Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-23
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theater in New York, where he will open
with Hamlet on December 20, he looks
forward to with the keenest Of anticipa-
ton. Il have never played Hamlet as /
want to-" he said, but l will" He expa-
tiated at some length on the beauties OF
this great play and the difficulties that be-
set the path Of one who undertakes to
bring them all forth. After Hamlet" he
will bring out Romeo and Juliet" for he
believes he sees in Romeo possibilities that
have always been overlooked, because
Juliet has been made the star part and
Romeo has been subordinated. 1t will be
his effort to endue the creation Of the
young Montague with such virile force as
to give him a much higher standing in the
world OF thought than he now holds. This
will be a treat, indeed, for Sothern should
give us a balcony scene, a duel with Tybalt
and a farewell fight with the Count Of Paris
we'll worth watching and listening to, not
to speak OF his minor scenes with Mercutio
and the roysterers who make up the Mon
tague party. his incidental interview with
the friar and his conduct after he has been
banished from the city for killing Tybalt.
1t will be refreshing, too, to see this YER
sion Of the play, for Shakespeare did not,
In the very nature of things. intend that
Juliet should have the honcrs all to her
self. II any at all. Juliet has been made a
great part through the efforts Of ambitious
women and has been given over to them
by common consent to the extent that the
attractiveness OF Romeo as a hero has been
lost sight Of. That he is now In a fair way
to be restored to his normal position as
head Of the matrimonial alliance that
brought together the houses of Montague
and Capulet is good news.
Miss Lillian Burkhart, who was at the
Orpheum during the week, has ambitions far
beyond the vaudeville. That her work at
present is remunerative and brings to her
much praise for its excellence does not
satisfy her. She wants a chance to do
something big" as she expresses 1t. ut
is very hard to get the chance" says Miss
Burkhart. my friends all tell me to stick
to what / am doing, and the managers say,
Stay where you are. You are getting the
money. and what more do you wantT /
know 1 am getting more money in this line
than l could hope to command for a long
time, maybe, in the legitimate, but in the
meantime my youth is slipping away, and
have not lone what l want to do. l have
full faith in my ability. and / mean to con-
vince the people of Il. Just when it Will
be can't say, but 1t is sure to be done"
Miss Burkhart is an energetic student and
a hard worker in all lines. She attends
personally to all her business affairs, looks
after her bookings and arranges for the
production of her sketches without assist
ance other than what her companions in
her company afford. She even attends to
the setting of the stage for her act. And
with all this she finds time to study the
best in literature, to watch the productions
of the best of actors and to perfect herself
as far as possible In the details OF her art.
Her conscientious effort in this line is APP
parent In her work on the stage. and is
fully appreciated by those patrons Of vaude-
willie who really enjoy dainty comedy. In
this regard Miss Burkhart ought to sue
coed, for she certainly deserves a high rank
among American actresses.
Robert Bell Of Denver, who Is we'll known
both as a sterling actor and a successful
teacher. sends the following to The Bee
from Denver:i
Plans which are now being made by a
number OF the most prominent actors and
actresses OF the country to establish a
sanitorium for consumptive players, have
met with hearty Approval wherever the
idea has been explained. Perhaps In no
| III d0G VI PlbANo5iOh 10 CNS
as quickly developed as among the players,
who go from city to city, visit all classes
into IN nG a dr.af ES d dressing Sg room. are exposed
to all kinds of weather and suffer many
hardships with which the public: who see
them oAly in the glamour of the foothshts'
From practical experience the writer can
tell OF the actor who is afflicted with this
disease, and who, not being too well pro-
vided with this worlds goods, is forced TO
go to a climate where the disease can he
comes to Denver, The arst dificuity he
will find will be to secure a lodging place.
A glance at any one of the Denver papers
ing rooms for rent. this line Is usually
found: Children. dogs and ~consumptiyes
barred There are one or two homes TOT
ferer can receive proper treatment, the
prices are so high that few can afford
to pay them. Given fresh air, nourishing
food, and freedom from worry and there
is a chance that the disease can be cured
II 1t has not progressed too far. Win
constant worry over financial matters
economy in the purchase OF food, and the
many little annoyances which weigh doubly
heavy on the person Who is sick; 1t Is no
wonder that many a professional who, In
times past amused thousands of people, and
whose name was once well known, suffers
and dies in the west, In many Instances
too disheartened to make the battle which
might give him life. There are so many
consumptives in the west that the people
naturally become calloused and the
stranded victim receives little sympathy.
The actors fund II a worthy charity, and
Is at present aiding I'm the support of more
than 100 actors and actresses In Colorado
and Arizona. but the sum OF 81 a weel,
which is allowed by the fund, Is INSULT
cient to properly care for persons who are
wholly dependent upon it for support. |
come into contact with many professionals
who are suffering with this disease. and
knew their needs. Many of them have
scarcely enough TO exist on, even If they
were i'm the best of health. In cheap, dark
rooms. with insufficient food, they grow
respondent and give UP. when, with proper
care and sympathetic attention, their lives
might be spared.
Our plan is to build a large sanitorium
either I'm Colorado or Arizona. at what
ever place a committee OF doctors, who
are specialists in the disease. might decide
upon. 1t should be outside OF a city. where
plenty of fresh air can be obtained. This
win be built and paid for by the actors
and managers. not by actual contributions
OF money. but by special performances.
Suppose that every accredited theatrical
company in the United States should set
apart one day each year on which to give
"a special performance. the proceeds Of
which should go toward the support OF
this sanitorium. What a vast sum could
be realized IN this way. and with how
little tax on the energies or purses OF any
person. Managers. actors and others would
be more than glad 20 contribute their serv-
ices IL they were assured that the charity
was being properly managed and run with
I iudiciOus care.