Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-10
AT THE
T Frs

ceive and which but few have the
personal magnetism Or prestige to
| command. The audience waited
for nearly FIVE hours, from Sis to
after II, for the curtain to rise, the
train bringing the company having
been delayed and the scenery not
coming upon the stage until 1880
During this time the audience was
entertained by moving picture film.
When rumble from the street fin
ally heralded the approach of the big
scenery wagons there was an ex-
pectant rustic in the audience, and
when about 20 minutes later Olcott
poked his head out from around the
curtain and announced, Were
ready" he received a spontaneous
and heart-warming greeting amount
ing to an ovation.
Following this he charmed away
the memory of the long wait with his
sweet voice and Irish barney in one
of the prettiest plays presented in
recent years. "Macushla," billed as
beautiful Irish comedy, proved to
be delightful fragment from the
Irish life of century ago. True Irish
humor characterized it from rise to
fall of curtain, with of course that
soft tragic note at times without
which it could not have been truly
Irish. Whatever there was of light
some frothiness that a captious
critic might search out was COM
pletely lost sight of by the audi
ence in the heart interest motif
about which the play was woven.
The audience was charmed and sur
rendered itself completely to the
magic of the plays appeal. Call after
call summoned the curtain to rise at
the end of the third act, at which
time Olcott not only was compelled
to appear before the curtain, but to
sing a song, an encore even being
demanded for this, which he gave by
singing Mother McCree."
The wonderful Olcott voice had
lost none of its sweetness through
the worry of the wearisome ride, the
wild taxicab race to the theater, and
hustle of jumping into stage toys,
and he delivered song after song, re-
spending cheerfully to one encore
after another. The supporting COM
pany was most satisfactory and ade-
quate, with especial credit due to
Madge West as Patricia Boyer and
Leo Stark as Warren Fairchild. Miss
West was exceptionally capable in
a most difficult part, a part which
might easily have been interpreted
in an overdone way that would have
completely spoiled the atmosphere
of the play. Hamilton, as the hos
tier, Todd as Virgins, Kennedy as
the Scotch overseer and OBrien as
Dawkins, the jockey, who appeared
but for few minutes in small bit,
| but made that character stand out
in the short period he was on the
stage were also capable and in a tune
with the spirit of the piece.
'Macushla" is a pretty bit of, Irish
mosaic, little piece of heart touch
ing sentimentalism that is gratefully
received in these days of hard real
ism, and made one feel somewhat
kind and good and clean on the in
side for having seen it.
1t is here all the week, and it is
probable that it will draw crowded
houses every night.
Bessie Clayton's dancing act, pre-
/ sented at the Orhpeum yesterday as
the headline feature of the new bill,
deserved the splendid reception
which it received. Miss Clayton,
herself an accomplished exponent of
the art, is accompanied by five
clever people in their different lines
and each member of this excellent
company shared the applause. Miss
Clayton's toe dancing and pirouet-
ting place her in the class of artists.
James Clemens, an eccentric daneer
of musical comedy experience,
rcored a hit. Elisa and Eduardo
Cansino are Spanish dancers who
appear in a series of dances, the
woman having a wardrobe that is
the envy of all feminine eyes. Ar
thur Gordon and Wilbert Dunn de-
serve individual mention. In its en-
tirety this act is one of the best
dancing presentations ever seen at
the Orpheum and Sunday audiences
were quick to appreciate its supe-
r;ority.
William Durham, aided and
abetted by Grace O'Malley, is an
original comedian who can sing and
chatter in a manner that wins re-
peated encores. He succeeds ad-
mirably in his mission of making
people laugh and he does not seem
to make any effort about it, either.
Miss Julia Nash and c. H. O'Con-
nell in their comedy, "Three G. M, y
are another hit of the bill. They
have bright skit and they know
how to put it over.
Boyce Combe is an English light
comedian with a clever turn to his
whimsicalities. His topical num-
bers on an attack of NAL de mere
and an attack of sneezing illustrated
his versatility. Burton Brown, his
| pianist, scored individual recogni-
ton. Harry and Harriet Setback
opens he bill with a bag-punching
exhibition. The Rosa King trio
close with tight wire dancing act.
Ted Coner appears in breezy sing
ing and talking act. Topics of the
Day and Kilograms are the usual
screen features of the program.
Gayety-The best cast, most gor-
geous and laughable musical bur
lesque that has appeared at the
Gayety this season is now agreeably
employed in Selling OUT at every
performance, and there'is every lndi-
cation that this procedure will be
continued throughout the week. Joe
Hurtigs new edition of the Bow
cry Burlesquers" is the booking that
is attracting city-wide attention and
patronage. Billy Foster and Frank
Harcourt are the comedians. Ladies