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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1908)
i I t. . ' f l . IJJBi. ' h:rT&& i A THAT a considerable portion of the population of this town which has been crying for something equally as good as the more populous cities of the country are privileged to see in the way of comic opera, van" compensated for waiting so long. When De Wolf Hopper and Marguerite Plark and "Hap pyland" came to the Heilig the most ex acting were disarmed after the first ten niiriutes of the entertainment. When it was over there was a mutual agreement as to its superlative merits, and the ef fective word-of-mouth advertising which followed the first performance served to crowd the theater at each of the repeti tions. "Happy'iand" was one of those rare contributions to the sum total of hu man ' happiness that Is discussed for months whenever one or two theater goers get together to take an Inventory. The second offering at the Heilig. though of an entirely different character, was hardly less pleasureable. Grace George came ' and conquered so easily that aside from the taking of Porto Rico . during , the late unpleasantness, I can think of no paral lel. Everybody who saw her in "Divor eons' immediately capitulated. Both these instances In one week demonstrated beyond a peradventure that the public here wants nothing worse than the besl, and is right glad to pay for it. If the Baker management had some system by which just the right kind of plays could bo secured, there would seem to be little occasion for the services of either a leading man or. woman. Week before last in "David Harum" William Gleason, In the stellar ro, drew delight ed audiences which taxed the theater's capacity at each performanee and last week, when given his turn. Howard Rus sell did -some very effective starring on liia own account in "Cnarley's Aunt," which also made the receipts of the box off'ce look like a sub-treasury. Both these plays made the patrons glad. They were acted very meritoriously and the featuring of Mr. Gleason and Mr. Russell wis entirely justified. Now.- if pieces giving Robert Homans. Marlbel Seymour. Donald Bowles and others in the cast equal opportunities to play the star in succession, an appreciative clientele would rise up and- call George Baker blessed. Resides, it would make money for the hout". Ireland eamo into her own at the Marquani where Bernard Dtily, a recent arrival in. the firmament,' played "The Kerry Gow" durinc the entire week. I,e. is a young actor of considerable talent; and the- Emerald Isle got none the worst of the argument because lie was her chamijon. The cheaper theaters are growing ambitious, it Appears, for each of tliem seemed to feel the rivalry more kcenly than usual, and was on its tiptoes, metaphorically, to outstrip the other. "As Told-In the Hills," which occupied the Empire stage, was -several points above the average quotation for Stair & Havlin preferred. The French com pany, at the Star, 'apparently made up Its mind to go the whole course, and while about melodrama to put all the ingredients into It at once. In proffer ing "Chinatown Charlie'' no thrill that ever thrilied the impressionable lover of "blood and " was missing. A brand-new production of a brand-new-play. "The Lawyer and the Lady," by Franklin Fyles. which Included a rain storm, a rural quartet and- a rather more elaborate settinjr throughout, maUe the Lyric attractive, while the vaudeville houses, the Grand and Pan tsges. both bad strong bills. For this week wc will have "In the Bishop's Carrlsjce," with Izetta Jewel In Jessie Huxley's part, st the linker; "Parsifal'' on Its second visit to Port land at the Marquani: "Doru Thome" at the Empire, and "The King of tho . , , . . - . 111; ' . ; . lil II mjr-r tLf-r.-ri f TU. ITfJ i:V: M':v. 1 I jV :M KVviPftUM W "f - " B y ' If i ..J". ,l Vi; I I . J ' Wl ram I "SASCY HANKS'' b.-:f. -'?? -rv, irfSWr v- vi If Bit rv, e aW.? 41.- ' sv . i: HM- w. - k . .r.-m..pm. iu,v. .j-.a I h Xw? r ill T,gt. l ns X., - J Sfc ' Wa' WT SSS TAJEZ - X f ; . II Cowboys" at the Star. These are all scheduled for opening this afternoon. Tomorrow night "The Nancy Hanks" will go on at the -Lyric for the week, lust week's bill being repeated this af ternoon and tonight. The vaudevilles will change tomorrow afternoon. An other George M. Cohan bill. "Forty rive Minutes From Broadway,'' is prom ised for tile Heilig' Tuesday and Wednesday nights, that theater being dark tonight and Monday. The latter half of t.ie week will be devoted to "Buster Brown." while the great Pader ewski comes for a single recital on the night of February 24. Underlined attractions at the Jlar quam arc: Clay Clement in "The New Dominion," "The Bells" and "London Assurance" for the week of February 2:1. itnc Paul Gilmore in his- new plas "The Wheel of Love," for the week Of March t. A. A. G. "r.AnSIFALi" AT THE MARQUAM Wagnerian Drama ' Will Be Per formed,. Beginning Today. A play as broad in its interests as humanity Itself is "Parsifal." Elaborate and spectacular in production, weird in its portrayal of the elemental passions, absorbing as a dream of the highest good, yet keen and. intense in Its appeal to the Individual; such Is the- description of the Wagner wonder play, which Port land playgoers are again to see in its new English drama dress at the Marquam Grand during Its engagement of one week commencing with a matinee this afternoon at 2:15 o'clock. It is generally conceded to be a con dition of dramatic art that human in terests must be paramount, and this con dition has been complied -with in "Parsi fal." Abstract Ideas and poetic fancies are made real in the characters and ex periences of living persons. The faith that good shall be the final goal of ill, forms the legend wunught out to certitude in the action of the play. The futility of TIIE SUNDAY low cunning, craft, duplicity and all the unlovely brood of the nether world, when opposed by the nobler intelligence which comprehends but disregards them all, is demonstrated1 in this thrilling drama which centers around the personality of the son of many generations of soldier sires, whom his mother would have made a shepherd, but of whom destiny made a king. There is sound philosophy and true art in the final description of the per sonality of "Parsifal." As a spectacle "Parsifal" is a tremen dous, enterprise: the scenery Is on a lavish scale and the illumination and electric effects form a striking feature of the production. The hour of commencement will differ from that of the former custom, the long dinner intermission having been elimi nated, now permits of giving the play at one sitting. .The curtain for the eve ning performance will rise promptly at 7:45 and 2:15 at matinees. Auditors should be in their seats when the performance begins, as none will be seated during the action of the play. "IX THE BISHOP'S CAKHIAGE." Izetta Jewel and the Baker Stock Company In Great Modern Play. The first Portland stock production of "In the Bishop's Carriage" will be given at the ' Baker this week, commencing with today's matinee, and the event is of double importance, Inasmuch as it In troduces' to patrons of the Baker and Portland theater-goers generally Miss Izetta Jewel, as leading woman, in the role of Nance Olden, a part which she Is peculiarly well adapted to play. , The piece has been seen here before at high prices and with Miss Jessie Bnslcj- in the fascinating role of the girl thief, and as the story Is well known, but a brief summary will be given. William latinicr. a young Philadelphia attorney, becomes interested in a girl thief. Nance Olden, and tries to arouse in ber ambition for a better life. He OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, refuses to prosecute her for tlieft and succeeds in winning her gratitude. When Tom Dorgan, her pal, breaks into Lati mer's house to rob him. the police are tailed and Tom is arrested. Latimer se cures a position for her on the stage, through the aid of Frederick Obermul ler, a theater manager. She succeeds as a vaudeville actress and gives up her old life. Latimer asks her to marry' him. She refuses on account of her supposed duty toward Dorgan, now in prison. Dorgan escapes from jail and comes back to Nance, who realizes on his re turn how far she has grown away from him. Dorgan insists on her accompany ing him out of the country and when sne refuses, he attempts to strangle her. Lati mer arrives in time to prevent a tragedy and the police, summoned by -nance's friend, Mag Monahan, arrest the es caped convict and, Nance as well, upon Dorgan's statement that she is his "pal." At the police station Dorgan withdraws the statement when he learns that Lati mer wishes to marry her, and there is a happy ending. ... The regular matinee will be given Sat urday and the cast for the production will be as follows: William T.atlmer .. Edward Ramsey ... Mr. Obermuller Tom Dorgan ....... Bishop- Van Wagenon Rpnnptfir ....Robert Homans William hi. ' Gleason James Gleason Donald Bowles ..Charles Richmond Howard Russell Policeman -Sydney Sherwood Servant Cltfo Blnard Bicycle Policeman Walter -Renfort Moriarity ....Charles Lewis Hooligan Karl D. Dwlre Desk Sersoant R. E. Bradbury Nance Olden. "Nan the Nipper" Miss Izetta Jewel Mrs, Btiward RartH'y .Mfna I'roliUH llra.-4on Allfis Nellie Ramfey ...... M isa louis Kent Mr, t.attmer MIsp Hilda llraham Mna M'lnalian Miss Marlbel Seymour Mre. Wallace Mlfw O'evia Ireland SYNOPSIS OF Si-'EXKS. Act 1 Garden at Mr. Ramsey's, Fhila olphia. October. Act Z Mr. Latimer's .library. November. FEBRUARY IS. 1908. Att :i Miss olden's apartments. May. Act 4 Police station. Same night. -Earl D. Dwire. stage manager. PUXXV B17STEK BKOBX" Famous Mnxical Cartoon Comedy at HelUg Next Thursday. Master Reed and all score coming in "Buster Brown." Buster and his dog pal Tige to be presented in a manner that will delight the cocktes of every small boy s heart. "Buster Brown." Which comes to the Heilig Theater. Fourteenth and Wash ington streets, next Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights. February 20, 21 and 22. with a popular price matinee. Saturday, is said to be even funnier than OutjaiH,'s famous cartoons. Cartoon plays as a rule are unholy horrors, but this drama tization of Outcault's creation -is one of those exceptions which prove the rule. It is not the dramatization itself which scores particularly, but the characteriza tion of Buster and his dog. Master ReedJ who will be seen as "Buster," is said to be 'an elfin wonder. No larger than a fairly well developed child of 3. 'tis said he acts with a child's simplicity and yet with a technical knowledge which stamps him from the outset as a consummate little artist One of the most attractive scenes ' is said to be where Buster Jabbers French like a native. Master Reed's accent is said to be a delight. Edwin Lamar, 'tis said, makes -Tige a four-legged master- piece Instead of sending all facial expres- eion to the diminutive bow-wows, as his predecessors, in this most trying part. have done. Most actors have suff c ent difficulty . in making their own physical featuren seem almost human on the stage, but when It comes to hiding one's face behind a canine mask and siill making it speak lousier than words, there's an ar tist iu the offing somewhere. In this case, Mr. Lamar is the man behind the 'og. To thousands and thousands of young sters Buster and his canine pai are quite as real and far more important than any of the heroes of Mother Goose or their Sunday school lessons, and to have them represented on the stage In any but the realistic form, would have been as futile as it would have proved fatal. But boy and dog, they have met the public and the public is theirs for a long time to. come. The Buster Brown Company has an en tire new scenic dress this season and gor geous new costumes as well. The musi cal numbers are said to be of the whis tling kind and the cast the best yet seen in this most enjoyable evening's enter tainment. Among" the more prominent members of this large cast may be men tioned John and George Gorman, the famous minstrel men fry-merly the stars with the great Gorman Minstrels. Seats go on sale next Tuesday. Februaiy 18, for the engagement at the theater box office. "JDOKA TIIOKXE" AT EMPIRE Berllia M. Clay's Famous Ixvc Play to Ojien Today for the Week. "Dora Thowie," a beautiful dramati zation of Bertha M. ClaV's well-known novel, will begjji a week's engagement at the Empire with today's matinee, and the announcement has already caused an unsually heavy demand for scat. No play of recent , years has attracte'd so much attention and is being- so strongly patronized by the public everywhere as this, and critics are unanimous In their praise of the production and its supporting cast. One cannot neglect sec'ing it for It teaches a strong moral lesson, and will be enjoyed by old and young alike, and by people of all -walks of life. , The manner In which McMillen and Farley have produced "Dora Thorne". calls for only the heartiest admiration. They have supplied settings which are In' the best of taste, two of them sug gestive of the richness, coupled with what to our modern eyes, seems lavish, belonging to the Knglish palaces of the 15th century,' and yet free from all hint of vulgar theatrical display. The cos tumes are similarly elegant and appro- : Prlate and the movement and grouping of ; tlin Persons taking part in - the action I proper, have been so carefully considered " naturalness and dramatic enective ness have never been sacrificed. Yet a pictorial quality which seems to .heloug to the old paintings of the English school has been obtained. As for the scenes in which the folk' -have part. . these .are among the best offered here in a long svmz or 7H 'a?w&&ys JT?EZ- time. The exclamations, the evincing of keen interest in what is taking place, all has been planned and carried out with greater skill and actuality than any thing similar that has been seen in any production. The view of Earl Manor lighted and rejoicing is also of great beauty- "Dora Thorne" has always been the favorite of all matinee plays, and there will be matinees on Wednesday and Saturday. ( AT THE LVRIO Allen Stoek Company orfers Famous Farce Comedy Monday. Since tho Lyric returned to the old Keating & Flood banner the policy Is not only to maintain the high standard of excellence which has made it so popu lar, in the past, but to branch out into more pretentious offerings. Both Manager Flood and Director Allen are working steadily with a view of giving the pcop! the very best values that skill and money can provide. Consequently it is an nounced that for the week commencing. Monday ilght "The Nancy Hanks." which is rated as among the most classy bills of its kind, will be produced In tho, most elaborate manner by the Allen company. The name of the play is unique aud catchy and has set many who are not familiar with it to guessing. AH have heard of Nancy Hanks, the famous race horse, but few know that the Nancy Hanks Is a mine which has a strong in fluence on the lives and affairs of a group of stage people. The two leading characters in the plot are a New York feminine star in the height of her popu larity and a struggling young leading man who has a hard time to get along in his profession. These parts are played respectively by Verna Felton and Rupert Drumm and the rehearsals disclose that they are eminently fitted for the roles. Forrest Beabury will be in the spot-light most of the time In one of those char acter parts In which he has few equals. He will appear as an eccentric French man and his work is to keep the audience In a storm of laughter all the time he is on the stage. It is a cinch that he will succeed in doing this. Mrs. Clara Allen. Marie Thompson. Irving Kennedy and the others, will be right in the forefront also and nobody will be slighted. There will be beautiful scenery and a line pro duction throughout. "The Nancy Hanks" is a good show to see .Monday night and all week. . "The Lawyer and the Lady." This is the bust call for that great rural drama. "The lawyer and the Iady." in which the Allen company has been scor ing heavily during the past week. Kvery body who- has" set n it is greatly pleaded and the wise' ones Will go to the matinee, today or the last performance tonight. The rainstorm effect and the singing of the Empire quartet are alone worth tho price of admission. Remember this fine show today. "KI.XG OF. THE CQWBOTS" Engagement' Is Opened at the Slur Theater This Afternoon. "King of the Cowboys" is the play which .opens Its engagement at , tho Star Theater this afternoon and will continue " all weelc. There will bo matinees Tuesday, Thursday and Sat urday. This new play, will be an event, for it is unknown t. Portland theater-goers, and is a novelty. The drama was written some (tine ago by one of the best-known melodramatic authors and received Its premier in the East a few months 'since. The play niet with in stant favor and enjoyed a metropolitan .
