Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-26

present instance fl somebody else hadn't
started a fuss
once in a great while something happens
at a theater that Is not intended. but
which contributes to the enjoyment Of the
play. nevertheless. Such an incident oc-
CURED at the Burwood on Tuesday evening.
Director Long had provided a most rea-
lstic battle scene for the third act Of
Shenandoah" and the young soldiers, who
took part in il entered with much vim
into the spirit Of the scene. From the
opening performance to the close. this
was one Of the hits, and became i'm
mensely popular with the audiences. But
on Tuesday night, after the retreatng
forces of the Union army had fallen back
steadily, fighting every inch OF the way,
before the onslaught Of Longstreet's
corps. and the front yard Of the Ellingham
mansion was pretty well filled UP with
dead and dying soldiers, General Phil
Sheridan came dashing along shouting his
cries to rally the broken forces. His foam
1ecked charger had been held by two
husky stage hands for some moments,
while It pranced in its ectstacy of excite
ment When released the excited animal
leaped forward onto the stage There a
good. broad highway" had been prepared,
out TlSnt IN tnc uludle OF Ine ROAD a re-
treating Union soldier was kneeling, busy
pumping blank cartridges through his
Krag-Jorgeson sheridan couldn't afford
to ride over him. and in pulling his horse
to avoid the kneeling soldier he was
swerved through the gate into the Filing
ham front yard. Then transpired prob
ably the quickest resurrection scene on
record. The dead soldiers, who had eX
pired so beautifully only a moment or two
before were right in line Of the steed's
mad plunges, and they came 70 life quicker
than they died, and scrambled with very
little regard for the dramatic verlues and
quite a good deal of haste for a safer
part Of the stage. Phil Sheridan had not
only rallied the Union army and saved
the day at Cedar Creek, but he had also
brought back to life and usefulness the
greater part Of the Federal dead.
.
An important change Is announced at the
Burwood this week. Harry Long, who has
been stage director for the Woodward
Stock company since its formation will
leave at the close of the week and will be
succeeded by Mr.. j. Sedley Brown. Mr..
Long is considering couple of offers that
have been made him in eastern cities, but
has not yet made up his mind which he
will accept. When he Joined the Woodward
company in August he was engaged in
Chicago and at that time debating
an OFFER to take charge Of the stage and
company at the Bush Temple. He may
return to Chicago. His work with the
company since the opening Of the Burwood
has been of the highest order, and has
marked him as a stage director of excel
lent taste and sound judgment. His rea-
sons for leaving are personal Mr.. Brown,
who will succeed him, is one of the best
known men in his line in the country. He
was long in charge of the Woodward Stock
company at the Auditorium in Kansas City,
and while there had entire direction of the
productions made. He will rehearse the
company for whatever play is chosen to
succeed Under the Red Robe
what America needs is plays and au-
diences," says one of the magazines for
December; 1--WE have actors and theaters
galore" This is true as to the theaters,
but it might not be difficult to prove an
alibi here and there as regards the actors.
Diminishing this phase of the question as