Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-03


by a splendid production Of THE Bankers
Daughter" In which Miss Hill filled the
leading role, that Of Lillian westbrook.
with great success. At the Krug two mu-
steal plays drew capacity business and
pleased everybody. The Orpheum had a bill
above the average. and had good houses for
the most part and the Boyd housed four
troupes, none OF which received the patron
age deserved.
One OF the greatest things achieved by
Sarah Bernhardt during her recent engage
ment in Chicago was the fact that she
played ten performances in six days Every
night and four matinees. This exhibition
Of energy is thus referred to by Burns
Mantle In the Inter-ocean:
On the artistic side, II was the first time
that artist OF Mime. Bernhardt's stand
ing has crowded as comprehensive a roper
toire into as short a space OF time. In the
sented the greatest work OF her entire
And pause to think what this week must
have meant to herl Every morning at 10
o'clock she rehearsed her company in the
VokTs '9 tbeasf nng be on p fhs stage Of me-
each afternoon excepting Monday and Tul 8
day, having her dinner served in the theater
IRRITATION each evening. And she is a wo-
man OF 81 years OF age, who upon her ar
5000 miles by ship and by train TO get hereI
Think OF one Of our pampered stars doing
NJ ind dSn, =, or even attempting as much!
lea is prone to hurl the bitterness OF her
anger at any offending manager who might
when the public is clamoring for an OPP
portunity TO see the play she Is presenting
moTnng-heaven forfend us from being ever
called upon to mention such a necessity
in the presence Of an American star.
arxfa trsYa bn,.
alone accomplishes these extraordinary
tasks. but does so willingly and graciously.
After the first three acts of Ia Sorcere'
Thursday afternoon she sat in her dressing
room and pleasantly received several of her
friends: She was enthusiastic over the
70 the Sardou play, and grstifed to find
that French was much more generally I'M
before on her tours OF this country. There
was no complaining, no regrets. no boast
success Of herr work and 0R Rappy In the
tribute OF her foreign admirers.
Here is food for al least a moment's
thought Do the actors of America ap.
preciate the fact that they owe the pub
lie something? At times one is almost
inclined to the belief that the public exists
solely for the actor. and that without the
latter the former would soon fall into
the darkness OF barbarism. Not all actors
are thus imbued with an exaggerated idea
OF their own Importance; happily the best
OF them are not, for those to whom the
divine light Of genius has really been given
are usually only too glad to share It with
the world, and, like Bernhafdt, will even
undergo some personal Inconvenience that
they may be of service to their less gifted
fellow citizens. But many, and among
them those who have had but little of gem
une claim to attention, have given to
tlamgelVaa Inn
Of theirs ever deserved and disport them
selves toward the public on whose favor
they depend with oapriciousness that
would be amusing II It were not annoying
and sometimes exasperating.
%
Again and again has some actress de-
clined to appear at a matinee solely be-
cause she felt inclined to something else
Anyone who can't get around to see her
on the stage in the evening, or at such
time as pleases her high and mightiness
to appear. may go on through life without
seeing her. Actors have also INDUCED
themselves In just such folderol. and the
public has patiently borne It. Prima
donnas, blessed with the rarest of God
gifts, the ability to sing. have withheld
themselves from the ken of their brothers
and sisters in the world till they have
had paid down to them the price demanded
for the service Of song. Merely because
the adulation Of a public, eager TO show
its appreciation of the uncommon ability
OF these persons who are styled stars, has
turned their heads and given them an idea
Of their own personal Importance and
necessity to the affairs of life that is en-
tirely out of proportion with the truth.
-
People were amused, probably not with
delicate titilation OF the intellect, perhaps,
before ever an actor or singer had shone
before the footlights, and If all the race
OF actors were of a sudden obliterated il
Is quite likely that common folks would
manage to get along somehow. This is
not set down to be ill-natured or cross
but by way OF emphasizing the statement
that when anyone in any walk OF life
gets bumptious something is already COM
ing In the direction of such an one. No
one will deny to the man or woman who
has achieved success in any of the various
departments OF the stage the right to enjoy
the deserved fruit of that success. What
ever OF wealth and honor, of public praise
and private hattery showered upon the
successful star is bestowed ungrudgingly
and without envy. In return, the star
might show by way of appreciation a little
more OF consideration for the public
rights in the matter and be willing some
times 10 play at an extra matinee in order
that people who are otherwise debarred
from getting to the theater may nave
chance to sec and enjoy what all are sc
eager for. II Sara Bernhard can do It
surely any OF the rest of the long line OF
names that stretch down after hers might
-
A friend, who Is working earnestly, in
diligently and successfully In his profess
sion (music), said during the week, wher
this matter was preached; THE news
papers arc much to be blamed for the
existing state OF AFFAIRS When a great
singer or a great actor comes 20 town. the
reporters and the photographers are sent
hurrying and scurrying about, and the
idlest words OF the great one are snapped
up and laid before the public with a
flourish. This gives the great one a wronl
impression. Instead Of appreciating the
courtesy from the newspaper, which has
abandoned the publication Of other in.
formation TO which the public is entitled
In order TO give publicity to the personal
views OF the star, the star takes IL as
great piece OF condescension that he Of
she has deigned TO address the people
through the columns Of one of the dailies
II the newspapers would treat these con,
ceited individuals with the consideration
4