Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07

R ~ u y kAtHNAAhN -
IXAI the city gave the end OF the
" week az the theaters such a
I tinge Of brightness as the sea
IEflt6Sk son had not before seen. And
$500 Crane IN an Ads comedy made
the visit all the more delightful. II ls very
difficult to say in just what especial way
Mr.. Crane is best liked. During his career
as n star he has shown ub so many views
Of his capacity for dellneatlng character.
all OF them charming, that TO say one or
another IL his best Is to go on record on a
mighty uncertain foundation. As Lemuei
Norwood he is a personality distinct from
my of his other undertakings, and yet one
may see the Crane family characteristics
in the nature Of the good old wool broker.
II he recalled one more distinctly than am
other. II was Nick Van Alstyne; maybe
this was because Van Alstyne had two
boys on his hands also-Bertie and the
other-but the contrast between the ways
of the wool broker and the ways of the
stock broker was not more noticeable than
the contrast between their sons. But why
spend time trying to find some resem-
blance, real or fancied, between the series
OF characters Mr.. Crane has made to live
for US? II Ia better 10 be thankful that
we have him. and pray that he be spared
TO us for many a long year to come. We
need him. 1t 10 no Disagreement to the
rising generation OF American comedians
TO say that only one OF q goodly number
is left us. and that one In Crane. jefferson,
Florence. Stuart Robson, Sol Smith Rus
sell. John r.. Raymond, Barney Macauley.
John Dillon, all the glorious company who
made the American stage famous for its
comedy, have dwindled to this one man.
A new school has arisen. and its represent
faNlNa ataV -. A-N .V~tasA- ~ -A.1a - ~
stage as did the giants who have gone. In
time they may unfold their wings. but for
the present We nave Crane, and we should
cherish him.
one has some satisfaction In noting that
George AIDES work shows expected i'm
provement. The author of "Artie' has
risen through the grades OF effort until he
Is coming out on the clear and elevated
plane OF real excellence. II 'Father and
the Boys IL anything. It Is an earnest OF
greatness for this young man. who has
shown himself to be peculiarly faclle and
happy In dealing with American types and
expressions. He will yet do something that
will far outshine his present output.
%
Another lndianlan had an inning at the
theater in Omaha last week-George Barr
McCutcheon. His "Graustark'' is locally
interesting for the fact that It was dra.
matized in Omaha for the uses OF the
Ferris Stock company at the Boyd theater
some seven or eight years ago. Grace Hay
ward, who at the time was Mrs. Ferris,
dramatized the book and played the role
of Princess Ytive in the first production,
DICK Ferris playing Lorry Grenfall. 1t
held the germ of popularity. and later Fer
ris took the play to New York to secure a
hearing. 1t was promised a fitting produc-
ton. Time changes all things, even family
relations, and now "Graustark' Is being
Enacted under conditions that know neither
Grace Hayward or Dick Ferris. When last
heard from she was playing I'm support OF
Mildred Holland while he is running a
theater In Los Angeles. promoting balloon
races and otherwise keeping his name in
print. while his present wife is leadins
woman at one OF the stock houses there
But the McCutcheon novel made into q
nelodrama gets much attention from the
public wherever it Is seen. and someone II
slaking a lot of money out OF IL. But II Il
neither Grace Hayward nor Die Ferris.
%
From the Burwood comes the unwelcoms
announcement that Miss Elliott will close
her season there this week. and that or
Wednesday night she will appear for the
last time. That this Is disappointing &c
q great many people will be understood
for Miss Elliott has endeAred herself &c
1 very large following in Omaha. She ha,
proved beyond any question her histrioniC
ability. During the season she has played
= range Of parts as wide as the poles
and has done all she has undertaken well
Painstaking intelligence and consideration
effort has marked her course at all times
and whether It was a serious part or
comedy character. she gave to each III
proper life and tone. No woman has eve
worked with more determination OF
achieved a greater measure OF persona
success In Omaha. Her going will leav,
a big gap. In the ranks Of the Burwoo
Stock company. and will be keenly fel
by those who appreciate the work of al
artistic. Miss Elliott has made no announce
ment OF her plans for the future. She will
be succeeded at the Burwood by Mis-
Maude Leone, who Ia unknown to Omaha
but who has had considerable experience
In the smaller cities in stock and on tn,
road.