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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 1908)
it p: .; . 4tl:- HE Man of the Hour" was nat ' I urally the play of the week and the fact that It ran for a full week to surprisingly good business. Indi cated that the Hclllg was giving Its pat rons what they wanted. It Is a big, po ' tent play and the present company gives a Rood performance In It. Mr, Adams and : Miss Kern, the latter, by the way, a Port land girl, of whom the town may well feel proud, made the most distinct impres sion. '. -....-'... '.. . "... .' At the Baker there was. "The Other Girl," a new Augustus Thomas comedy containing a lot of interest in which the stock actors acquitted themselves well. At the Marquam the Lewis and Lake Company offered "A JiO.foO Beauty," a reasonably good musical attraction. The Empire presented a melodrama as usual, this time called "A Texas Out law." The Lyric gave "The Land of the Midnight Sun," the Star a melodrama, "The W'hltecaps," and the Grand and Pautages rattling good vaudeville bills. . - The coming attractions are: "Brown of Harvard," with Henry Woodruff, tonight, and until Tuesday night, with a special Tuesday matinee; "The Devil's Auction" -all week at the Marquam. beginning to day; at the Baker matinee today the players will appear fn.."Tho Willis of the Gods," a Broadhurst play;, at the Umpire, "A Desperate Chance"; at the Lyrio, "Mr. Barnee of New York," opening tomorrow "night, and the Star, 'KldnapedV:. will be the bill all week, opening yils afternoon. The new vaudeville bills go on at the Grand and Fan tag us tomorrow afternoon. A. A. G. "BllOWX OF UAKVARD." Jlenry Miller Presents Henry Wood- ruff In Brilliant College Play. Of surpassing Interest Is Henry Woodruff's appearance tonight at the Heillg Theater, Fourteenth and Wash ington streets. In "Brown of Harvard." .The engagement will be for three nights only, with a special priced mati nee on Tuesday. This lively college pluy carries with it not only the In dorsement of New York, Chicago fl.nd 'Boston, In each of which cities it had unusually long runs, but it also has been pronounced "right" by scores of smaller cities as well. This latter is ..the nnal test of merit, because many bad plays which have been hailed with acclaim In New York have had theu measure unerringly taken upon invad ing the .interior. ... "Brown of Harvard." with Mr. Wood ruff as star, enjoys the unique distinc tion of having been presented 73 con secutive weeks, beglnnnlg with Its first . production 'at the Princess Theater, New York. After 30 Weeks at that 'playhouse. It ran all Summer at the Gerrick Theater. Chicago, following this with a road season lasting until the middle of last July. A halt of six weeks was called then, only to permit Mr. Woodruff to take an Imperatively needed rest, . "Filled with the spirit of youth," is the expression which best suggests the .'character of "Brown or Harvard." Its .manly exuberance makes the old young again, and makes the young glad they are young. In no play have the joys and ambitions of life's springtime been more, actively, convincingly and beau tifully set forth. The manliness which has made .America the clean-limbed, clear-headed and warm-hearted mascu Unity characteristic of the' youth of thia fair land is here.' Such a play should, and docs, appeal to men and women alike. ' Mr. Woodruffs role Is that of Tom Urown. a wealthy and popular student, who Is at once generous and unassum ing. Many struggling undergraduates sre being helped through college by him without knowing who their bene- ,-f.ictor is. One of these is Gerald Thome, a Southerner, who is working -his way through Harvard, and at the same time supporting Wilfred Kenyon. i the brother of the girl whom Tom Brown loves. Gerald-Thome is stroke for Harvard ana the bulwark of - strength. In the crew. The plot cun- witma. Itself a most delightful feature, -erns the attempt of a rascally alum while the entire company Is. drilled aJ nus, Colton by name, to prevent Thome 1 most to perfection Itself In the various rowing in the race against the. Eng- ! and separate characters.. The principals . llsh crew, by having him believe. Just and the specialty stars seem molded Into .as the contest is' about to "begin, that the parts they assume.. Features In the .his sister has disappeared. Tom : past unknown to the presentation enhance Brown leaps into the breach by taking ' the spectacular to a degree that, makes f Thome's place, and the day Is saved, ; It" practically beyond adverse crltlcis'm. though at the end of the race It. is 1 The Initial act Is about the only one that made to appear that Tom has been ! carries a stronar resemblance to the old guilty of wronging Marlon Thome. The manner in which he clears himself In the last act is one of the manliest and most dramatic scenes of the play. The supporting cast, which numbers thirty-odd people, contains the names ' of Helena Byrne, William Rosell. Fred erick Forrester. Gordon Johnstone, Ku Kene O'Brien, Frnnkltn Jones. Louis ; Haines. Adrien Bellevue, Charles II. ' Mutes. Oliver Follansbee. Robert Stowe Gill. J.'C. King. Daniel Pennell, Albert Shower. Charles Durnell, J. R. Rensnel- laer. Arthur Readings, Robert Comptoe, . - -. . . - - - --v - - . ., James Ilormun, James Keating,' frank 1 r -- - 'taiifk is ''..t-i Wlllard, Jtno Chiny. Bernlce Will Golden, Ethel Martin and others. Seats are telling at theater for engagement. 'THE DE'II,'S ACCTIOX.' Famous Spectacular Extravaganza .at Marquam Grand This "A'eek. Gorgeous almost beyond description is the scenic investiture of the. "Devil's Auction," which begins a week's en gagement at the Marquam Grand, com mencing with a matinee Sunday, January 19, while every feature of the presenta tion is sustained by an artist with more than ordinary ability. Rewritten and rearranged, the patrons of the production a dozen years ago would hardly recognize the "Devil's Auc tion" under any other name. In staging the spectacle Charles Yale has separated It into three acts, each of which carries three and four scenes, and- without an exception, every scene is ' picture. The curtain goes up, revealing ' the same Mephlsto, the evil one, the imp ''of darkness, the witches, skeletons, gob- 11ns and demons as of old, and each Is well carried.' esDeciallv rood belns Mr. Thomas and Miss Probst. George Topak. the funny man of the combination, comes In evidence in the first act and neves drops out until the curtain goes down ror the evening. Miss Hllson is a come dienne of rare talent, while Miss Scott and Miss Wlnson, as vocalists, charm their audience. The' volcano of Hades is 1 ... j uufcii; nnu iioias ina auaience closely.. With every movement of the ah electric novelty and holds the audience rr rjrZE&Yf Mi i . Y YM . ' x 9 MM I THE SUNDAY ! mi f ,j -tt. mmm characters almost there is a change in the scenery, every piece of-which Is rare In Its richness and most delightful In Its effect. The singing and dancing numbers are wholly unlike anything ever shown with the presentation before, and during the entire performance there is not a dull or Insipid one. The - shy young - girls, the giddy old maids. and the baby elephants catch the audience and hold It closely, making many a laugh - throughout the house. The magic picture gallery, the second scene In the second act. Is the wonder piece of the - play.' With Mr. Topak as the moving spirit, that picture ga)lery alone is a show within itself. Miss Hilson's dancing, as well as that of the entire ballet, is a charming feature of the performance. "The Wild and Wooly West," a dancing number In the "golden palace of . the pasha," is one of the greatest laugh-producers of the play, Mr. Topak, Miss Hllson, Miss Pra ger and W. H. Lorella being especially happy. The last scene of the last act. a scene of ' transformation, with Its numer ous mechanical changes, is one of the most captivating and wonderful numbers of the performance. " In the chorus there are a number of pretty faces and graceful forms, and the voices are sweet and pleasant to hear. "THE MILLS . OF " THE GODS" Baker Stock Company in Play by Au thor or "The Man of the Sour." "The, Mills of the Gods." which the Baker Stock Company will offer for the week, commences this afternoon. Is the-only other serious drama-from the pen of CJeorge Broadhurst, who Wrote ""The Man of the Hour," -which eyf - OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, 4 11 rJ TVBy CuYAOS - AT sip&jsr -Itwje: sherry W7- 7&zr gs&vm? : . Just closed a highly successful week in Portland. : i The first aot . shows' the interior of a criminal court-room. James - Clarke and Frederick -Pay ton-are being tried on a charge of embezzlement. Sharp tilts between the District Attorney and the counsel for the defense keep up the interest. ' A telegram jfe handed Clarke. He then confesses that he 'has been guilty as charged, arid tells how he robbed his employers .to aid his In valid sister. The telegram announces her death from shook -when she .learned of his arrest.' He implicates Payton, and the two are sentenced to five years' imprisonment. - '" . The second act takes place at the of fice of the Nexton cut-glass . factory,1 eight years later. Crarke,' unable to stand the rigors of prison life, bas es caped, and, assuming the name of Rich ard Harper, has found employment in the glass works and has risen- to be general manager.. He has fallen (n- love with, his employer's sister-in-law, Cath erine Gordon, who knows nothing of his past.' Payton, who has served out his time. appears -on the scene and at taches himself to Clarke, blackmailing-l him by threats to tell his history. Clarke-puts up -with all sorts Of Indig nities, pays Payton. his price, gives up the girl he loves. And Is -constantly In dread of being discovered. He. refuses a position with the International Glass Company at a greatly increased salary because it Involved his moving t larger, city; -where he. might be recog nized. Payton - carries his dominance too far, however, - for when he finds Miss Gordon' in Clarke's home at mid night and makes some slighting re mark . about her, Clarke's cowardice leaves' him," and he is only' prevented from murdering Payton by the arrival of a young friend. - Clarke forestalls all of Payton's ac cusations by telegraphing the authori ties his whereabouts and telling- hie story to" hts companions. .The agent of the International Glass Company offers to demand his pardon of the Governor, and Catherine promises. to wait for him until his -return.- Payton's future Is left In doubt. There will be the usual Saturday matinee. The cast follows: - James- Clarke ....".......... .Austin" Webb Frederick Payton Robert Homans - ' The Prisoners. The Jude ' s .... R. )S. Bradbury Counsel tor the Defense James Gleason The Assistant District. Attorney . ... Earl D. Dwire Richard P. Jordan, of the Arm of Jor -dan & Blake ..Charles Lewis "Arthur Montgomery Blake, of the- firm of Jordan & Blake. . .William Gleason The Clerk of the Court- . .William Greenleaf The Court Stenographer ... .Charles Binard Captain of the Court Squad.-. Harry Winters Messens'r Bey ... .Frd Renfort Police Officer . , ..Frank Soott Jurrmen. . Time Sight years sw. -Ftawe Ksw- -I" eric JANUARY 19. 1909. pfr ji J J Cast of Characters" la -'Acts 'II, 'Tit 'and rv." ' James Clarke . Sknowh.2 an . Richard - Hopper) i.. . AustinWebb Frederick Payton ... .Robert Homans Robert S. ThornhilU "assistant to - - Clarke . Donald Bowles Reverend Peter Andrews, pastor "of he People's Church Karl D.' Dwire Thomas F. Newton, proprietor ' of the Newton . Cut-Glass. Works. - - James Gleason- Hartwlft Marcus, secretary of the In ternational Glass Company ....William -Gleason Roy 'Gordon. Newton's brother-in-law Howard Russell Sam Fuereush William Dills Gatherine Gordon, . Roy's sister. . Marion Barney. Alice Oilman,.. stsoosM-apher, ...... .- . . Maribel BeymourH Edith Hawkins; a -siri. oc the viuace - . : ..' . ... i. .. .Louise Kent ' Time The present... Place A small town In Pennsylvania... ' ' : ..". . .... . "A' DESPERATE- CHAXCE." Theodore Kramer's Celebrated Melo . drama All. Week at Empire, ;; ." 'A. Desperate Chance." which will be, seen at the Empire all week starting to day,, has broken, all-. records .In ' houses; where great crowds." are not uncommon..' "A Desperate Chance"' really need? no other recommendation than the mere ; statement of the fact that it is ' from ; the pen of that widely known author,' Theodore Kramer; For the benent -of those who are not familiar with the pl'ot, however, it ,wlll be said that the play 1b . a truthful reproduction of the crime and 1 punishment : of - the " notorious Biddle. Brothers, whose "murder. if a .storekeeper and a detective, subsequent escape from prison with the help of the warden's .wife' and thrilling recapture, makes one' of the most sensational bits- of criminal history ever reoorded in this -country. -v , ; "A Desperate Chance" depicts the : en trance 'of the-grocery store near Pitts burg, the murder of the aged-"proprietor, i the second murder of the detective,.- and the ' incarceration .in- the Pittsburg '. Jail. There - the . strong --' character, of 7 the warden's, wife is introduced and, by bis hypnotic Influence, the elder , brother be gins bis Insidious work of enlisting ' her Into; their service. She falls a ready vie-; tim -and finally places within the hands of the brothers the means, to- escape! Still under the hypnotic influence she accom panies them in their flight, and remains wttli them throughout the stirring scenes that, mark the funning flight 'that pre cedes their recapture. Although properly a drama of the 'most" thrilling type, "A Desperate Chance" Is by no means lack ing in comic situations and these, with the aid of several interp61ated specialties, give relief from the high nervous tension that is felt . during the deeper action of the play. Matinees Wednesday and Sat urday. ". . ' , ' ' : i 'KIDNAPED' AT THE STAR Fire-Act Melodrama' Will Be Pre- - - ' " . sented for. First Time Today. : 1 "Kidnaped," a five-act melodrama, wllL hold, the boards at-the Star Theater this . week, commencing with the .matinee this afternoon. -Thia is a -classic 'comedy dra. I s - ; U . - I 111 ;Vp1 . f , 1 ill ,41 ' --TSt - 4 "szss -v. CANCE ma and one which has not been revived in this city in half a dozen 'years. Man ager R. E. French promises an elaborate scenic production and one of the finest dramatic performances of the play that has ever been presented on a stage in this town. There will be matinees to day, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The plot of "Kidnaped" is one of ex citement and for strange adventures it has rarely been duplicated in a modern melodrama. The principal trouble-maker Is a Frenchman named Daggard who also calls .himself Lazette. This man has a wife, ; Alice, whom he treated so bru tally that he drove her insane and caused her to be confined In a madhouse. La :sette ' is in love - with an heiress, Grace Baybrook, and he wants .her fortune. Grace, however, loves an -artist. Alice escapes from the madhouse .and goes to the home of the McMooneys, where she Is protected by Mlqhael, who has re cently been appointed on the police force, and by Daisy, who is loved by a German dude, whose father Awns a brewery. La sette tracks Alice" to-the home of the Mc Mooneys and when- he learns that she I- G. L. WALLIXG, AT F TS 'ri i y v' 1" has been concealed in the studio of the artist, his rival, he disguises himself as the artist and goes to the studio and as sassinates Alice. The artist is suspected and has to flee from the police, Lazette nfcJfT obtains a note which was forged by the father of Grace and under threats of exposing the father, he? forces Grace to marry him. Grace escapes from Lazette, onlv to bo recaptured by the gang of Lazette. In the meantime the artist has gone to the river and jumped off the bridge. He does not drown, however, as it is necessary for him to keep alive to marry the .heroine In the last act. Grace. Is rescued from the gang by the police man, the German and the soubrette and the criminals are punished as tney de serve. "Kidnaped" is a melodrama with comedy and heart lnterst and will be a pleasant' bill for the Star patrons. "MB. BARNES OF. NEW YORK" Extraordinary" Attraction at the liyrlc, Commencing Monday. The big show of the coming week will be "Mr. Barnes of New York." the won derfully successful dramatization of Archibald Claverlng Gunter's great novel of the same name. Fey books and plays of the time have attracted so much gen eral attention as this wonderful story of international, life. It reflects condi tions in Paris, at Monte Carlo and in the semi-barbarous Island of Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon. Opening with a duel In the little seacoast town of Ajacclo, the scenes shift to Paris, Monte Carlo,' Nice and back again to the little island where the. denouement occurs. The fascinating romance of a beautiful Corsican girl of ooble family who swears a vendetta upon the man who. has killed her brother In a duel and then later with out knowing ha is the man, falls In love with him and marries him, only to make the terrible discovery on her wedding night, is one of the most thrilling that can.be imagined. Through It all Mr. Barnes; the witty, self-confident Ameri can man of' leisure, moves with the ut most composure, . always doing the right .thing ' .at the right time, and always- on the spot at the emergency. -He meets- and falls in love with a beautiful English girl and in the end marries her. Then there is the' amusing cattle king, from Kansas, the queen, of the Paris underworld, the delightful "smart kid" and the villain, Connt Musso Dan el la. who is responsible for most of the trouble.. . . Forrest Seabury will appear as Mr. Barnes, Verna Felton as the .beautiful and hlgh-splr-lted Marina, Rupert Drumm as the . wicked Count Danella, Marie Thompson as Miss Anstruther, the Eng lish girl and . the other members of the company. In parts suited to their ca pacities. It Is beyond question the best drama the Allen company has yet pre sented, and the splendid scenic equip ment with wldch the management has provided it, there Is no.- question about its success. It will create a sensation which will pack the theater all week.' The . opening performance will be Mon day night. Seats are now on sale and going fast. Do. not delay, but. get them now. "The Land of the Midnight Sun." There will be only two more performan ces of the big Lyric success, "The Land (Concluded on Pace f.) THE LTRIC. THEATER.
