Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-16

Last week was made notable in Omaha's
thespian annals by the appearance az the
Boyd Of one who Is very nearly IN the front
OF the line Of American actors at present.
Aside from Mr.. Richard Mansfield, who Is
unuuestionably the leader. Mr.. sothern has
few II any peers. Persistent, patient work
has lifted Mr.. sothern far above the level
OF American actors, and while he realizes
more fully. perhaps. than any Of bis ad-
mirers that he has not yet attained per
lection, his constant and intelligent EFFORT
is certain TO bring him the reward Of ad-
vancement, and in this alone the real actor
finds ample compensation for his toll and
endeavor. One Of the principal beauties,
indeed, the most attractive Of all his quail
ties, is the fact that he enacts the part Of
whatever character is assigned him.. Thus,
when we go to theater we see Lord Arthur
Cholmondeley, or Captain Letterblair Lyt-
ton, OF Hamlet, or Francois Yillon, and
never see Sothern. He has no mannerisms
or mustaches that he makes his trademark;
he sinks his individuality in that of the
character he Is creating. and in ~effacing his
personality he becomes the truly great art
ist. Moreover. Mr.. sothern has a great
respect for the v%erities, and realizes that
harmony is most essential to successful
PIOuuNAlbh " q pay ITO bNohN AaAANbbA
has his work cut out for him all the time,
and to the stage manager much Of the
beauty Of a Sothern production is undoubt-
eddy due. Taking his cue from Mr.. Mans
field, Mr.. sothern this season sends ahead
N experienced stage manager to train the
supernumeraries who are needed in the ac-
ton of III l Were King" and the result is
easily noticed by the smooth and rapid
movement of the performance. Last Thurs
day afternoon Mr.. Walker, who looks after
this work for Mr.. Sothern. spent several
hours in training the Omaha contingent
for the part It was to take in the play. On
Friday night the audience reaped the re-
ward. This is only an incident Of Mr.. Soth-
ern's care for his art. He has won his en-
inent position by these painstaking methods
and his admirers are glad to concede him
the praise that is his due.
After the matinee was ended yesterday
and while he was being Invested OF his ar
mor-plate and being reduced from the state
of high constable of France to his posi-
ton as a citizen OF the United States, Mr..
Sothern talked very entertainingly and
very enthusiastically Of the revival Of the
classic in drama. People do want it," he
said. at is only a question Of who shall
present IL. We have the actors, and it is
my firm belief that this will be acknowl-
edged. You must understand, though, that
II is a most serious undertaking for an
actor to essay a Shakespearean part after
he has established his name as an inter-
prefer Of the romantic or the society
drama. 1t is not only the money he puts
into the production, and that is by no
means a small item, but it is his reputa-
ton as we'll. For what has he left IL he
fails? He must think of what he is and
what he is about to undertake., and what
he will be IL he fails. This is why so
many good actors hesitate to make the
plunge into the classic. l am glad you
told me of Mr.. Charles Frohman's an
nounced intention to devote one theater TO
the revival of the classic drama. That
means an excellent opportunity for some
young actors. You know, we have had no
great Shakespearean actor in America since
the death of Booth, but that is no reason
why we should not have. And the time is
ripe for it, too. Mr.. Mansheld's effort in
Julius Caesar has been a tremendous sue
cess this year. II the actor only is capa-
Bile the public will give him its support. 1t
has been my ambition since boyhood to
play Hamlet. My production last season
Nao " MI Niut L nahNtu W hlahO IL Il
did not try to give the people a new Ham,
let, nor will /. Too much Of the best ira
ditions of the stage. both Of England and
America, is inseparably connected with this
great part to warrant anyone in undertake
ing innovations. l have studied the ira
ditions as closely as l have studied the
character and hope to win by keeping close
TO what has been proven safe in the mat
ter, About the end of December l eXpect
to open at the Madison Square Garden
theater in Hamlet and will play that
part and that of Francois Villon until the
close of the season. l expect to put on a
revival OF Romeo and Juliet next year. ]
think Romeo a good part for a male star
and will try to make it so. Whatever the
reason. the most hopeful sign in the theat-
rical world is tina the people are turning
TO the more serious forms OF drama. and
in this the true actor finds much OF en-
enlargement"
Omaha has often acted as the dog in
the past. and will be again asked to witness
the opening performance Of a new play
This time it is a brief one, but not the less
important for that reason. At the Orpheum
this afternoon Miss Lillian B~urkhart. who
has we'll won the title OF the "daintiest
Coincidence in vaudeville. = will give for the
nrst time her new sketch, I'm the Salt Gel
lar" It has the stamp of the actress owl
approval, which ought to go far TO recon-
mend 1t to the people.
During the week the press agent Of the
'Liberty Bellies" took occasion to attract
attention to the chorus girls OF his com