Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-09
m

Election week found Omaha people but
little disposed toward the theater and
but little to draw them thither. Harry
Beresford got the customary Sunday
crowds at the Boyd in The Wrong MT.
wright" On the Arst day Of the week tho
attendance IL not a criterion by which TO
determine the excellence OF the perform
lance. This is not Intended as an ex post
facto criticism OF Mr.. Beresford, who is
q very clever comedian and deseryedly
popular In Omaha. Uncle Tome Cabin
koan come at any time and be assured Of
Ethe patronage Il received during its short
stay. isis Hopkins isn't quite so sure
kof a second welcome. Curiosity In her case
fwas generally satisfied with the FIRST In
inspection and people will be likely to
Happily sls's own philosophy should she hint
~ o return engagement: Il don't see no
Esense In dom nuthin' for nobody what
Bhain't done nuthin' fur you" Stuart Rob-
tson'e annual visit came at the end OF the
tweek. Mr.. Robson is one Of those actors
people are always glad to see. no matter
whether he comes with an old or with
IA new piece. There is something about
Dim that eludes classification, but which
II both palpable and enjoyable. His humor
SIS OF the soothing sort that puts one at
kpeace with the world and sends his hear
Lers home with cheerful countenances and
good thoughts in their minds. AS a pre-
Hude to a Sunday OF devotion a Saturday
keyening performance of The Henrietta"
lean hardly be excelled. Any sort OF a SER
Lmon will sit we'll on such a foundation.
Down at the Creighton orpheum Manager
lReiter has been so busy taking care Of his
Lpatrons that he has hardly had time to
tell q story, and his friends know how
busy he is when he can't stop long enough
TO spring a new one. Indeed, the Eaude-
VILE show seems to have renewed It's youth
IN Omaha.
Nothing was said at any time prior to
the opening OF the season about any es-
pecial effort in the way of Shakespearean
revival, beyond the usual desultory discus
sion as TO whether the public yearns for
the works of the immortal william, but the
Omaha people have reason TO suspect that
the revival was made. Here the. season
has barely advanced two months, and we
have been treated to Ave Of the great plays
of the master, each given with more or less
effect and with some ambition as to produc-
ton. And, be 1t to the credit OF the peo-
pie said, each has been quite well patron
ized. Not so much so, perhaps, as have the
lighter efforts of the modern poets, but
well enough to indicate that the classic still
has a hold on the public and that 1t will be
patronized. And this patronage is due not
TO idle curiosity, nor to the fact that an es-
pecially great actor is to enact a we'll
known part, but because OF an honest love
for the beauty that turks In every line OF
Shakespeare's writings, for his elegant die
I ton as much as his depth and breadth OF
, thought. His tragedies and his comedies
! we have had and are to have yet during
the winter, and the patronage that has
been and will be bestowed on these lie an
| eloquent rebuke to the dispensers Of dirt
plays. who entrench themselves behind the
allegation that they are what the people
want"
So good an authority as Mr.. Charles Froh-
man said recently, the interview With him
being published in a New York paper, that
1.-THE taste of the American public is swing
Ting back to the serious. and he proposes to
have one Of his metropolitan theaters de-
lvoted to the production Of the Shakes
Ipeare and other classics next season.
Az days go by the tide Of protest against
Sthe dirt" play swells, even in Gotham. II
thas been proposed there that some sort OF
corporation between the pulpit and the
kstage might be effective as a remedy. In
discussing this proposition, the New York
Post says:
Assuredly, It Is time something were
done to put a stop to the constant and
progressive GENERALIZATION OF the public
mind by vulgar, morbid and impure plays,
but the reputed scheme Of the Church club
and the Actors Church alliance to reform
ing as moral walking delegates, does not
inspire much confidence. All decent people,
and ALI true friends OF the Stage. WI
men and wish them every success, but
there Is grave reason TO DOUBT whether
much good can be done by labortoue per-
sonai advertisement Of the fact that this
or that play is so shocking mat modeSt
persons ought to stay = xva ITIm " would
be effective, but, unfortunately. the more
energetic the crusade the more notorious
TO make a vicious piece notorious Is to
play right into the hands OF the manager.
as as IL \ r so ees are the best Judges Of the moral
quality and effect OF a play? Is II not, as
a matter of fact. almost proverbial that
they are easily beguiled by a little mock
freouently extended valuable. countenance
ana support 70 very aaE grant ts sisa "a the tRe
Cross" and THE Christian" not to mem
ton a host of others' in which the at,
flavor. to cheap and meretricious melo-
drama, have never experienced any oini-
Guilty in securing clerical commentator
sometimes in very unexpected quarters
There are, we believe, a considerable num-
Der OF clergymen OF different denominations
who even today are in favor OF public rep
Presentations Of the Passion Play and are
convinced that the result would be wide
Ispread spiritual regeneration.
on the whole, II these clergymen wish to
engage in the work of theatrical REFORM
~needed-they will be. wise TO avoid the
danger and the odium OF or
Recommending any. particular performances.
Let them devote themselves rather 10 the
work of renewing In the public MIND a
lproper respect for what is clean ana decent
m the abstract. Above all, let them strive
Ito awaken careless parents to the pertls
arising out OF the modern custom which
permits. young lads and meidens to accom-
lpany each other to the most Objectionable
OF Entertainments. II Is from the young,
from the rising generation, that the pur-
Veyor OF unclean plays derives a very large
proportion OF hts PROFIT, II mothers could
Sc induced TO keep their m~arriageable
ldaughters out OF any theater which had
once come under suspicion OF foulness, and
10 STAY out OF II themselves, its moral
atmosphere would soon be purified.
As Mr.. Kyrle Bellew tells the tale. Sir
Henry Irving does not think much OF Mr..
Beerbohm Tree as an actor.
taYk NVaa attrfna the rohaaraaIa ~ aRnhaa.