Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-02
Gossip About Plays and Playhouses

@ARRIAGE has been responsible
M for a good many things In this
kNA vale OF tears besides happiness
ESIxN Hymen's torch not intrequently
01 kindles fires that consume rather
than nourish and whose breath is a de-
stroying minister instead of a soothing sup
port This seems to have been the case OF
Leslie Carter in her second venture, when
che took upon herself the name Of Payne.
together with the incumbrance of a hus-
band. 1t was against the expressed wish
or David Belasco that she did this and
now she IL under tho MANAGEMENT of
Charles b. Dillingham;, and the public this
coming season will have a chance to Judge
II the actress made the author or the
author made the actress. It will be a fair
contest, for Mrs. Carter will not have the
Inspiring support of Relasco's great gift
Tor stage management nor will Belasco's
tursid lines and stacy episodes have the
advantage Of the fervid Interpretation given
them by the fiery Leslie, whose blood
seems to be as red as her hair and whose
disposition IL likely the most ardent OF the
two. Virginia Harmed will succeed Mrs
Carter-Payne in the Belasco fold at doesn't
do to say stable since Nat Goodwin
turned down George Cohan for SO referring
the honors seem to be about even. Mrs
Manufacturer is Just as much married
as Mrs. Carter dares be, although not so
many times, and has back of her a long
line Of more or less successful endeavors
as an actress. She was last seen in Omaha
In the Pinero play Of Iris" in which she
gave notable presentation of a woman of
q most undesirable sort. Her Iris Bellamy
ought to match fairly well with any Of the
women Mrs Carter-Payne has ever created
for public edihcation or disgust. On the
other hand, Charles B. Dillingham; in re-
ality means Charles Frohman, and this as
sures Mrs. Carter a manager who will give
her quite as much leeway as did Mr.. Be
lasoo and who viii provide her with all
stage accessories at least. A curious pub
lie will follow the new arrangement with
more than ordinary interest 1t contains
unusual elements to pique the people who
have even a passing fancy for the AFFAIRS
OF the theater.
In the meantime. II is pleasant to think
that some marriages in the profession have
been not only happy, but have had results
OF geniue benefit TO both parties. Take
Minnie Madden for example. Probably the
brightest example. Had she remained Min
ME Maddsrn It Is open to doubt II she
would have attained the high place she
holds. But she met Harrison Gray Fiske,
and they were married. It was a most APP
propriate union OF kindred natures. artis-
tic, educated and intelligently active. Mr..
Fiske is somewhat overshadowed in the
combination, as he modestly remains in the
background, but there IL no doubt that
much OF his wife's great success is due to
the sympathetic support and careful direc-
ton he has provided Mrs. Fiske may
reasonably ascribe her success to her mar
rfase. Another case Is that Of Maxine
Elliott. She was beautiful woman before
she married Nat Goodwin. She is still q
beautiful woman, but il now a good actress
rs well. something she may attribute to her
association with her husband, although
they no longer play together. The new
Belasco star. Virginia Harmed owes some
thing Of her success to her husband, Mr.. T.
A. Sothern. Mary Mannerins was a lead
ing woman when she married James x.
Hackett, but he has made a star OF her
Henrietta Crosman was also a leading
woman when she married Maurice Camp
bell. who Possesses In a rare degree the
artistic temperament combined with good
business sense. and the result has been that
Mr.. Campbell has pushed his accomplished
wife to the front rank Of American stars
These are only few OF the known cases,
but they serve 70 illustrate the point.
The local season Is now well under he
way. the Orpheum coming into line this
afternoon and the Boyd being booked to
open next week. The patronage so far has
been OF the most encouraging kind, and the
managers are very sanguine OF a nunusu-
ally good season. The opening OF the Bur-
wood last week was the AFFAIR of especial
interest locally, and its success was most
marked. The patronage was even greater
than for the opening week of last season,
nearly all OF the old and many new patrons
visiting the theater to enjoy the work of
the stock company. Enjoy is used ad-
visedly, for the performance was most
satisfying in all It's details. The company
is nearly the same as last season, with
Miss Elliott instead of Miss Lang. As Ann
Cruger in THE Charity Ball." Miss Elliott
gave evidence Of great capacity as an &C.
tress and II she lives up to the sample she
will find herself a popular favorite before
the days of departure come in June. She Is
well equipped by nature and experience for
the work she has undertaken. and evinces q
discriminating taste that is sure to be Of
value as the season goes on Mr.. Morrison
too. is doing better than he did last season,
entering with more OF zest and earnestness
into his role. and with this zeal sustained
will make for himself even better name
than he now bears locally. Mr.. Fay who
has taken Mr. owens place In the company
is a finished actor and very amiable
body besides. his character on the stage
being directly opposed TO those he assumes
during the play. The other members OF
the company are capable. and II the open.
ing week is a sign, the season will be more
OF a success than II was last year. At the
Krug the plays SO far put on have been OF
the better type OF melodrama, and hav,
been most generously patronized, while
those booked for early production are al
OF the same high order. The Bijou con.
tinues to draw well.
Coming Events.
The Boyd theater announces It's openinl
performance for the season on the evenlnI
Of Thursday, September Is. when Chaunce,
Olcott win be seen In his new play
"Eileen Asthore'' (''Ellen Ny Treasure :"
This IL g drama OF Dublin life In 1903. b,
Theodore Burt sayrs. and It was reoeutl,
produced at Syracuse. ". Y, whore II wal
well received Ambition. Chauncey OIcot
holds Il the chief requisite to success IL
FxIt-