Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-29
7 ak

LllEttll cially notable one. Three COM
panies made brief stands at the
BOYD, and three at the KruE, while the
Orpheum and the Burwood ground away
with splendid bills and did the business.
The opening attraction at the Boyd ex-
emplihed splendldly how good scenery may
be wasted on a dull and lifeless play. Mr..
Dazey's drama is set in an almost gor-
geous array OF realistic scenery, and every
effort has been strained 70 give the affair
life, but II is like soda pop after the hzz
has departed. May Irwin was greeted by
audiences she deserved and certainly de-
lighted them all. The fine Frohman COM
pany in Mrs. Lefhngwells Boots" a
smart society comedy by Augustus Thomas.
met most cordial reception and merted
the excellent support given. The first two
attractions at the Krug. Haverlys min
strels and THE Rajah OF Bhong," we're ali
to the bad. ana left a bad spot for "A
Wife's Secret" to follow. This latter COM
pany is far above the level set for that
sort Of show, and depends rather OF his
trionic ability than stage settings to Sc
cure results The play itself is something
of an improvement on the type. At the
Burwood and the Orpheum the patronage
was large all week, each house having a
good bill.
As far back 1895 Richard Watson
Glider ponderously declared against the
tendency of the American stage toward a
lower level he condemned the CONNER
cial" spirit Of the managers in terms that
were roundset II they were ponderous, and
forged the actors for oheapening their art
by enacting the plays then offered. Sow
Ing the Wind" was one OF the plays that
had aroused his gorge. It was not mem
toned by name. but is described with suf-
folent accuracy to enable It's identification
by any ono at all familiar with the drama
Of ten years ago. The French farces then
being offered we're properly mathematical,
and a general regret was pronounced at
the unfortunate condition; the stage and
the drama were drifting away from safe
moorings over "A sea OF shadows, where
rocks abound and where destruction
threatened on every hand. Wonder what
he thinks of the situation now? fIe has
abandoned his editorial debate of the mat
ter. but 1t is not at all likely that he has
given up HIS right to an opinion, and It
would be interesting II not refreshing to
hear from him just now on the condition of
tho stage in New York
Imprimis, at the Manhattan, under the
aegis of Harrison Grey Fiske. who has
almost blatantly insisted on the pure. -
and who has time out of mind denounced
tic dirt drama, "Monna Wanna" is being
produced Readers of this column are more
OF less familiar with the problem intro
duced in this play by Maeterinck 1t is
approached with due spirit of Difference
and is treated in a most skillfu manner,
the arguments in defense of Giovanni
being thrown into the high lights. but no
amount OF sophistical development can en-
tirely conceal the ugly fact on which this
central action Of the play depends. The
sacrifice is made, It is true, for high an6
lofty purpose but this purpose Is more
or less blunted by the succeeding fact that
In the expected barbarian Giovanni dis
covers a man OF parts and attainment;
beyond those Of her husband. and has loved
her in an ideal way for years; his reception
of her leads inevitably to one of two con
illusions determined according to the
bent OF mind that is 10 decide. The ethica
problem offered is not an excuse for the
sexual debate involved. And in producing
this play Mr. Fiske has done a great dea
to destroy all the good he wrought by
his well grounded objections to Iris" and
similar productions.
At the Garrick the entire week was de
voted by the Arnold Daily company to re
hearsals OF the George Bernard Shaw pla,
that Is TO be offered on Monday night TO-
the first time on any stage. It is the lrni
OF shawism. Mrs warren's Profession
Ia one that subjects its professor to Grim
inal prosecution among civilized folks. AM
in decent society Il is never mentioned, ant
vet the brilliant and erratic Shaw has dig
nlfied II by making II the topic for a three
act drama II might be better probably, L
say that Mr.. Shaw has reduced his pro
fession to the level of Mrs warreu's 10
the time being At all events, this play
which so cleverly discusses an inpossibl
tonic and which with polished cynicism dis
olays the filth and degradation OF tn
brothel before its spectators Is to be of
tered in its entirety IN New York on Mon
day night and in a theater named for on
who has always been revered because O
what he stood for in relation 10 the dra
matte art. Surely II conditions that pre-
vailed in 1895 were such as TO draw fror
Mr. Glider the ieremad he then uttered
what will he say to the conditions OF 1905
At least. they are not encoura sing 10 thos
who hold that the theater is a place for tn
education, DEVELOPMENT and direction q
public taste and manners
.
Mr.. sothern and Miss Mariowe have Sc
them talking again in New York. Th
time IL appears TO be that they do not pia
The Tanning OF the shrew" as Ada Reha
played II, or according TO twentieth centur
lights. but rather give it as they thin
Shakespeare intended It to be played an
with the methods OF the seventeen
century. The chief criticism aimed again
them rests on the fact that they have NJ
taken any one OF the familiar acting We
sions, but have gone 20 the author for the
ideas. and persist in making the play WIFI
they conceive was the plain intent
Shakespeare, huge farce. In this eouri
they are we'll supported by excellent autho
ity. and In the Sunday papers they CO..
sumo much space defending their attitud
II appears at this distance just a trii
amusing, the spectacle Of an actor and d
actress OF the eminence and admitted 4
telligenoe Of this pair being compelled
explain 20 their auditors IN easy words
one syllable what should be plain 10 az
one who has read the play. That is Il
advice they give the dissatished-read q
play as Shakespeare wrote IL; but do n
read what someone else has written into
The production. aside from its departu
from traditions, is admitted TO be
triumph
Neither did the New York critics give
Nine. Bertha Kslich a remarkably cordi
reception on her presentation of the leadli
raIa ~ ssAfopna Wanna The Tinaas N