Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-16
ADJUSTMENTS. A


"Thc Roundcrs'-
A comic opera in three acts; librcto by
Harry B. Smith, music by l.. EnElander
time tuesday night by Thomas @. Sea-
brooke ana company,
THE CAST
Maginnis Pdsha, an Irish Turk "....;...-
-. ...,..:.......".... Thomas q. seabrooke
Tho Duke de Patty du Clam who has
tried everything and found nothing ~.
in it'..,...,....'u... VIII G. Mandeville
The Marpuis lie Baccaret, the moth for
.,,,..!..l...e...,.,.', Harry 6. stewart
siegfried Gotterdammerups leader OF
Priscilla, wife OF the marquis, an Amer
icanslrl belonging TO u worthy family
Thea. ballet dancer ,, pcrthS WaSnser
stella Giltedge. up-to-dStc American girl
Madame seraphine, Thco's .'mothcr.
.,,..........,'......... Mabel Blake
Jolivet, a young reporter. ..... Kate Gardner
II seems somewhat presumptuous for
Mr. seabiooke to call his latest comedy
creation comic opera II is rather a
farce-comedy with prepondersnce Of
dialogue and just enough music to Justify
the presence OF S chorus. And II were
better that the latter designation be used,
for as a comic opera THE Founders can
hardly be considered in the red-ribbon
class. We've in the light of farce comedy
however. II Is entitled to recognition in
that II Is amusing and entertaining.
The story Of THE Founders" as related
through three acts OF dialogue and song. is
q leaf from the diary OF Maglnns Pasha,
an Irish Turk. who betakes himself to
Paris. clad in the habiliments OF a Turkish
nobleman. but an Irishman through and
through despite his disguise. He Is in
| search of a popular ballet dancer whose
picture has come into his possession and
whom he seeks as an addition TO his coll
lection Of 100 wives.
Arriving at a summer resort near Paris.
he finds n young French marquis, married
to an American heiress with pronounced
religious instinct, who is likewise In love
with the ballet dancer. The two learn of
their mutual admiration and leave post
haste for Paris.
Tho second scene is that Of the dancers
dressing room in a Paris theater. without
indulging in the formality OF obtaining
permission from the box ONCE Maginnis
and the marquis gain admission to the
dressing room. The latters wife, learn
ing OF her husbands mission to Paris, fol-
| lows him to the theater and contrives to
procure costume identical with that OF
| the ballet dancer. She proves herself a
rollicking young woman, even though born
| in Philadelphia, and Maginnis falls in love
with her. Determined to repay her hus-
| band In his own coin she accepts the at
| tentions Of the pasha until he becomes
helplessly inebriated and then leaves him
| to the mercy Of a love-lorn old woman who
| serves as the ballet dancers wardrobe mis-
tress. The marquis eventually discovers
| that his wife Is quite as charming he
had dreamed none other could be but the
| hallpt dancer and n hanny n m
follows. .- ... ....
With this somewhat slender thread as
the origination Harry Il. Smith has COM
posed fairly entertaining comedy. 1t
is by no means up TO his best efforts and
| there is not great deal to commend In
the book Occasionally there is a briskness
and brightness In the lines but for the
most part the dialogue is dull and the
| lyrics somewhat doeful. What little music
there is in the piece is of the catchy order,
but Is not destined to be immortalized by
| the whistlers.
II is somewhat unfortunate that y Mr..
| Seabrooke has not the advantage OF "A bet
ter vehicle, but with, this handicap and
that added by small and not too brill
| liant chorus he makes the best OF II and
is droll and amusing. AS Celtic comedian
Mr.. Seabrooke has long since been recog
he ell-sustains his former reputation
/ making of the queer combination, an Irish
| Turk all that could possibly be CLEANED
from the part. The Duke de Patty du Clam of
| Mr.. VIII c, Vaudeville was an excellent
portrayal of the foreign nobleman in search
of an heiress. He was dryly and entertain
| ingly witty, sang well and was fortunate
in having a number OF taking songs and,
best OF all. did not overdo the part. Jake
| Bernard did much toward injecting life
| and humor into an otherwise dull first
| act as the leader OF the German band
His comedy was OF the infectious sort and
his articulation and accent were superb
| Miss jeanette Lowre was altogether
charming as Priscilla. She was demure or
dashing as the occasion required and en-
acted the role in a most satisfactory man
ner. She has an attractive voice and won
the hearts of her audience to the extent
that there was much disappointment be-
cause she had not more vocal opportunity.
Bertha Walzinger was acceptable as the
ballet dancer, and Misses Lynch and Blake
were adequate to the roles they performed
The stage settings and scenery were none
too complete, but what was lacking In this
respect was made up to certain extent
bv the handsome gowns OF the women.
."The FOUNDERS" will be repeated this
afternoon and the engagement will close
with tonight's performance.