Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-23
MYSTERY
IN THIS
Observation-Disclosures
: Ohm D. WILLIAMS has taken

ming tonight Mr.. Williams will pre-.
sent Richard Bennett in For the
Defense" thrilling, sensational
mystery play. There will be spe.
cial matinee on Thanksgiving day.
Fame comes as suddenly in the
theater as it does in many artistic
professions, and Elmer L. Rice
gained his over night with the pro-
duction of "On Trial" 1t is said
that in For the Defense" he shows
that same fine sense of the theater,
that same capacity to thrill and hold
his audience as he displayed in his
first work. The play deals with the
injustice of circumstantial evidence,
but there is no trial scene to har-
@row the audience. The thrill comes
about through the clash of will be-
tween the men who are seeking to
convict girl of murder and the
man who is defending her.
The company which Mr.. Williams
has assembled to support Mr.. Ben
nett includes Adrienee Morrison,
John Sainpolis. Louise Closer Hale,
George Riddell, Winifred Lennihan,
William Crimmans. Angela Ogden,
Charles Coughlan. Frederick Going.
Louise Sydn@th, St. Clair Hales and
others.
Plans are being carried out for
Omaha's participation in the great
benefit performance to be given in
all the large cities of the county
for the actors benefit fund on the
afternoon of December S. The
Boyd and Brandeis theaters will be
donated for the purpose, and acts
will be presented from the COM
panies playing at those theaters,
from the Orpheum and the Gayety.
This will provide most liberal pro-
gram, the performance at each the
alter being the same. The actors
benefit fund, as its name indicates.
is for the relief of those of the guild
who suffer distress. 1t is maintain
ed by money raised in this manner,
although this is the first time the
move has been made nationwide.
Locally, the Elks lodge has taken
hold of the affair to manage it, and
is going ahead with its customary
energy, which means that the enter
prise will be pushed with great
vigor.
The old wheeze when the worm
turns" seems to be about the best,
brief description of the big idea in
the excruciatingly funny story told
in LeComte and Flesher's musical
comedy high spot, my Sunshine
Lady" which comes to the Brandeis
for four nights starting matinee to-
day with the usual Wednesday. The
"worm" in this case is deliciously
demure, dainty little fishermaiden
whose feminine instincts, disclosing
her lovers plot to test of her love
for him, enables her to outwit the
conspirators and counter plot with
exceeding embarrassments to all con-
cerned but herself. OF course, in
the end, the lovers are happy, but,
the little lady had heaps and heaps
of fun before she relented and
agreed to an armistice, forever and
ever after"
The enhancing musical score is
responsible for such reigning favor
ties as "My Sunshine Lady" verit-
able gem: 81 Miss You, Honey,
Deed l Do another; "Cupid's
Sweets" alluringly swingy; "A
Night at the, Rivera" positively
haunting; "The Songs l Sang When
I Was Twenty-one, a pot-pourri OF
delicious melodies; "A Song of Old
Brittany" quantity irresistible;
whats the Use of Lovin'," humor..
esque; THE Vampire Girl" one OF
the whistly kind; Love Needs OPP
position lifting melody; Mystic,
Magic Man." lingeringly weird;
Anything to Make Picture Now
adays," breezily Characteristic;
Dixie Land Is Calling Me- the
tingling, jingling variety; I'm 1899"
and Mere Man." topical comedy
hits, and half score more OF Just
such varied things:
"Listen Lester" John Cort's ex-
hilarating musical comedy, gorgeous
" gowned and full of spontaneous
wit. comes to the Brandeis theater
for three nights commencing Thurs
dav next, with special matinees
Thanksgiving day and Saturday.
Lester is not only worth listening
to, but it is we'll worth looking at
as we'll as has been attested to by
the fact that this play and company
comes to Omaha after full years
RIM at the Knickerbocker theater in
New York. Harry L. Cort, George
F. Stoddard and Harold Orlob have
written a merry melange that is
bright and snappy, the music being
marked by an originality, for the
composer has brought to his compo-
sition a clevefness and melodia veil
that tickles the fancy, the ears-and
the toes.
The setting is Palm Beach, which
offers opportunity for unique and
colorful background, and the cos
tuning of the = newest style aug
mented by cast including: Betty
Kirkbride, Cecil Williams, Ann OFT,
Henrietta Lee. Miriam Folger. Flor
tia Bellaire, Florence De Barr, Fran
ces Anderson, Helen Hoffman, John
L. Lyons, William Sellery, Gus Shy,
Delano Del, William Wayne and a
chorus that IS dainty. dancey and al
together delectable. Popular among
the many musical numbers are
"When the Shadows FALL Sweet
Stuff" Waiting for You" Two Is
Company" "A Very Good Baby III
the DAYTIME" "Show a Little Some.
thing New" Feather Your Nest
and "See Her First" A special or,
chestra carried by the company
under the direction of Mr.. Vernon
Bestor viii round out the many song
hits and dainty ensembles.
One ct the headline offerings II