Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-10
AfnuSer M


The Joys and sorrows trials and .tribula-
tlons, sorceries and mysteries OF the
wizard Of o." whose career went through
all phases. from that Of a great ruler
to that Of not even a common slate pencil"
These things we're the text for the best
part Of the extravaganza which was pre-
scented at the Boyd theater last night to a
large and almost hilarious audience,
The beck and lyrics Is By I. Frank
Baum. Such was the information on the
program, and Mr.. Baum was certainly fol-
lowed with interest all through the even
ing. II there was one opportunity lost to
make a play on q word or on a phrase, 1t
was surely a solitary one. TIL funology
of the piece was ever present.
The scenic efforts we're beautiful in the
extreme and we're enthusiastically ap-
pIauded. From the wild .whiriing Of the
Kansas cyclone to the Transformation
scenes. the poppy garden, the wizards
court and the final dreamland scene, with
it's scores Of incandescent lights of delft
cate tints. there was nothing but a feast
for the eye. The costuming was har-
monious.
What iE the Wizard of Oar 1t Is not
a comic OPERA; 1t is not a series Of tableaux,
nor a vaudeville presentation. nor yet q
farce nor a pantomime. but II is a happy
and gingery mixture Of all. and the mix
ture is most palatable. It is described as
an Original musical extravaganza" so let
that name sufiee.
The music is reminiscent; there is not
much Of 1t that will be whistled, but II Is
all interesting while It is being played and
sung. The chorus is fresh and bright and
would show better results with less orches-
trail accompaniment, or rather. with an
accompaniment somewhat more subdued.
The same Instrumental accommodation
would help out the soloists, whose voices
are as a rule light and traditional" The
comic opera voice is a traditional affair,
and hardly dare one change it. There must
be a good 'wobble' and q pleasing high
note. Miss Bessie Wynn showed some ex-
cellent high tones and plenty OF volume
therein, but lacked in the lower parts Of the
voice. Miss Grace Kimball looked and sang
d~aintily. Anna Laughlin, the victim Of
the cyclone" sang in a rather effective
childish treble" She is captivating in
the earnestness with which she throws
herself into the part she has to do. and
Miss Helen Byron as the lady ~lunatic'
kept the part within bounds and acted with
lots OF dash, II her voice was not exactly
what one might desire In her songs. Carl
ton King, as Pastoral, for whom children
cried and adults died." was spontaneous,
and the team work throughout Of Messrs.
Stone and Montgomery was uproariously
funny and never unduly boisterous. The
ever blooming Bobby Caylor as Past Master
Of Magic and Ruler OF the Emerald City
and Potentate OF the Land OF OF did some
very clever work and his PAROLES In action
and word on the mannerisms of the legerde-
main artists" was sufficiently apparent to
cause much sympathetic laughter In his
work he had an able foil in Stephen MaIey.
who as Sir Wiley Guile acted the part of
skeptic In all matters magical and felt that
he could himself do many wonderous things
II he knew how.
The abundance of quip and Jest which was
infused by these people kept the stage alive
with business throughout and infused a
spirit OF enthusiasm into the audience
which is somewhat rare hereabouts, The
many recalls and demands for the presence
OF these mirth promoters heightened out
the performance considerably. Taken all
in all. the animals (suspiciously shaped. It
Is true), the ensemble. the dances. etc,
with the lines and the music. the Wizard
Of Ga" certainly make q most enjoyable
evenings entertainment. 1t is original; It
is musical; It Is extravagant-henee its
name.