Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-10
ISgs

one for single performance and
IlRLlNl the other for two, make up the
- story Of Omaha's theatrical his
tory for last week. The patronage en-
joyed by these indicates the desire OF
Omaha people for something frst-ciass to
draw them to the theater. Jane Remarks
stay was a mistake with all due con-
sideration for her advance In art and she
surely has made much Roadway, Il was a
tactical biunder TO send her into Omaha
TOT a long stay, In a play which has been
produced here twice before by a much bet
ter company than she has with her, and
which was not even a success then Her
fouf nights and a matinee were a time of
much ennui in the box ONCE. Miss Ken
marx Is a clever woman, with unquestioned
capacity as an actress, but she is too
thoroughly Identified with the popular
priced attractions in Omaha to ever draw
the higher figure here. At the Burwood
the Woodward Stock company met its
usual success while the one good show at
the Krug got the business and the two
bad ones didn't. The orpheum bill was a
good one. and had good houses all week
.
Mrs. F1ske has been singled out for an
other distinguished attention. She has been
invited by the Harvard Society OF Ethics
to deliver an address on THE Ethics of the
this week 1t will be admitted in advance
Of publication that whatever Mrs. FIske
has to say on this topic will be Of interest.
ana II VIII also be admitted that she can
tel a very interesting tale, and she will
NO actor OF modern times has had more
opportunity to observe at close range the
purely ethical side of the profession than
Mrs. Fiske, and none has exhibited a
higher conception of what is due to both
the public and her fellow professionals
than she. The general interest that exists
In this phase of dramatic endeavor may be
understood after a perusal of the following
expressions, which are from letters to the
Public Ledger Of Philadelphia, published in
a recent issue;
Mr. Mansfield writes on the topic as fol-
lows:
l certainly think serious purpose is
very desirable IL the play is a Serious
play, and even under the guise OF humor
and especially satire, a serious purpose nav
9e served IL would be pity Indeed If
me ne stage Were given over entirely to
purpose, being excellent for the arms and
me legs and the lungs A very serious
from his own troubles into the contempla-
ton OF greater sorrow than his own, and
when II is the work of a poet II dement's
the entire human race. II incuicates the
lighest and noblest sentiments, stirs man
M l1s, to worthy and heroic deeds, and often
which have hitherto been dormant of its
beneficial influence on literature l need not
Spedk IN these days, when the Alpha and
omega Of human endeavors seems 10 be
the acquisition Of wealth by the ton, poetry
agement, and yet without poetry and i'm
aslnauon this Is going to be a very ugly
%oTld u should like to see the young
people OF this country devote more time to
poetry. We have enough multl-millionaires
ana nnanciers and railroad kings, but no
forgot the poet and the artist but v1ban
ne discovered his mistake, having nothing
S b,s s, 70 give' he offered them a place by
kyrle Bellew whose seriousness of pur-
pose is admitted. has this to say:
The question whether a play should he
written with an ethical purpose opens IN
the t discussion as to the position OF the
W veSa.er IN the social economy lof today
wren church and state are ready to ac-
cept the theater as a public educator an
e,nical purpose will be necessary in every
AS long as the theater is regarded merely
s business ignored by the statd and
Of sfoW fbs dr on by the church. the commerce
amusement snuse side of the question and to
As matter OF fact. am inclined TO
mink that every play teaches a lesson Of
some sort, II one looks into IT deeply
enough. though the so-calied plays Of Ger
tain socials'ic writer's OF our time delhi
erately teach the wrong one and are alb
horrent and dangerous
Tell the public your play is meant IN
teaeh them a lesson, and II is wonderful
with what unanimity they viii transfer
amusement at music hall and leave yo SS
10 enc your days in the workhouse The
subject Is deep one-too deep for COM
S'deration In so short space.
Heinrich Conred who says If his life is
spared he will open his National theater in
New York on October 1, 1908. insists on the
ethical side of the drama, thus:
lt is, l believe, almost needless to say
tnat the direct aim OF plays should be es-
thetical, while the indirect aim should be
ethical. In other words. art-shown in the
truthful and artistic suggestions of the es-
sentials of life. character and human mo-
tiFesIshould be the first consideration. But
mo VII follow as the night the day. that
row. sense of the word, will be benefited
even by the sincere and artistic portrayal
As 70 the serious purpose" OF plays art
is OF itself sufficiently serious. 10 thrust
audience so plainly that it disturbs II in
the enjoyment of the plot and the por-
lrsyal OF character is q mistake and an
Is not a pulpit, although thanks to the
Indirect lessons which II might inculcate
proved itself to be- even more powerful for
good than the pulpit.
Blanche Bates, whose position In the
stellar world is hardly such as to give her
words undue weight. must still be credited
with intentions that exceed her perform.
ance. She has not as yet undertaken any
serious work in the dramatic line, but
undoubtedly asplres 10 be enrolled at some
time among the great ones. She writes:
M. Eugene Brieux has aptly said that II
lhays had no purpose other than to enter.
tain,' we might as well close all the nfst-
class theattcrs, burn the dramatic lieraturt
OF tho past and leave the music halls and
vaudeville theateTs in undisputed possession
OF the field
Every good play has more or less seri.
Gus ethical purpose. II teaches a mora
by example, without saying this is my
text and this Is my moral" Ii a plaS
makes us think, It helps US; il Il excites
us 20 laughter, II has made our burden in
life little lighter; II IL draws tears Il
has stirred up the stagnant depths OF our
souls in any event, II has released the
imagination and made us know its Infinite
pleasures.
When these conditions are present. tn,
drama Is fulfilling its mission without ttht
need OF preaching a sermon with nasa
sanetimony. How a serious motif Should
be treated so as TO create the indispen.
sable sensations OF satisfaction and delight
wiich every play should inspire, depends
upon the skill Of the dramatist-proVided
OF course he Is not misinterpreted by the
players
Novel combination OF effects, dazzlins
decorations tricks of the stage are en-