Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-31
DULL FUTURE
FOR THEATER
~
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Observation-Disclosures
. MAHA showed genuine inter
est in the stay OF Ruth Chat
~ terton at the Brandeis, prin-

u MAHA showed a genuine inter-
est in the stay OF Ruth Chat
~ terton at the Brandeis, prin-
cipally because it was the opening
performance Of the season. Henry
Miller will follow almost imme-
diately, and the season will be con-
sidered definitely opened" al
though it has almost as good pros
poets of being as speedily closed.
for the strike in New York is not
as yet giving any sign of settle
ment. Until peace has been restored
between warring actors and man
ayers, outlying villages are apt to
wait in vain for the coming of COM
panies. This is not very en-
couraging outlook for the man
ayers, who have sustained the COM
bined hardships of war and "fu"
for two tough seasons, and had
looked to this as one whose pros
perity might aid them to forget the
leanness of the years that have VAN
ished So long as the managers de-
clare they have nothing to arbitrate.
and the actors refuse to play until
the managers do settle, the rest OF
us will have to struggle along some
way without the advertisement al
forded by the playhouse and the
players. finding our pleasure at the
Orpheum, the Gayety and the
movies.
On September and 8 at the
Brandeis theater Henry Miller and
Blanche Bates, with a distinguished
supporting company, will appear in
"Moliere," a new play by Philip
MoelIer. 1t was the conspicuous
dramatic hit of the season in New
York, where it ran for months at the
Liberty theater. The appearance of
either Mr. Miller or Miss Bates in
new play would be matter Of in
tercst, but the combination is espe-
cially noteworthy even in these days
of big events in the theater. The
scenes OF the three acts of mo
liere" are laid in Paris at the Palais
Royal and Louvre. That the scenic
production and costuming, rejecting
the brilliant period OF Louis XIV, will
be delight to the eye will be under
stood, for Mr.. Miller's artistic way
of making productions is well known
to visitors to the theater. The first
and last acts show the study of Mo-
,ierc, the great actor-dramatist, who
was later styled "the Shakespeare
of France; the second act, the
apartment in the Louvre OF Madame
de Montespan, the beautiful and
brilliant mistress of the king. In
the play Mr.. Miller appears as Mo-
liers and Miss Bates as Madame de
Montespan. The period OF MO
here" is toward the latter part of the
seventeenth century. Mr.. Moeller, the
author was one of the founders OF
the Washington Square Players in
New York and their presentation
OF two of his plays. "Helena's Hus-
band' and "The Road to Arden"
brought him prominently to the
front as one OF the most promising
authors of the day. The music for
"Moliere,' incidental to the play,
has been composed by Cassius Free
born, and Mr.. Miller brings special
musicians with him to augment the
local orchestra in interpreting this
period music. The notable support
ing company includes such favorites
as David Glassford, Catharine CAL
houn Doucet, Forrest Robinson,
Alice Gale, Sidney Herbert, Paul
Doucet. Frederick Roland, James P.
Hagen, Wallace Roberts, Elsie Fred
eric, Florence Busby. Vincent Cham
bers. Frank Longacre, William Rob-
ins and Paul CASTOR.
Blossom Seeley, one of vaudi-
ville's most fascinating stars, will be
a steller attraction this week at
the Orpheum, Assisting her in
"Seeley's Syncopated Studio" are
popular quartet of lively and dap
per entertainers, Fields, Grossmarl,
Lynch and Lopez. Ciccolini. the
famous Italian tenor, will be another
headline attraction. Formerly he was
associated with the leading opera
companies of European capitols.
OF Miss Seeley it is to be said that
she was the first syncopated singer
OF adequate merit to blend harmo-
niously with So Broadway produc-
tion. Since then she has continued
among the most popular of theatri-
cal stars. In her new little ragtime
skit she is at her best. She has
the assistance of quartet Of men
known as "the four princes of rag
time" In addition to his remark
able voice, Ciccolini has youth, a
fine appearance and magnetic
personality.
Many musical authorities affirm
that he is the most gifted tenor of
the present day. AS for Erwin and
Jane Connolly, they are deciples of
the better plays. They have given
vaudeville several exceptional
sketches. People will doubtless re-
call that It was they who produced
w. S. Gilbert's idealistic comedy,
"Sweethearts."
Really four acts in one are pre-
sented by Espe and Dutton, sing
ing comedians, dancers, equilibrists
and acrobats. Clifford Walker, an
entertainer from the trenches. tells
about his experiences "over there"
His monologue proves that there
is lighter side of war. Comedy is
conspicuous feature of the act
presented by Arcinetti brothers,
European novelty hat throwers. One
of the most thrilling phases of the
skating act presented by the Ster-
lings is an electric dance. By an
invention of their own they pro-
duce an effect of fire. Topics of
the day will be an interesting screen
feature, and the serene news of the
world will be filmed by Kino-
grams.
For the week starting Sunday,