Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-05

so short that II VIII scarcely De noted the
theatrical season will be in full swing. II
takes quite stretch OF imagination to
stand in a theater during the summer
vacation and people II with the brilliant
audiences that assemble there during the
winter. The huge auditorium Is a void:
chairs in which one iolls in luxurious case
while the play is on. senses lulled with
the voluptuous commingIing OF music and
incense with the warmth and the light
and the perfume, and above all, the as
sooiation Of kindred minds on similar for
getfulnesa bent, are dismantled. The up
holsterer IL putting in new backs and
seats, while the machinist and carpenter
are fitting screws and bolts that these
may be used TO loll in during another sea
son. The carpets are up and the draperies
are down, and the place has been divested
entirely Of all evidences OF that sybaritio,
sensuous comfort that does so much to
mako the theater attractive. New gold
glints on columns and ballustrade, and
fresh tints gieam from painted surface,
and the promise is there OF even a moro
inviting scSns when next the footlights
GLOW.
Beyond the footliBhts IL even an emptier
void. ~ best an undecorated stage pre-
meT It is probably the most cherries place
imaginable. An empty barn in the dead Of
winter IL COSY haven Of promised rest
and creature delights in contrast with an
empty stage under the glare OF the sum-
mer sun. The bare walls are grim in their
unfinished brick and mortar condition
Dressing rooms are empty and dusty.
From the pin rails huge coils Of rope de-
pend, bespeaking the wonders OF trans
formation scenes and OF vistas of simu-
lated nature that delight the eye under
the proper management of lights. but the
scenery Is not there, nor the lights. A
dingy and dilapidated drop hangs in a
slatternly way and few borders" very
much the verse for wear show boldly
from the niea but these are to disappear
The drop curtain is gone, for a new one is
to take its place, and II is promised that
such Of the house scenery as is not re-
placed by new will be done over with paint
so It will look like new, but the glamour
OF the mimic world is not there Bright
relentless daylight shines across the stage
and the visitor hastens away, lest the few
illusions stu cherished from a long-gone
day when faith was strong and beliefs
were many be driven away by the cold
ness of the barren facts. II you love the
theater and get pleasure from plays, don't
go near one that is being done over in
the summer.
-
Louis James is going TO present 'rhe
Merry Wives of Windsor" next season,
an announcement that will be most well
come. Very few persons of the present
day have ever seen this rough and tumble
comedy on the stage. It has often been
talked OF, but 1t has been many years
since 1t was seriously offered. In speaking
OF his purpose Mr.. James has this to say:
Why are there so few good players? How
slgnlncant question and yet how easily
The dramatist OF today is a tradesrnan,
MS anxiety, together wlth-may / say
eommereialism to crafty freakish de-
to some public topic, and his desire to iit
with custom-made plays. the peculisrlties,
You please 10 CALI IT, Of the O actOT MhaSefsr hetr
rally dwarfs that mental discernment
niax %aieh m must necessarily be embodied IN a
detracts from its literary and constructive
value and power and places II upon the
not the work OF literary genius or GRiI ScRIe%e,
ment. The various epochs which have
'aS aad 'yds' 4s a % S .sob in D ts
fruitful in achieving, at least, distinction
solely and wholly representative Of the
had the classic, prosaio, scholastic, ro-
mantle. problematic, boclalistic patriotic,
ThicR has A Bey0Sd any SS0a aues
ton of doubt the peculiar susceptibtlities
OF the auditor at that time. Now we have
reached period when plays dealing with
current, political and social problems are
received with favor; yet in all these vari-
vine another Shakespeare, not even a
family outlined shadow OF one.
criticism does not always deetrrnine the
success or failure OF plays the great
public who pays Its money 1S y the censor osOT
must rely, as can be attested by the fact
that two OF the greatest dramatic sue
peatedly refused production by managers
and upon presentation were unmercifuiiy
live Of any argument the dramatic world
revolves in cycles, and II the dramatists
would but concentrate their efforts 70 lit
good plays would be readily answered, but
In the meantime the outlook is neither
drama commensurate With the greatness
of our nation or the immediate arrival OF
an American Shakespeare .,.,.. o.,
The modern dramatist writes solely foi
the purpose OF selling his composition, no.
for the perpetuating Of his name or fol
sion How many times do you hear ar
author aflrm; II wrote this character
with such an ae1ST or eSsrSss s IN y S
10 suit the clientele OF this theater." These
admissions alone attest 70 TIE destitnt, ie Sd
Merry Wives OF Windsor" we have nc
record 10 prove that Shakespeare wrote
one play TO please anybody but William
shakespeare and this single departure
from principie was made solely to please hi
sovereign Queen Elizabeth. While fully
realize England was many centuries ole
before Il produced a Shakespeare, ye
America, with all it's advantages, progress
philanthrOpy and mental fertility, has no
as vet produced one dramatist whose braiI
creations will live a century after he "ha'
Shufied on this mortal coll"
Some Actor stories.
Otis Skinner, the shakespearean actor Il
the son Of a New England clergyman an'
began life as a hre insurance clerk. In
recent issue Of the Theater Magazine tn
now prominent star gives this amusing
account Of his early beginning;
I'VE supported visiting stars at tn
Museum One OF these stars was Jerr!
Cohan, the father OF George Cohan. W.
played The Molly Maguires' with him.
had 20 play a lawyer and had no whit
shirt Convention demanded that a law
yer should not wear a colored shirt Look
ing frantically about the dressing room,
found a soiled paper cum. I cleaned /
with bread crumbs. cut IL into & shape
and pinned Il over my colored shirt
Another star was Frank Frayne, VIII
was hne marksman. His wife an,