Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-20

an indication Of an improving public in
telligence as manifested in the theater
BY the nature OF things the drama can
be no better, intellectually, than the people
who support t. Unlike lie sister arts Il
The special plea for. better plays may be
improve until the majority Of those who
support the theater demand them. The
general public taste for the drama is law,
and that, this year, plays OF artistic merit
have been most successful IL an encour-
aging sign.
from Peter Pam" the delicate and de-
lightful fantasy by =. NJ. Barrie, which
OF Miss Maude Adams, but, gradually be
coming better understood, pursued a tri-
umphant course on the basis Of It's own
and refining element in the enjoyment Of
the stage. In it's union of fancy and senti-
ment and its capitalization Of the deepest
to no model in the dramas Of recent years.
No one unfamiliar with IL should make
The mistake that its fairy story Of child
Its appeal is directed rather to the most
serious and thoughtful interests. 1t stands
as the seasons one pure example OF crea-
tive, poetic Imagination.
Scarcely less popular has been THE
Lion and the Mouse" which, following on
MSs eee MsS 81 2 has given Charles Klein
distinction, not only as the most success
fol native dramatist Of the past year, but
also as the one writer. from whom really
immediate future.
The play reached New York at a
dangers that may arise from the abuse
OF great wealth, developed by means of
a story Of really vital dramatic interest,
against billlonairism and financial chi
eanery which resulted, in actual life, In the
insurance Investigation.
Artistcally considered, however, the
drama was built on a fiimsy basis. The
occurrences Il set forth could not have
represeRt' 1nconsistencies of time, place
and action, coupled with the plays i'm,
perfect first act and its singular lack OF
literary finish, made 1t fall far behind
the great American drama" that we have
never ceased to look for, but that stu
seems far away.
OF the American playwrights other thar
Belasco. Royle and Klein, Mr.. DeFo'
writes
Nearly all the other American play
wrights met with Indifferent success. CLYDE
play at best advantage the attractive per
sonulity but limited abilities Of Miss MAX
Inc Elliott. merely made use in a graceiul
Though deservediy popular for a lev
weeks, It was a thing Of pink tints an(
perfume, delicately rounded, but wit.h iTCS.
spine. Mr.. Fitch's other contribution, The
Toast of the Town" in which Miss Violi
Allen acted at Days, had been resurrecte'
from the ragbag. 1t was wholly withou
consequence.
Augustus Thomas generally successful
endeavors also experienced setback. HI
comedy, "De Lancey," tailored to fit tn
curves of John Drew, was brightly bu
superhcially written. 1t introduced thre
OF four characters drawn with photograph
accuracy from present-day life, but as
play It was formless and Of no sustaine
Interest or humor. His other play, tn
Embassy Ball." as New York saw it,, ha
been built up from a failure. 1t fell IA
beneath the standard Of The Earl
Pawtucket" which It had been written {
supplant as a starring vehicle for Law
renee D'Orsay
George AIDE likewise brought out a brac
of plays that were disastrous to his me
teoric flight as a humorous playwright
"The Bad Samaritan" a downright failure
involved first-rate farcial idea which tn
playwright seemed unable to develop
"Just Out Of College contained evidence
of his close observation OF the small hu
mors of life, but it fell so far short Q
THE College Widow" that no one woul