Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-24

Il ~ III NeTSlIN. FROM new OTk
comes the word that the war
- is over; the lion and the lamb
and the rest of the rnenagerie
SsssasS and field animals have lain
them down in peace at last: but their
dreams ere disturbed by the saunt specter
of hunger, and danger exists of the lion
devouring the lamb because he can find no
other thing to eat Which is way of say
ing that Klaw & Erlanger and the shu-
herts have formally declared off the war
that has ragged between them for SO many
years, and which has been so disastrous
TO the theater, in every conceivable way,
that none will undertake to say just
what the extent of the damage Il wrought
really is. In the future these interests
will operate as one, and ruinous compe-
tition will again be cut off This may
mean good for what is left of the Amer
lean stage. II is altogether likely the
magnates have learned wisdom from their
experience. and IL Nthey have, 1t is sure
TO be helpful.
la THE Roundup is a situation which
has been made the subject of endless con
versation--the fall Of the Indian over
the cliff in the third act. This fellow has
crept to the ledge OF winding pathway
up the lava rocks and. taking position
there, has fired at one of the two white
men. who are battling for life in the
canyon below him, Quick as a flash one
of the white men has shot and killed the
Apache, who falls over the side of the
rocks. his body hanging suspended there
throughout the rest of the third act
Soldiers rush by him on the narrow path
in pursuit of his companions, but he stirs
- n
on the rocks, fearsome thing to watch.
Usually dummy" is used, for such
hazardous bits OF business, but in the
casa of the Apache there rs no opportun-
ity to substitute a lay figure for a man,
and he has to take the chance of balanc-
ing himself safely through the ten min
utes he has TO hang over the cliff. Be
sides this feat of the Indian in THE
Round-Up," there are number Of men
who peril their lives at each performance
of the play. The Indian riders who make
the defile of the mountain pathway are
running risk all tho time. The pathway
is narrow and the ponies frisky. and the
path circuitous.
The buclking broncho act in the last
act is q dangerous exhibition for the men
engaged therein, for the space in which
the ourveting and bucking Is done is
scarcely more than forty feet square on
any stage When this feat is done in
the Great Wild West shows of Buffalo
Bin and others of like character, there
is an immense space TO work in. But on
the stage a false step or an extra rub
would carry horse and rider over tile
footilghts.
The Roundup" will be the attrac-
ton at the BrandeIs theater for four
nights and matinees Sunday and wednes-
day. beginning this afternoon.
Al the Brandeis next Friday and Satur-
day, with matinee on. Saturday, David
Belasco viii present David Warfield in
his revival Of The Auctioneer," the
comedy by Lee Arthur and Charles Klein,
which thirteen years ago made Mr.. War
field conspicuous among actors OF the
day. The character OF Simon Levi the
quaint and lovable old Hester street auc.
tioneer. which Mr.. Warfield mas endeared
to thousands. is no caricature, but in
stead characterization as true to life
as human effort can make il. II ia
marked by a love for humanity, and com
passion for its frailties, so that in this
respect It takes rank as q perfect stage
presentment of a lOvable human charac-
ter.
Nothing could have been more eharac,
teTistic OF Mr.. Warfield and Mr.. Belascc
in arranging for this revival than TO bring
together all the members of the OF gina
cast who are stin living. Aside from ar
tistie or professional reasons, a pretty
sentiment has prompted the reassemblins
OF the players whose efforts more thar
a decade ago were Identified with the es
tabiishing OF Mr.. Warfield as a star OF
the legitimate stage Marie Bates, who's
iuimitable work as Mrs- Eagan will b
recalled ~ theatsEgoers who saw "Thl