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
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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 .