Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-04
At THE PLAY HOUSES

"The Man From Now" at she noyd.
Harry Buirer. Helen Hale and others under
the direction of Henry W. Savage, in
The Man from Now an extravaganza
in prologue and two acts; book ana lyric
BY John Kendrick Bangs and Vincent
Bryan; music by Manuel Klein staged by
George Marion. The principals:
Forecasts, professor Of physisss, Esopa :,
Jack Raleigh. student Of Gsona.....'.'..
.................t........ Waiter Lawrence
John + Pennypacker, a Millionaire. 80.
Eli Beaslev, a rural sieuth.:E. II. oConnor
steve Wahies, The Man from Now,
. ....... .................. Harry Bulger
samsonia, captain Caesar college tug
Oi-War team. .s.............. Helen Hale
Matricula, president CAESAR college, l9cs
no., - Hattie Arnold
zeroine. captain Of Liquid Air police
conahn lecturer Of screamrla ISiy ionse
.......................... William Murphy
Gasoline, the gasoline maid. Helen Hale
In setting the time at 1905 the authors of
The Man from Now" fixed matters so that
existing facts wouldn't bother them. They
took Just enough OF present day folbles and
fads 20 give a groundwork, and then filed
in with flights Of fancy. After they got
through Harry Bulger did the rest He and
George Marion. II the piece has any sue
cess at all it is due to the genius Of these
two men; the one to make folks laugh by
his Stiffness, and the other to please them
by his artistic groupings his stately move
ments Of the chorus body, its novel dances
and It's soft. rich colors that blend so har-
moniousy in fantastic costumes and which
turn the various groups into perfect pic
lures. Marion is the greatest of all musical
comedy stage directors, and IN no other
play has he shown his capacity more plainly
than in this
The book of the piece fairly bristles with
Bangsisms, quaint little quips and broad
splashcs OF fun; and to these is added the
droll personality Of Buger, who could get
fun out Of a much more solemn proceeding
than John Kendrick Bangs could possibly
provide. He hasn't abandoned his tramp
makeup, but he has improved on some Of
his former methods and is all the better for
having done so. AS Steve Wafnes he is ir-
resistible. And his nonsensiacl songs have
kept pace with his other attachments. so
that while they are ratified of at lightning
speed, the point is plain and the laugh is
inevitable. But Bulger isn't the only funny
thing about the show, not by jugful. Hat
tie Arnold adds not a little to the merri-
ment Of the occasion by her elephantine
antics and her queer mixtures of Stiffness
and dignity Mr.. o'Connor, as the rural
sleuth. makes lot of fHn. too
Helen Hale dances and sings and romps
about the stage in an unrestrained way,
leading a bevy Of youngsters as merry as
herself and whose laughter IS infectious
Her songs don't amount to much in them
selves, but it is the way in which they
are sung that their charm resides. Whats
the Matter With Our Team" is one that
gives her a chance tS Kick a foot ball out
into the audience, and again and again Il
is sent whirling into the crowd by some
one Of the laughing maidens. Probably the
most amusing feature OF this performance
was the futile effort OF one of the girls to
kick the ball. The boys upstairs caught the
spirit. and when Miss Hale demanded to
know whats the matter with our team?"