Last week there were three new plays
produced in New York-"The Girl From
Maxim's'' at the Criterion, THE Last OF the
Rohans" at the Academy and "a Young
Wife, at the Fourteenth Street theater. TIL,
frst-named play is a French farce in three
acts, being an adaptation OF George Fey
deau's French comedy L Dame de Chez
Maxim" After devoting considerable space
20 a minute description Of each act, the
N Mirror says:
A electric chair that renders speech
less and immovable those that sit in 1t, II
the current Is turned on, and a satire on the
French dueling system also figures in the
play. In fact, NJ. Feydeau's work in the
original is an exceptionally funny farce,
and in spite OF the mutilation 1t has received
at the hands OF its unknown adapter, 1t is
still amusing. NJ. Feydeau writes for the
French stage, on which an infinite, though
in no wise a commendable, degree OF broad
ness is permitted. So the unknown adapter,
in preparing the farce for presentation in
English, undertook to deodorize the work
and made a good Job of 1t. The toning-
down process robbed the farce OF much OF
its humor, and of but little OF It's yulgarity,
the substitutes for some OF the original lines
and situations being hypocritically and
transparency silly. Maybe the adapter eX-
pected his audience TO swallow the state
ment that NJ. Petypont, in e%scorting
Praline from Maxim's. intended merely to
leave her at a hotel and continue his jour
ney home. but 1t is doubtful II any one will.
Equally absurd was the concession to the
proprieties by which Praline emerged from
the bed, in which she had been sleeping for
several hours, fully attired except for her
skirt and waist. 1t would appear that the
young woman was wont TO retire with her
shoes and stockings on. not to mention
other articles OF feminine apparel, and
with her couture in perfect order. What
the adapter might have we'll eliminated,
the episode OF a priest taking part in the
hilarities OF the second act. which is, to say
the least. in very bad taste, he left in, de-
voting himself to stocking the play with
American slang for the insertion OF which
there is no excuse whatever"
or the people in the cast there is only
one that is we'll known to local theater-
goers. and this is Alfred Klein, who plays
the part OF the duke.
In 1.-The Last OF the Rohans' Andrew
Mack is the bright particular star, and OF
the play and his work The Mirror says;
THE program quite properly describes the
play as an Irish Irish drama and It is a
fair specimen OF such. The characters AMI
situations are all very. very old and the
comedy business is amusing only now and
then. The frequent vagueness OF lines tina
bear upon the story and the general inco,
herency OF a highly improbable plot are
tho worst dafarts hut Mr. Mark's peruIia,