Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-18

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Brandeis theater tonight, Monday and
Tuesday, with matinee Tuesday after
noon. Considerable interest is taken
in the coming of this piece and its
galaxy of stars, all of which it is easy
to understand. The stars are popular
and "Sybil" comes with the best pos
sible recommendations. A six
months run in New York and long
engagements in Philadelphia, Boston
and Chicago give color to the claims
that it is one of the real successes
of the season. The story concerns
"Sybil," a young singer, who has been
asked to leave Moscow-the scenes
are in Russia-for the reason the au-
thorities desire young army officer
who has become enamoured of her to
recover his mental equilibrium. She
does so, accompanied by her German
manager, only to be followed by her
sweetheart. The officer is discovered
and arrested for desertion. "SybiP
takes a desperate chance. Announc-
ing herself as the grand duchess she
orders the young mans release. The
grand duke comes upon the scene and
instead of denouncing the deception
smiles at it, for he would flirt with
the attractive "Sybil." He does not
reckon the cost until the real OUCH
ess arrives to find him attending a
ball in her honor, accompanied by a
woman posing as his wife. Here is
the ground of the work of this story.
"Sybill" is in three acts. Miss Ben
nett has the name role, Mr.. Brian is
the grand duke and Mr.. Cawthorn
is the German impresario. There are
eighteen musical numbers and only
one of them is an Interpolation, Mr..
Cawthorn's most successful comic
song, II Can Dance with Everybody
But My Wife" Miss Bennett has a
Letter Duet" with Mr.. Baird, the
tenor; a duet with Mr.. Cawthorn and
one with Mr.. Brian. She has swing
ing march number with the male
chorus entitled "The Colonel Of the
Crimson Hussars." Mr.. Brian's prin-
cipal dancing contribution comes in
the third act, when he has Miss Cissy
Sewell as his partner. Stewart Baird
has the role of the young army Off
Ger. George E. Mack, Jackson Hines,
Rene Detling, Queenie Vassar and
Raymond Barrett are among those
we'll known in the large cast. To bring
ont the beauties of Mr. Jacobs score
there will be an enlarged orchestra.
John E. Kellerd, the eminent Eng
fish actor, does not fear the encroach-
ment of new cheap forms of amuse-
ment upon the legitimate theater OF
the future. He says, "We hear good
deal of the grand old days and the
decline and fall of the modern drama,
but, personally, l do not believe it.
have not hesitancy in saying that, on
III, whole, Shakespeare is interpreted
and put on the stage much better than
ever in the days of Booth. A play
mould be able to stand on its own
meri's witho,. scenery, which should
only be an accessory. An actor should
also be equal to this test of his art.
Scenery should be adequate, but it
should not monopolize the attention,
and should always remain the back
ground, taking its place in subordi-
nate and proper proportion to the
actors. The company have assem-
bled this season is one OF the strong
est organizations that ever toured the
United States. Charles B. Hanford,
the well-known Shakespearean star,
will play the leading roles and Miss
Georgian Wilson, the young beauty
who surprised New York with her
wonderful Interpretation Of Juliet .
year ago, will play Ophelia and Des-
demona." The repertoire to be seen
at the Brardeis theater for three days,
beginning Thursday, March %, in
cludes Hamlet" "The Merchant of
Venice" and Macbeth"
"Hit-The- Trail Holiday" the much
talked-about new George M. Cohan
comedy, comes to the Brandeis thea
ter for four days, beginning Thurs
day. March 29. Frank Otto and Lola