Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-01
Gossip About Plays, Players and PlayhoUsesT

GO II.IsARD IN three OF his best bills
NM IL an Intellectual treat not en-
joyed every week at the theater.
IaQffH For this reason the last week ~
- marked with a red stone In
Omaha. This clever gentleman. who has
raised himself by sheer force until he is
very nearly At the top Of the list OF Eng
nsh actors, continues by unrelenting zeal
70 merit the distinction that IL his. His
visit this season Is remarkable for the pro-
dvction OF the one-act play, THE Man
Who WaA" In the presentation Of which
We see a new Willard. It lie the first seri-
Gus enort Of this great man In the direc-
uon OF tragedy, and Is taken by him after
que consideration OF its meaning. The re-
suit cannot fail to be encouraging to him,
TOT It has been most successful In every
way. As romantic actor and as a come
aian Mr.. Willard had established himself
nrmlY. He has not fairly essayed the at
tempt to place himself in the list OF great
actors OF the new school, and II his Austin
ldmmsson may serve as a basis for opin-
lon, Il Is within reason to predict that his
trst step, 30 wen taken, will soon be fol-
lowed by others that will see him well adj
Vanced toward the greatness that Is I'M
doubtedly his. Most interesting Of all, in
his new undertaking Mr.. willard has not
abated his efforts IN the parts In which he
has been most familiar to US, but his Cyrus
Blenkarn and Professor Goodwilne still
stand as genuine triumphs of their kind.
The return OF this actor will be awaited
win more than common interest hereafter.
-
Other features OF the week included The
LION and the Mouse" the much debated
play in which the problem Of great wealth
and its Industrial, political and social
aspects are exploited. This engagement
was genuine success. Another was the
appearance at the Orpheum OF Miss Valerie
Bergere in a compressd version Of Car
men" In II Miss Bergere gives again the
strongest evidence OF her talent. She has
tho seldom found faculty of stepping on
the stage ready for an intense scene, with
out any Of the preliminary preparation Of
scenes that lead up to the situation, and
more than this. she is capable Of elevating
her audiences to that stage of mental ex-
altation, where they will live and move
with her through the passions she port
trays. Her Carmen II almost ideal her
conception OK the character being compre-
hensive. and her portrayal OF It satisfying
In all regards Many Of her admirers
would like to see Miss Bergere take up
more serious work than she now INDUCES
In. The discussion engendered however
has all to do with the propositions raised
Mouse"
Right at the outset, let us give Mr.. Klein
credit for being sincere. 1t would leave
him exposed to really unpleasant charge
Il we did not For he is either sincere in
his attack on the Morey Devil or he IA
become the yellow dramatist" and Il
seems that is impossible. Admitting that
ne Is sincere and that he has accomplished
something In evidence Of his earnestness
what has he done2 He has merely voiced
In more attractive form the vague and un-
certain allegations that have been dinned
Into our ears by the irresponsible and fret
quenuy unwashed who love to dilate on
the rapidity with which our democratic
institutions are dissoiving under the cor.
rosive action of concentrated wealth. He
has followed In the footsteps OF the yellow
Journal and the yellow magazine, and re-
iterates the sweeping charges they have
made. No doubt much of the evil COM
planned OF does exist; but It is scarcely
believable that even Tom Lawson, head
OF the Hunters OF the Octopi, before whose
approach the Cohorts OF Combined and
Corporate Wealth tremble In uncertainty,
and at the sound Of whose voice the Money
Devil grovels In the farthest corner OF his
Den on Wall Street. would insist that IL
$1,000
discussion takes It up.
Politics in the United States Just at
present 10 held up TO be in the worst condi-
ton Imaginable. Stories Of graft and
greed and corruption In high places and
all that sort OF thing have been told us
morning noon and night, until many have
made up their minds that II must all be so.
Now without defending graft in any OF
It's modern or ancient manifestations II
some of the mourners who refuse to be
comforted because OF the conditions would
only stop to think for a moment some little
consolation might appear. In tho FIRST
place. not page OF history has ever been
written but shows some OF the actors seek
ing personal ends through political means
Some of the pages deal with the records
or grafters whose exploits make those of
the most advanced and expert OF their mod
ern prototypes appear amateurish. This of
course, does not excuse the CRATER Because
man stole public money year ago, or a
century ago, does not condone the offense
OF the man who stole It only yesterday, or,
maybe has Il in mind to steal IT tomor-
row. 1t only shows that human nature
hasn't changed much during all the ages;
but what little change has come has been
for the better Then consider the poll
ucian's situation. He can only get nomi-
nation by defeating a number OF members
OF his own party who aspire for the same
place Then, after he is nominated he
can only be elected by defeating the candi-
dates named by one or more opposing
parties. Each OF these men still want the
once and they know the only way to get
Il 10 70 get the incumbent out. To do this
they must bring forward some proof OF his
unntness to hold ONCE. As a result each
Of bis ofncial acts Is subject to the closest
OF scrutiny by interested and Jealous poll
tcians. and to a more or less minute ex-
animation by large number OF disintor-
ested citizens. Each community large
enough has at least two newspapers. and
one OF these Is certain to be In the oppOsi-
ton This means that any time the once
holder does anything that deserves crit
cism he is publicly pilloried. Imagine your
self In this position. and figure what chance
you have TO 50 very far wrong and escape
exposure.
Bear In mind again, and always, that the
citizen is primarily reasonable for the roy-