Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-12
Gossip About Plays. Players and PIayhouses

7HIIH we speed the parting and
INV welcome the coming guest at the
Burwood theater. a great deal OF
Isf4Es7 satisfaction Is derived from being
- able TO say a good word for Mr.
Albert Morrison. the one man who stayed
through from the opening OF the house.
unchanged by any Of the many mutations
that have overtaken the personnel Of that
company. Mr.. Morrison was leading man
at the first performance given In that
theater, and but for the managerial de-
termination that has brought about the
change Of the companies, he would have
remained TO the finish. leading man OF one
OF the most popular ana successful or
CARNATIONS that has purveyed the better
grade OF drama for the edihcation Of the
Omaha public. Mr.. Morrison has been
proven in a hard school and has been found
not wanting. He does not profess TO be a
great actor. but he Is a good actor. He is
painstalxing and careful, intelligent and
discerning and with a capacity for under
standing many Of the little nioeties of the
role that would escape a casual observer.
Added to this certain personal graoes. a
presence that Is attractive and distinct
charm Of manner. and the secret Of Mr..
Morrfsons popularity Is out. He has as
sumed a wide range Of parts during the
two seasons he has led the company at
the Burwood, playing everything from high
tragedy 70 low comedy, all sorts Of melo-
dramatic and popular heroes; be has been
CARRIED In all sorts Of garments, and has
worn about every makeup save blsckface.
Through all this protean list he has man
aged to shit 70 some degree his personality,
90 as TO Bubmerge Morrison IN the role he
had before him. and his work has not at
any time been marred by mere mannerisms.
Just what the future has in store for Mr..
Morrison he does not know, but he will
be followed 70 his new field Of endeavor
by the good wishes Of a great many more
sincere admirers than the Burwood theater
would hold at a single performance.
-
Miss Pettes, who smiled her farewell
through tears at the Burwood last night,
has not been in Omaha so very long, but
she has made an impression here that time
only deepened. A conscientious woman,
with nm infinite capacity for taking pains
and the rare faculty OF grasping almost at
q glance the possibilities Of a character,
details as well as outlines, she has shown
herself to be the equal Of any who ever
N6bdgoa tue AeadAhh AbA0s ~ hlp
house. Her work has been Of a high grade
of excellence from the very first, and the
wide range Of parts she has taken evinces
her versatility. Her personality is not so
well known 70 the public, for she is modest
and unassurning almost to the point OF re-
firing. She has mingled but little socially,
for her work has occupied the greater part
Of her time, but those who have met her
admire her as a charming southern woman,
whose innate refinement and culture At her
for a brilliant social circle as well as for
her profession Her plans for the future
are not matured, but she has several en-
gagements under consideration. and will
soon determine which she will accept. She,
too. win he followed with a friendly inter-
est by those who have enjoyed her acting
during her stay at the Burwood-
Other members of the company who have
gone to Kansas City carry with them only
the good wishes OF the Omaha public They
have been popular here. and will be much
missed by the people who have the Bur
wood habit"
All sorts of new theater talk IS heard
In Omaha these days, but none of 1t can be
traced to a definite or responsible source.
Some OF those who know the inside OF the
game are of the opinion that Omaha has
enough theaters Just at present. 1t is not
at all unlikely that the readjustment of re-
iations between the big bosses in the east
will result in opening the Orpheum theaters
60 the independents" and Omaha may
have an opportunity to see Mrs. Fiske an
other season without going to Council
BLUFFS. At any rate, one theater on a cor
ner lot viii beat whole flock OF play
houses erected under scareheads in sensa-
honal newspapers
The opening OF the summer opera season
ut the Boyd theater has been put over one
week, and the start will now be made OF
the evening of Sunday. May o. In tn,
meantime, the summer stock season at the
Krug will open on Wednesday of thil
week. The parks are getting ready, and
Manager Cole of the Krug park expects
20 announce his opening date very soon
He has secured the Duss band OF New
York for his first big attraction. Manager
Byrne OF the Lake Manawa park has no
yet fixed on his opening date, but will
very soon. Omaha folks will not be lef
without some place TO go evenings durinl
the summer time.