davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
Dramatic Critics Function

out. The patrons of the theater would
thu share in the financial speculation
with the managers, instead of it's being
assumed by the latter alone, The fact
that the public has nothing to gain by
such a speculation is lost sight of. In
vestments in theatrical property bring
such enormous returns that it Seems
only fair that those to whom the profits
will accrue in case Of financial success
should carry the whole burden.
The critic has nothing to do with the
business side. of tho stage. His func-
ton is to treat every production on it's
artistic merits, regardless of its COM
merclal aspects. He has no more right
to print lies about a dramatic perform
ance than his newspaper has the right
to print them about any other matter
of public interest.
One thing, however, the critic must
always bear in mind, and that is the
producing department of he stage has
a right TO serious consideration, The
Herald has always frowned upon that
class OF criticism which praises indls-
~criminately or dismisses without a fair
hearing, To treat with levity or to
slur over the virtues or faults of a play
or the work of an actor is not fair.
Every one has the right 10 be treated
according TO his merits, and il a come
dian essays to play Hamlet and his
performance shows an utter lack Of
ability or verlslmilitude, still III must
be given credit for an earnest effort.
Because he has failed is no signal for
critics to wax merry. Rather they
should point out TO him his errors, and
by a judicious and serious discussion
try to influence him for Improvement.
Nor is it the critics function to advise
the public 10 stay way from a bad
performance. II he does so, he lowers
his dignity quite as much as II he stood
outside Of the playhouse In the capacity
OF barker" urging the crowds to take
In the show. His province is to state
the qualities and the values as ne
knows them. His readers can agree
with him or not, as they see fit, or
rather to the extent that he has in
spired their confidence by telling them
the truth.
The critic cannot permit himself to
he Influenced by interested people, II
he p~urposely roasted" a good show
because Of some real or fancied griev-
ance against any one, he Il just as bad
as though he praised a poor one be-
cause he had been wtned and dined by
its promoters. Not for one instant can
he afford to jeopardiEe his reputation
by misrepresenting facts, for he not
only risks his own standing as a critic
and the sincerity OF his employers. but
he reflects pm the intelligence OF his
readers-Dramatic News.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

silent part. For half an hour she was on
the stage and never said a word.
The plot of Strindberg's little sketch is
that two women meet in q cafe. Both are
actresses. Madame ", played by Lady
Tree, is married; Madame Y, the Princess
Bariatinsky, is not. Madame Y. begins to
gfoat over her friends misfortunes. She
boasts of her own husbands devotion, of
her beautiful child and of their happy
home.
silently Madame Y. listens to all, only
smiling a little cynically. Gradually sus-
picion creeps upon Madame X. As she
relates tales of her husbands unceasing
devotion she narrowly watches the other
woman for signs Of doubt. At last in a
rage she flounces away still protesting.
Then Madame Y. leans back in her chair
and laughs for several seconds before the
curtain falls.
The audience applauded vigorously and
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

the newspapers congratulated the princess
on having learned ito keep silent in Eng.
lish" so ably. Notwithstanding. that her
first English part was a silent one the
princess does speak English very well.
o
Miss Margaret Anglin has a subtler way
Of reproving patrons whose demeanor does
not please her. During one of tho per-
formances Of The Awakening of Helena
Richie at the Savoy in New York last
week she noticed that a tired business man
in one OF the proscenium boxes had fallen
asleep. Instead of resorting to the anathe-
matte method of correction used by Henry
Miller, Wilton Lackaye and Mr.. Hilliard
she sent an usher to the box with a sofa
cushion. The usher awakened the slum-
borer and said:
Miss Anglin's compliments, sir, and she
thinks this might nak you more comfort
able"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
What Omaha Had and VIII Haze at Theaters

Omaha Morris theater is growing apace.
and the promise Of the architect is that 1t
will be ready for opening much sooner than
was expected. II is even hoped that st
may be ready for the public so that its
opening can be made a part Of the local
observance Of w~ashington's birthday.
81
II Christmas had not been called to mind
in a hundred other ways, the Christmas
editions Of theatrical magazines and news
papers would suffice. There come to hand
such special editions OF The Billboard, the
Dramatic News, the New York Review
and the New York Star. These represent
the climax OF achievement IN pictorial rep
resentation Of actresses and actors by
periodical publications, for the pages OF
ell named are brim full or pictures of
women and girls of the stage. with an oc-
casional male person also being shown In
counterfeit. There is a wealth Of prose
dealing with the stage. its affairs and its
people and a host OF special articles. Then
there are the advertisements. These are
not only large enough and numerous
enough to delight the publisher, but are
of interest as showing the pleasure of pro-
duGers. managers and performers in TAX
ing this means to thank their friends for
past patronage and to express a hope for
patronage to come.
The affairs Of the stage are not just now
altogether amicable as respects some peo-
pie at least connected with 1t. But thege
is little echo Of any hostility to be found
in the articles in the Christmas issues OF
these papers. so that the difference is fair
that the benign nature of the season has
had it's due influence.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

T%1O LESS closely allied to the
theater han the actors and
0 the manager Is the dramatic
critic. The two first mentioned
- nay doubt the utility Of the
critic, and have been known to express
themselves upon the subject in no un-
measured terms. But when all is said
and done and the relation between tho
critic and the people OF the stage is
brought down to the last analysis, 1t
will have to be admitted that it Is the
critic who is looked upon as the court
OF last resort. When everything is
ready for the public. when actors have
rehesrsed their parts, when authors
have given the last final touches to
their lines, when managers have paved
the way to the utmost for the success
OF a performance, the work OF the critic
begins. 1t is to him that the public
looks for a truthful opinion. II he Is
not trustworthy. it does not take the
public long to find IL out. and his
criticisms lapse into disfayor.
No one is capable Of judging the work
OF others unless he exercises the ut
most restraint and preserves his
equanimity Intact. The moment
prejudice begins 10 creep into his re-
views, they become worthless. To point
out errors is easy, 1t is traditional that
the mote In a brothers eye is more
easily observable than the beam in our
own. To rhapsodize over merit is
equally easy. But the real critic is the
one who not only points out the flaws,
but he who suggests a remedy. Unless
we can give a man advice as to future
behavior, there Is no use condemning
him for his present faults
Consider the responsibilities of the
dramatic critic who has set himself the
task of being fearless n truthful. Let
no one envy him his lot. In his line OF
duty he occupies a position absolutely
unique. Thousands OF dollars may be
spent upOn a production before the cur
tain rises on the first performance, and
months OF drudEerY in rehearsal, maxi
ing the total at stake beyond the power
OF the average theatergoer 20 realize
But, however great the critics concern
MAJ be for the actors and the manager,
under such circumstances, the duty
he owes the public, by virtue OF the
confidence reposed In him. is greater
and must be his first consideration.
Many OF the people connected witt
the theater would do away with the
critic altogether, establishing. as Il
were, a sort OF haphaEard theaterEoinF
or the part OF the public. who would
thus never be able to find out whether
or not they we're going to be edited by
a performance until after they had PAID
\ their money for the privilege OF findinl
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

Ruth st. Denis In her dances
@ to emit this:
M&9A When Miss Isadora Duncan
R danced In London, Mr.. Max
Beeibohm was reminded Of the fable Of
the emperor's new clothes. II will be re-
called that there came to the emperor's
tbalace a certain weaver. who promised to
weave for the emperor a garment that
would be visible only to honest people, and
how he set up lis loom and wove and wove,
and how none Of the courtiers could dis
Germ a single thread, yet all we're loud in
their praises OF the fabric, and how when
the time came for the emperor to sally
forth thus arrayed through the streets of
the capital. the people Wed with one an
other in acclsIming the fabrics beauty, and
al went well until one little child inno-
Gently exclaimed: The emperor has moth
ing on!'
Now, while It cannot be said of Miss
Ruth 81. Denis that she has nothing on,
stttf- 1t is a fact that she has not very
much on, and Of thai there is a great deal
that is transparent. Yet, we fancy, there
are only a few OF those who observe Miss
st. Denis In her Hindoo dances at the Col
onial who experience even the vaguest feel
ing Of improperly In their contemplation
OF her bron1ed and rounded limbs and
torso. Whether this IL because the emo
tions Of the spectators are similar to those
of the emperor's courtiers or whether it is
a tribute to the genius OF the dancer we
are not prepares to state. Probably It is
both. Al any rate 1t proves the contention
OF Mr.. Beerbohm and OF others that pro-
priety and improperly are not things that
can be determined according to the guam.
tity OF the opacity of clothing. They de.
pend on movement and meaning, and in
these Miss st, Denis is quite properly
pagan.
So thoao who believe with Homer that
dancing Is the sweetest and most per.
feet OF human enjoyments'' may attend
the performance OF Miss ST. Denis in com.
fort. She embodies with much grace oil
gesture and motion. vivid bits of oriental
ism, some of them easily symbolic, like the
one revealing the life of the senses as tn,
Hindoo understands IT," and others merel.
picturesque, as the street scene, with III
eloquent delineation of the dancer and tn,
cobra. Tn pungent pantomlme shown il
the modification of the Yogin is remarIS
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
Fortunes Made in Songs

goes into the NAV Of the newspaper
press, while the advertisements OF our
most enterprising song publishers push
those OF the departments pretty closely,
says the Dramatic News.
The and the writer-who IN
many conspicuous instances are one ard
the same erson-come in for a fair
share Of the financial reward. II he Is,
in addition. his w publisher. he gets
the lions share.
The following table, which, though
hypothetical, is based approximately
upon the actual sales of the various
songs specified, shows how soon $1,000
600 is rolled up, even on a scent per
copy royalty basis:
roRTH OF MELODY,
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

Merry Widow" upon the transcedent
charm of Franz Lehar's melodies and upon
the whimsical appeal or the operetta's
humor, that relatively minor considera-
ton has been accorded the worlds rare
dramatic strength. No light opera within
memory is so bountifully supplied with
stirring dramatic s-cenes-tense moments
tina thrill the spectator. 1t is a welcome
announcement that we are TO get the same
massive production that was seen at the
New Amsterdam theater, New York, be-
cause it is the most beautiful OF all the
Merry. Widow equipments. Miss Mabel
WILDER, who has won a conspicuous sue
cess In the part Of Sonia, is said to posses
the ideal temperament for the heroine Of
this romantic story and she dances like
a goddess. George Damerel is still the
charming Prince Danilo. In the hands
of these young artists, Inc world-famed
waltz loses none Of its fetching qualities.
Others who will be warmly welcomed are
Oscar Figman, William V. strunz, Charles
e., Wright, Harold Blake, Arthur Wooley,
Louida Hilliard, Sophie Barnard and seven
ty-five others. >
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

plays the part of the count. Nance O'Neil
and Julia Deane are the sisters.
.
For the first time on any stage, the
Shuberts produced at the Auditorium thea
ter at Baltimore last night, Cora May
nard's new play, The Watcher An I'M
usual feature Of the performance is the
fact that the theme of spiritualism runs
throughout the four acts, the watcher"
in question being the departed spirit OF
the good mother, whose death causes so
much trouble in the family of the Kents.
Miss Maynard, in going TO the realms of
the mystic for the foundation work of
her play, has struck a responsive, II not
a universal chord il the manner in which
the play was received tonight can be taken
as an indication. In several respects THE
Watcher" is not unlike Paid In Full"
The dramatic interest is sustained through
out. The cast, which is . small one, has
been selected with unusual care. The
players are, JohR~E Emerson, Percy Has
well, Catherine Countiss, Marion Ballou
and ThuTlow Bergen. There are four acts,
each of them taking place in the living
room of a New York flat. John Emerson
has staged the production for the Shuberts.
II Watcher will play at the Auditorium
all this week, after which it will be seen
at the Comedy theater, New York.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

--aICTOR MOOBE'S Christmas Ia
ny Omaha was notable as being
Nv his first appearance here In any
- thing more extended than a
TETAEI vaudeville sketch. Three times
&A he has visited Omaha as a per
former at the Orpheum, and each time re-
ceivehthe plaudits OF all who attended the
theater because OF the apparent sincerity
OF his efforts as a comedian. Three years
Mr.. Moore would have played here with
Fay Templeton in "Fotty-five Minutes from
Broadway we're it not that he was con-
fined TO his bed In Denver while the com
pany was In Omaha. BY the way. that
was q particularly unfortunate week for
the Cohan stars. While Miss Templeton
to get through with each per-
ormanc Of the engagement at the Boyd,
she did so at great physical inconvenience
because her throat was in such condition
as to require the constant attendance OF
a physician. Mr.. Moore came to Omaha
as the company was leaving and spent a
couple Of days visiting with friends be-
fore going on to Join the others. His
present efforts show that he is developing
rapidly in his art, and that while he is
living the American stage will not be with
\ out, at least, one comedian Of quality. So
1ar, Mr.. Moore's work has been along lines
FAR less serious. perhaps, than he Is fitted
for. But his ambition looks to greater
things and It has been definitely announced
that Messrs. Conan and Harris propose to
present him in a comedy much more worthy
OF his capabilities than 9TH Talk Of New
York
For some reason the week before Christ
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

opera in memory. The piece has not
succeeded merely because the music is new,
catchy and good, but also because the
play is a real play and the comedy is
crisp, bright and accurate This combl-
nation Of a connected plot, an interesting
story, real fun and good music, is so
absolutely exceptional that there is no
doubt whatever Of the great and long
continued success of any piece that has 1t.
Such emphasis has been laid upon the
allurement Of the famous waltz in THE
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

be the most sensational musical success in
the history of the stage. 1t has been the rage
of Europe for three years and every part
of the United States where it visited the
past season have voted it the best light
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
At the Omaha TheaterS

First Local Glimpse of THE Merry Widow" Will Be Afforded
at the Boyd During the Week-Krug Presents an Attractive
List of Plays, While 0rpheum Presents an Unusually Strong
Vaudeville Bill and the Gayety Tempting Extravaganza
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

tation at the Krug theater for two days,
starting Sunday. There is plenty of real
ism in its scenes and story. The produc-
ton, under the management of A. II.
Woods, will have the benefit of a excep-
tlonally clever company.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26
Gossip From Stageland

Percy Hammond Recalls an Old Fable in Telling Of Ruth ST. Denis
and Her Dance-Belascos Latest Production Approaches the Sex
FQuestion from an Angle Hitherto Unseen on the American Stage
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

At the Krug theater for THREE days start
ing Thursday Vaughan Glaser's produc-
tion Of "St. Elmo" the story by Mrs.
Augusta Evans Wilson, will be the at
traction,
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

William Collier says that he is not used
to the name william" He doubts that
If he ever will be. If he goes into the club
and some one calls William he pays no
attention. He thinks the waiter is meant.
Before he changed his name from willie
to William" for stage reasons he says
that he can only remember being called
William once, and that was by Augustin
DAILY, Il was call boy when 1 was IA for
Mr.. DAILY, and one of my duties was to ring
down the last curtain. One beautiful
autumn afternoon there was a game be-
tween the New Yorks and the Chicagos TO
decide the championship, and on hat same
fair day Ada Rehan and John Drew played
a matinee of She Would and She wouldn't
l took a chance and went to part of the
game. At the exact moment that the last
act came to an end / was hurriedly APP
preaching the stage door. Mr.. Drew looked
at Miss Rehan and Miss RehGn looked at
Mr.. Drew, and both looked at the audience
and wondered why in heavens name the
curtain didn't come down. l am told It
vas embarrassing At last somebody rang
down, but too late. I got back just as
Mr.. DAILY was investigating. Where is
William he asked, That was the first
time 1 was ever called anything but
'WiHief and my full name has never quite
lost its unpleasant associations"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

For the week starting with a matinee
today and closing on New Years day, when
the daily custom Of a matinee will prevail,
Valerie Bergorc, tho most popular ex-
ponent Of the one-act play, who comes to
the Orpheum, returns 10 headline the biH
with her latest success, The Sultan's
Favorite,' "A comedy by Edgar Allen Wolfe.
scenes from grand operas, such
as Faust Carmen "Tannhauser' and
"RigolettO' will be contributed by the
Tuscany Troubadours, a sextet Of singers.
Acrobatic skin displayed In the perfor-
mances of Sterling and Revell, horizontal
bar experts, whose twists and turns and
spectacular falls furnish comedy Of the
knockabout type. The Town Hall Minstrels.
Supers, Coakley and Mcbride, among the
most successful musical comedians on the,
Orpheum circuit. furnish five tuneful and
laugh producing numbers. Charlene and
Charlene have a drawing room entertain
ment, with ~xylophone selections and every
variety Of clever juggling. Miss Violet King
Is . Virtuoso OF both the violin and plano,
and in the playing of both Instruments she
is said to have wonderful technical skin.
Meyers and Rosa are the lariat experts.
The Kinodrome will present, this week,
motion pictures even more interesting than
usual, and before each performance, con-
cert selections will be given by the
Orpheum orchestra Of fifteen musicians
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

will not be entirely unwelcome. Not long
ago the motion of the train to which Miss
Scheffs private car was attached inter
fered with her ablutions, which were taxi
ing place in a diminutive bath tub in her
stateroom. She ordered the engineer TO
stop for ten minutes until she finished, and
1t is said that he did.
A london letter to the New York Sun
gives us this:
Princess Bariatinsky prepared a little
dramatic joke for her audience, Friday. She
first played 'Hedda Gabler" In Russian
and then the program announced that she
would give an English version Of THE
Stronger Woman a one-act piece by Au-
gust Strindberg, a dramatist beloved on
the continent, but hardly known in Eng
land and America. THE Stronger Woman"
was an English version of the original play
all right, but Princess Bariatinsky took a
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

1NRY w. sAVAGE'S splendid
production of THE Merry
Widow" which comes to the
Boyd theater, commencing to-
night and will remain for the
entire week. is Acknowledged to
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

1RCY Hammond of the Chicago
Tribune MAS moved after seeing
Ruth st. Denis In her dances
to emit this:
When Miss Isadora Duncan
danced In London. Mr. Max
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

j! Dempsey, Ollie Omega, and a troupe OF
twelve dancers, and Tessie Burns, make
assurance doubly sure of high class en-
joyment. Ladies' dime matinee daily ex-
cept today and Saturday. A novel fea-
ture of the engagement will be the
extra midnight show starting at 1901
a. m, January /. The regular performance
viii be given as well as several timely
hits appropriate for the occasion. Greet
the New Year at the Gayety.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

Miss FRITZ Scheff is 70 leave the manage
ment of Charles Dillingham; at the end
OF this season and Miss Louise Cunning
viii take her place in the Dillingham; re-
TRUE, Although the situation Is entirely
amicable IL Is understood that the prima
donna's temperamental vagaries did not
harmonic with Mr.. ~Diningham's charac-
terisue placidity. and that the separation
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26


VIII Archiel the diminutive comedian
"Wildfire," the play that comes to the
Krug theater for two days commencing
Tuesday, is one of the few fortunate actors
who has no thought Of worriment about
theatrical conditions. MIR. Archie is the
owner of a hotel in New York, the Will
arch, and when his theatrical duties are
ended, Bill. as he is intimately known. is
the general Pooh Bah" OF the hosiery.
Business I'm a hotel way i'm New
York has been exceptionally good
lately, and Archie thought an addition TO
the Willarch might bring him in a little
more money, He had an architect make
plans for the alterations and submitted the,
plans to the building department. Build
ing inspectors were sent up to look the
house over and inquired for the proprietor.
Archie met them and explained TO them
just what was required. After having
looked everything over ana approving tie
alterations, they desired to see the pro-
prietor of the hotel. Bill said he was he
proprietor; they refused TO believe him.;
thought he was kidding. After much argu-
ment, Archie sent for his manager, ana
finally convinced the inspectors that he
was the owner OF the place. AS the in
spectors were leaving, one Of them turned
TO Archie arid said SAY, kid, next time
you send for a man to talk TO, bring your
birth certificate along"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

THE Merry WIDOW company will ar
rive from Kansas City this morning on a
special train and will be ready for the
opening performance this evening. While
the sale Of seats has been unusually large
in advance of the opening performance, IT
has not exhausted the supply and plenty
Of good seats may yet be obtained. Per-
sons who have been holding back on pur-
chases because OF the notion that no good
seats might be obtained are advised TO
communicate with the box office, for they
can easily be taken care OF.
Cupid and the Dollar" by Tim Murphy,
will be played at the Boyd next Sunday.
Dorothy Sherrod. always winsome and
capable, will appear prominently in the
support.
The Queen Of the Secret seven" a new
play in four acts, Will have its first presen
Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-26

The Rice a. Barton Big Extravaganza
company is this weeks attraction at the
Gayety, opening with a matinee this after
noon. "A Night at Brighton Beach, which
opens the show with its array or pretty
girls and clever comedians, soubrettes and
character bits, is the best satire OF the day
and keeps the audience convulsed with its
funny situations and complications. The
olio ranks among the best In vaudeville and
novelty abounds, Such well known people
as the American Cowboy Four. Jeanette
Young, Wesson, Walters and Wesson,
Revere and Yuir, Stevens and Moore, John