Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-27

1tI long season at the Burwood last
night. From the very start the
company was a success. Many Of the MEM
bers, who came here strangers, leave be-
hind them a circle Of friends wide and
warm, who wish them a joyous vacation
season and hope TO see them back here early
In tn fall for another round Of merry plays
As the company played its last perform
ance last night, It stood by all odds the
most popular stock organization that ever
made its home in Omaha Individual mem
bers Of other companies may have won as
deep regard from the public, but not as
whole has any other ever succeeded IN
capturing the genuine affection of the
people as did the Woodward Stock COM
pany OF the season just ended Recount
Ing the artistic triumphs OF the season
merely needs the citing Of the list OF
plays offered. Some were done better than
others, but all were earnestly undertaken
and intelligently presented. II has been
the faithful never relaxing interest shown
by each member OF the company in the
work that has made this result possible,
and the appreciation Of the public has
been shown in the steady patronage be-
slowed on the theater at which the COM
pany has made its home It is impossible
now 20 forecast the organization of the
company for next winter. but Il n GER
tain that each returning player viii be
welcomed, while those who do not come
back will be followed into their new fields
Of activity by more than friendly inter-
est on the part Of the Omaha public
%
The coming summer Is not TO be devoid
OF fits theater in Omaha after ALL for Mr..
J. A. Wolfe of the Wolfe Stock company has
arranged for the use Of the Krug theater
will inst toll fo Coz
summer. The length OF the run Is indie
finite, but the season opens on Thursday
evening with the play first offered here by
Mr.. James ONeill, THE Markham" MT
Wolfe is a manager-actor Of many years
experience, and his organization is one
that is well known in the east. In the
company which opens on Thursday Mr.
Frank G. Long will be the leading man.
He is an actor OF much experience in
eastern stock Organizations, his home
being at Cleveland. Miss Grace HUFF. who
has already had an introduction to Omaha
people, will be the leading woman Of the
company Herbert Dobbins also known
here. an actor Of ability. will be the heavy
man. Charles Archer and May Shannon
are to do the characters" and Miss Nellie
Long will do the inRenue Mr.. Wolfe him
self will do the Juveniles and Fred e.
Frink and T. Ashton MacRae are to be the
comedians of the organization. Mr.. Wolfe
is arranging for a good line of plays for
the season, and promises some new ones,
among them Edward Milton RoyIe's great
success, THE squawman." He expects
to take THE virginian" on its first trip
through the smaller towns Of the west
during the coming season, and may
produce It at the Krug during his summer
engagement At all events Mr.. Wolfe
to srl,y ,Io
and interesting and expects to merit
liberal patronage.
with the passing of the winter season,
and the closing of tho theaters for the
summer term, comes the perennial cry for
a better stage. This means better things
on the stage, and the answer is mot yet.
Regardless of the call OF the man with a
high square forehead. Art is still to assume
a varying personality, and its manifesto
lions are going to be many. Voices have
been lifted up I'm many sections OF the
wilderness, and some have that faith which
leads them 20 see certain signs of advance
ment in the world of art This is true,
though, only as far as society itself has
advanced. The victory is not won, nor IL
the influence Of the call for better things
more than meagerly apparent The theateI
will continue In the future in the past
to reflect contemporaneous manners and
thought. It has a powerful influence in
shaping thought, but only when dominated
by master mind Is 1t OF genuine benefit
to the race. 1t is too often the case that
the influence of the theater is in the other
direction. Especially is this true Of the
modern melodrama. For several Seasons
the powers that preside over the popular
price" drama have We'd with each other ir
lttri nd
nashy OF plays; they have all but glorifeC
vice and have shown how easy It is tc
comait crime The social fabric has beer
turned inside out, and the seamy side has
been shown under the glare Of the calcium
and the flood lights. No form OF vice nov
awaits exploitation at the cheaper theaters
-
How far this pernicious influence has had
an effect on the affairs of society at large
cannot be told or even guessed at will
any degree OF accuracy, but 1t certainl!
has been bad. It cannot help but be evil
Young people, whose minds are not We
formed and whose moral fabric is incapable
OF resisting the evil instiled by the exhibi
ton of vice and crime on the stage ar
insensibly maybe, but inevitably turned L
wrong as the result of the familiarity will
which the evils are shown Minds alread!
evil IN their tendencies get here that en-
eouragement for which they crave, Will
the innocent receives such a shock as
never RECEIVERS from. 1t Is impossible 4
become familiar with evil and not becom
to some degree tolerant OF it. federation
not infrequently leads to experiment. an
then the end Is not far on For years tn
influential dramatic critics OF the Unite
States warred against the dirt" dram
at the frst-class theaters until they hnall
secured its abolition. At least to such
degree that It Is no longer Haunted as tn
acme Of modern thought. 1t might not b
amiss now for them TO take up the crusad
against the evil OF the cheaper theateri
and do what may be done in way Of pre-
test against the play that glorihes Grim
and parades vice in alluring colOrs. IN
popular priced theater can be and shoul
be made clean as the upper class. Nor
really depends on 1t. for those whose mind
were contaminated by the sophistries c
the elegantly-wrought problem" pla
rarely did society any serious harm b
putting into practice the theories they Their
lmbibed. but the mind that is turned I