Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1921-02-10
Wheaton Theatre
Weiser, Idaho
Feb. 9TH
MISS ELSA THIEDE, MAID MAR
IAN OF sROBIN HOOD" GIVES
AN EXPLANATION OF
THE OPERAS M
MENSE POPU-
LARITY

"All the world loves lover" Al
| the world loves the big out-of-doors'
| and-said beautiful Miss Elsa Thied
the Maid Marian of Ralph Dunbar
Robin Hood" at the WHEATON
THEATRE, Weiser, Thursday, Feb
| 18th.
81 fear that all the world als'
loves an outlaw! So perhaps its NJ
wonder that the big theatre-goint
public goes on year after year loving
the opera of Robin Hood" and re
fusing to let any of the newer com
positions usurp it's peculiar place IL
their affections. For while most O
them have lovers, and some have the
out-of-doors, and one or two an out
law, none of them have the triple ap
peal of all three, and none have the
wonderful De Koven music thai
makes new friends each year as g
younger generation grows up to at
tend the theatre.
81 admit that I am Robin Hood
enthusiast, and my enthusiasm is
based on the supreme test for the
singer of any role. I've often been
asked, Doesn't an actress become
horribly, terribly tired of a single
part night after night-don't you
sometimes wish to fly to some place
where no such play, and no such
songs exist? I'll confess that this is
true with the usual opera, but not
with such a part as Maid Marian.
In it l am simply an intensified re-
Election of the opinion of all the all
wise public-the more times l play
and sing the role, the more love it,
and I go on each night with new
enthusiasm and a new thrill!
"I'll tell you something else that
is unique. We all know that stage
scenery is merely canvas and paint,
that our Sherwood Forest IS just a
flat back drop and that the sun
light and shadows of Mr.. Dunbar's
lovely settings are made by very
prosaic and very ugly calcium lights
high up in the wings of the stage.
am constantly seeing all this mechan-
ism which the stage proseenium hides
from you, and in most pieces the
actor never loses consciousness of
it. But such has been the De Koven
genius that in Robin Hood, it all
seems as real to me as to the audi
ence, and once l feel the thrill that
over the footlights from their
love and interest, calciums and paint
vanish and become green trees, frag-
rant flowers, heaven sent sunlight!
(which makes me recall that,
you know it or not, its the
audience that makes the play, or
The player. If you don't play with
is, if you don't respond to our make
believe, there isn't any fun or thrill
'r play. Do they always respond to
Robin Hood? Well, just follow me
onto any stage whether It's in New
York or Chicago or in the farthest
own of the farthest border statel
Cor as I said at the beginning, we
ire dealing with an opera unusual
! universal appeal!
81 suppose the nearest part akin |
o Maid Marian on the dramatic !
tage is that of Shakespeare's Rosa
ind. And I'll confess to you one of !
ny secret ambitions-its to some
lay play this great role in AS You
ike It.. For there I'd have the same
reenwood trees and the same spirit
f the outlaws freedom, though I'd
Mss the De Koven music, and l fear
might at some performance forget
lyself and burst into ooh Promise
Ie.' Do you think the audience
'ould object? hope not" |