Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-23
AtnuSefnentS

The Ienten season, which closes with the
week opening today. has been one Of the
dullest known in omaha's theatrical his-
tory; not because Of the observance OF the
season Of saokcloth and ashes by any un-
usual number Of regular patrons OF the
aheater, but through a lack Of meritorious
attractions at the local theater. Very few
really frst-class attractions have been Of
fered during the last six weeks. The pres
emit week, with Viola Allen announced,
marks the renewal Of good things theatrical
and from now until the close Of the season
there will not be a week but what a high
class attraction will be forthcoming. Nat
Goodwin and Maxine Elliott come for three
performances. They will be seen In a new
version Of when We Were Twenty-one"
and a revival Of IAN American Citizen"
Then comes John Drew with his success OF
last season, "Th Second In Command"
Later in April Maude Adams will bring her
new Barrie play, Quality Street" here for
three performances. The eastern critics
have failed to enthuse over Quality
Street" yet they do not absolutely con-
denim II, and while its New York run was
very brief Miss Adams seems to be making
q success with II on the road. Frank
i. Perley's organization Of comic opera
delineators, which was formerly headed
by Alice Nielsen, follows Miss
Adams with a new musical comedy,
'The Chaperones." Richard Mansfield
will give a single performance Of Beau
caire" early in May and Jolly May Irwin
viii close the season a week later With
three performances Of one Of her old
plays, probably "Th Widow Jones" or
"Kate Kip, Buyer In the meantime THE
Hw.Ioroxsft a n,ggoaI cnn,adr bv nara Las
ter Taylor Of Linotype or Two" fame.
together with one or two other musical
attractions for which Manager Burgess is
1t present negotiating. will be offered.
While the third week in May will mark
the closing Of the regular season Of
1sO1-2 so far as travelling combination at
fractions are concerned, there will be only
1 temporary closing Of the theater ana the
summer season will be opened the last
week in May by the Ferris Stock company,
which will present a line Of popular priced
stock plays during the months Of June,
July and August. Mr.. Ferris will look
after the management Of the theater him
self during this time, as 1t Is the inten-
ton of Manager Burgess to spend much Of
his time In the east after the closing Of
the regular season and until the opening of
the one Of 1929.
OMAHA, March 1s.-To the Dramatic
Editor OF The Bee: I read your remarks
on the topic of What the People Want
in The Bee last Sunday and, while l agree
with you in the main, II seems to me you
have overlooked something. What is one
mans meat is another's poison" you know;
It Is not given to all TO see things alike and
as the visual angle varies in individuals,
so does the mSntal. Thus 1t happens that
the play which meets the approval of one
fails 20 receive commentator Of another.
Not alone of the people who make up the
audience is this true, but Of the critics,
on the various productions at the theaters
and with wise discrimination and ripe ap-
probation weight and determine the mer-
rs Of each. Quite often these wtseacres
arrive at conclusions as far apart as the
poles. In replying to a correspondent wno
recently answered that the reception of the
actor depended on the humor OF his audi
piicabie to the character OF play that is to
be furnished? II the public Is In the humor
to applaud one t9 1nlfy d insti ned a IN presesn +
ing that which merits approval rather than
that which does notY IL seems TO me mat
Of play presented rests with the public and
not with the managers OF the tneaters'
Very truly yours H. a. W.
Quite 80. Most Of US would be mighty
lonesome In a world peopled with wise
folks. But It wasn't the intention Of The
Bee TO charge tne mdndBSIb VI luo lnou-
ter with responsibility for the character Of
the stun that is presented. They have
only tried to follow public taste and not
70 shape It. 1t is to be regretted, prob
ably, that public taste has gone into such
strange channels, and has satisfied itself
with such unworthy offerings, but the man
ayers are not altogether at fault in this
regard. II was suggested by The Bee that
they might help some by closing their
doors against plays that are bad; but TO
do so would be to close their doors against
large sums of money. And who is to de-
termine what is good and what is badP
Whence cometh the intellectual giant who
"a to solve for US what we have been In
the habit OF doing for ourselves? In this
matter we cannot with any especial equan-
Unity appeal to the verdict OF posterity,
for like Nanki-Poo and the fireworks ko-
Ko intended to let OF the evening after
the execution, we'd not be there to enjoy IT.
We must keep on trying everything as II
comes along. making up our minds as do
the Jurors in the court, Each one for him
self and not one for the other" 1t will
still be the critics dearest privilege to
publish his own notion OF the play, with
out regard to what others think; and II he
fails to harmonize with his contemporar-
les, there's only one conclusion possible
his contemporaries are out OF tune-not he.
LET the old world spin forever down the
ringing grooves Of change" We must move,
either forward or backward. Just At
present we think we are going forward,
and with such a rush that most people
are kept too busy trying to hold their
places In the procession to be able to de-
termine for themselves which way they
are going. II Is these who make up the
great crowd that pays for what the peo-
pie want" Look back a few years and
note how we have spun along the ringing
grooves Of change" In the latter part Of
the 70's we were erowding to see Bankers
Daughter" "Esmeralda,' MY Partner"
Galley Slave" white Slave" THE
Danites." The Black Flag" 'M1iss," "our
Boys" The States Attorney" The Gilded
Age Our Candidate Lady Audley's Sc
eret," Hazel Kirke." THE Two Orphans"
east Lynne" THE Silver King Thy the