Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-08

- " VI hhNh'e Ho -
pacity for character work. While he has
the stage for but a few moments. he shows
wonderfully we'll, and yet It would have
been a surprise IL he had not, for Mr..
Conner very early established himself as
an actor of ability and has thoroughly
earned all the praise that has been given
him IN Omaha.
JONES' NEW PLAY IN ENGLAND
dolly Reforming Herself" VIII he
Presented in LOndon First.
LONDON, Nov. L~-CSpecial Correspon- !
d~ence.)-Henry Arthur Jones new play.
which it has been decided to call Dolly
Reforming Herself and which will make
its appearance in New York this winter,
was presented by Frederick Harrison
at the Haymarket theater on the evening OF
November 4. Ethel Irving, whose perfor-
nance in Somerset Maugham's Lady
Frederick has secured her position as a
London star, created the leading part,
and the cast also included such excellent
actors as C. NJ. Lowne and Robert Lorraine.
This arrangement necessitates bringing
to an end the run of Lady Frederick"
the last performance of which was given
on Saturday. The run of this remark
able comedy easily constitutes a record and
knocks into a cooked hat the old superstition
that one removal spells ruin for a play. For
Maugham's comedy has weathered no less
than four, and has crowded nightly every
one of the five theaters in which it has
made its bow. Monday last completed it's
first year, but there is reason for believing
not it's last. for. according to present ar
rangements. it will be revived as soon as
Ethel Irving, whose name is linked with
the part, is again free.
q
Now that Jerome has two successful
plays running in west end theaters, the
air is full Of rumors concerning his future
efforts as a playwright. 1t has been err
roneously reported that a new comedy
which he had just completed had been
acquired by a young management.
Jerome processes ignorance of any such
arrangement and as he II a most frank,
Individual, his denial is prob
ably in good faith. !
The newest OF his plays is Of a much
lighter character than the two which are
enjoying so much success in London at
present and more in line with what the
readers of his books would have expected
from his pen. 1t Is of three acts, and the
events take place in the heart of New York
society. More than that 1t is impossible
TO tell you at the present hAohAohN 10
English managers and playwrights are
doggardly reticent OF all that concerns a
| play until the time approaches for its pro-
duction which, in this case, will not be
much before six months hence.
The new ballet at the Empire. called "A
Day in Paris has served to introduce
Genee's successor in the role of premiere
danseuse. Although lacking in some degree
the engaging personality and freshness OF
the great dancer who is now In the, United
States, Mdlle. Kyasht who is a Russian,
is a skillful dancer and is perhaps better
fitted to fill Genee's place, from the tech
meal stand point, than was Topsy Siden
who jumped into the gap, las year. "A
Day in Paris gives the Empire manage
ment a chance to display some picturesque
costumes in the final scene. The Artists
Ball at the Moulin Rouge to present some
gorgeous and striking electrical effects.
Aside from that, however, the ballet does
not rank with many that have made
the Leicester Square house famous.
Diagonally across the square, the Alham-
bra management nave presented Mile.
Britta Petersen, a l7-year-old dancer who
comes from Genee's own country just as
the latter came to London eleven years ago
from the Royal opera house, Copenhagen.
She is remarkably youthful-looking, grace
full and an exquisite dancer, but naturally
lacks the energy, finish and confidence OF
her older countrywoman.
.
/ once heard it said that Charles Froh-
mans ambition in life was to reach that
point where he could be quite sure of hit
ting upon eight successes out of every ten
plays produced by him. but that up to the
present moment, his proportion of sue
cesses was only six out OF ten. When a
manager with the experience and discern
ment of Charles Frohman falls down four
times in ten, 1t is really extraordinary that
Miss Lena Ashwell should have gained for
the third time I'm succession in her man
agement of the Kingsway theater, not only
a success from the pen OF a newly dis
covered playwright. In THE Swayboat,'
the playwright in question, Wilfred L,
Coleby, has drawn a feminine role after
Miss Ashwell's own heart and the whole
play is written with such cleverness and
dramatic skill as to warrant the assertion
that London is bound to hear more of Mr..
Coleby.
Paul Rubens, who is responsible for
Miss Hook of Holland" has been taking
a vacation on the continent and returns to
London with the music for Seymour Hicks
musical version of The Dictator" Rich
ard Harding Davis and Hicks have been
collaborating in the production and the
English public who had a taste of its deli
cious absurdities in the straight comedy
in which Willie Collier appeared in Lon
don is anXiously awaiting this production
by its favorite light comedian. Hicks is
admirable suited to the part Of the man
who found himself a governor In spite of
himself. An American critic recently said
that Hicks was Willie Collier, Eddie Foy
and George Cohan all rolled into one, and
1t would be hard to find a better description
OF this strenuous comedian.
Rubens may well claim to have estab-
lished a record on his continental holiday.
Besides his work on THE Dictator" lie
has almost completed a musical piece for
Charles Frohman, a three-act comedy
called Six Months After which viii be
produced in London I'm the very near future.
a couple Of song for Margaret Cooper, the
popular music hall singer, and a music hall