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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 1908)
r THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTIiAXD, MAKCH 22, 1908. rm an six j'--x- m i 1 1 tfmViMm - aaHMOHiHKMW 1 il. A- - -?! .. r" K V ft K ,- ' . - - 1 -Vx AS AT TUB BIG surprise ot the week came In . the shape of "Drfara City." which was offered at the Marquam. It entered the town on gum shoes, as it were, few of the regular patrons having any advance Information fon.-erning it. After the first act at the Maruiiam last Sunday night, however, there was no un certainty. It was admittedly a success, and all week long it was received by. capacity audiences. It-was a merry little show, with few pretensions, bnt it served Its purpose so well that it will be long remembered as a, pleasant theatrical event. The lleilig was dark several nights, presenting, only "The Black Crook" for two nights at the beginning1 and. "The Toymaker," by the San Francisco opera company, for three performance, at the close of the week. The Baker entertained its customarily largo audiences with "Zlra," in. which Blanche Stoddard, and her associates did creditably. The Empire, presented "Sis 'in New York." the Lyric "The Stowaway," the Star "On Thanksgiving Day," and the vaudeville houses an uncommonly good array of talent. The .various offerings for the coming week are: "Coming Thro' the Rye," at the Hellig, commencing tonight and run ning until Wednesday night, with a Wednesday matinee; Creston Clarke In "The Power That Governs," at the Mar quam, today and all week; "When We WJ-re Twenty-one" this afternoon and all week at the Baker, with George Alison in the leading role; "VV'hut Women Will Do" Bt the Empire, covering the same period; "The Secret Dispatch," with correspond ing time at the Star; "Hazel Kirke" at the Lyric, commencing tomorrow night, and new bill at the Grand and Pantagea tomorrow afternoon. loiter attractions at the Heilig will be James J. Corbett. the former heavyweight champion. In "The Burglar and the Lady," Thursday night and the rest of the week: "The Burgomaster," with Ruth White and Gus Weinburg. to bo followed by Mary Mannering In "Glorious Betsy." l-uter comes Mrs. Patrick Campbell in repertoire, and still farther in the future arc promises of John Drew, Mclntire 4i llcath In "The Ham Tree"; Wilton Lackaye. Willie Collier, Francis Wilson, Robert Mantell arid "Brewster's Millions." Interest In the April musical festival, ot which the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will be tile' feature,- grows, and the Sea son ticket sale is progressing merrily. NaT it P Kern 'I'd I tiOOU ' MIS1CAL FLA TONIGHT Rig Mil ileal Comedy, "Coming Thro the Rye," at Hetllg Theater. Beginning tonight at the Heilig Thea ter. Fourteenth and Washington streets, the big, merry musical-comedy, "Com ing Thro' the, Kye.7 will commence an engagement of four nights wliii a spe cial matinee Wednesday. There is a scene In the tlrst act of the musical play which the author, George V. Hobart, Is said to have written with very great care, half of the dialogue of which has never been heard by any audience, ulthough the words ure aiwas spoken by the actors who appear in it. It is when the "princi pal comedy character. "Nott. the tailor." is Introduced to "Mrs. Kohb.'' a rich widow' ot the "Mrs. Malaprop type, as a Turkish nobleman. "Nott" has come to a temporary studio in Mrs. Kiibb's mansion to collect a bill ivr "punts'" which he had made for the nitlst. lie Is persuaded, upon one pre text attd another, to put on a Fez and a painter's smock, which covers him from neck to feet. Mr. KobU is very anxious to meet the nobility, and her private sec retary and tiie artist, with great cere mony, introduce "Nott'1 - to her as an (.irlental pot utate. Sirs. Kobb plies him with all sorts ot questions concerning his native country, and the distracted, un eomfortable and thoroughly embarrassed tailor. Is forced to give some kind of answers .under threats of violence which are mndc. In pantomime by the artist and the secretary, who have taken up a po sition in tne background. The conver sation Is so ridiculously funny that the audiences are t!irow"ii into spasms of violent laughter, which anally grows so loud and becomes so continuous as to completely drown the vaices of "Mrs. Kopb" and "NolC" The characters are played by Frank Lalor and fcahle Stemb ler, respectively, whose Impersonations are said to be extremely clever. The great success which has been achieved by "Coming Thro- the Rye" ail over the country is largely attributable to the excellence of George Hobarfs "book." It is said to be very much ,.ie best work which this distinguishes humor Isl lias turned out for stage purposes. Supplementing this is a delightful musical si ore be A.. Baldwin Sh-am , which is said to.be exceptionally melodious and to con tain many sn'!E!itl. jinIiii airs of the kind which iilckiy become very popular. An tilrjstially lar'o company of- comed i.ii.s: coexists anil dancers is employed in the presentation . of the famous work, and tli' sc.-nl- and cstunie equipment 1 described tu niauvo and buuutU'uL Seats are now ' selling at theater box office for the entire engagement. rittisTov CLARKE TOPAY Talented Actor at the Marquam in . "The Power That Governs.' Creston Cliarke. ; whose tine perform ance of "Monsieur Beaucaire" was said to be superior to that of an actor enjoying an international .reputation in its finish, poise and polish by many Portland thea tergoers, who called him before the cur tain 21 times during his last appearance at the JVlarquam in Booth TarkLigton'a romance of Monsieur Le Due D'Orleans, masquerading as a French barber, opens a week's engagement at the Marquam -this afternoon in "The Power That Governs." The Denver News of -Monday, March 9, says: "Two capacity audiences fiHled the Tabor yesterday to see Creston Clarke's production, 'The Power That Governs," and those who attended the performances were well repayed for their visit. Clarke's new play was satisfying and no doubt his stay of a week will prove profitable to this convincing actor, whp has brought with him this year a capable -supporting company. " 'The Power That Governs" deals with the inability of a moral backslider to es cape the responsibility of his sins, even though a vast fortune furnishes him' Im munity and protection from many other trials to which the 'human flesh is heir. Andrew Oliver Carmichael, a multi millionaire, is In, the Slerre Madra Moun tains of Mexico . seeking health. There also is Andrew Michael, known as 'The Kid," a youthful ranchman, who in reality is the eldest son of the financier, Andrew and his mother having been deserted by the father and husband yearB before in California. The Kid's projection into the plot to kidnap Carmlchael's niece and hold her for ransome and his subsequent rescue of the girl bring him and his father together, and eventually the mil lionaire acknowledges the youth as his eldest eon. There is a pretty love story in the play. " 'The Power that Govern' Is mounted with an elaborateness that has charac terized few productions seen here in past years." THIS WEEK AT THE BAKER George Alison Opens In "When We Were Twenty-one. ' A week of double importance to pat rons of the Baker will commence thrs afternoon, when George Alison, the most popular leading man who ever played on the Baker stage, will rejoin the company, after four years of ab sence from the West. So much satis faction has been openly expressed to Sir. Baker that he feels that, in ob taining Mr. Alison for Portland, he has met with the heartiest approval from the majority of theatergoers here. The play selected- for Mr. Alison to open in is Henry V. Ksmond's modern classic. "When We Were Twenty-one." In which he will, of course, play Nat Goodwin's famous role of Richard Ca re we. This is an Ideal leading man's part, and is a creation of 'one ot the noblest men ever pictured in a play. This Is one play in a million, almost the very title itself has a charm that plays upon the human heart and. re calls fond memories and brings many a wistful "smile to the eyes. Tne play has been seen here often before, Nat Goodwin himself appearing in It at least three times, and it has been seen twice at the Baker; but the numbers who want to see it seem to increase rather than di minish, and without doubt the Baker will do one of Its biggest weeks-. As is well known, it is the story of Pick Carewe, a bachelor, and his three, friends, who have Joined forces to care for Dick's ward, commonly called "the. Imp." Then there Is Phyllis, whom they fontjly hope the Imp will marry, and what wonder when,, at the end, they find she' has loved Dick all the time.. The story is too well known to take space to r.epeat it here. Sftss Stoddard will play Maxine Elliott's part as Phyllis the kind of a woman every true man in the world wauts to love. Ikonald Bowles will play "t'e Imp," the part in which he made an immense hit last season, and Miss Uouise Kent draws the fascinating role of "The Firfly." "WHAT .WOMEN WILL DO" New Sensational Melodrama Found ed on Oue of rviokeiis' Stories. "What Women Will Do." a sensa tional melodrama, founded upon the principal events and characters of Charles Dickens' famous novel, "David Copperfield," will open a week's en gagement at the Empire Theater this afternoon. Thero will be the usual Wednesday and Saturday matinees, also. David Copperfield. .the hero of the book. Is little more than a super numerary in the play, the real action being placed about Janice Steerforth, a friend of Copperfield. gentleman, a distinct sort of villain: Ham Peggotty. the rough young fisherman In love with Km'ly. the Innocent young woman who forsakes him for the promise of --...- -Sis.. .: .-a. Jg 1 lis Ml i N llil m -yfiS tvi . Y'-"-'V-,- 1 ; wy-' 'f.VvJ vf fiN' tvi ill! W 1.1 .... . k tVIlli Iff MIHfW VWisW W fl , VX Iff - ' V- i .''..l". 8M Kll.' . '. ' 1 91 The l Si&iiiie "' Steerforth. later to be cast aside. punishment of Steerforth. when he is strangled to death by Ham Peggotty during a storm oft the coast of Yar mouth, with a few other scenes. In which the Dickens Story Is deserted, gives the play the true melodramatic flavor. Mlcawber, "waiting for something to turn up," as played by Harry Jackson, is just as helpless as in the story, with a high opinion of his own ability and a proper regard for the Micawber family; Daniel Peggotty. the uncle of Em'ly, is liked for his charity and his heart of gold, and the sneaking Uriah Heep, "ever so humble," who, during the final scene, is foiled in true Slierlock Holmes fashion by Micawber, Is presented with the touch of the original. The scenic effects of the show are good, and the parts well played. "HAZEIi KIRKE" AT THE LYRIC Allen Company Will Present Fa mous Comedy Drama Monday. Few piays that have e.yer been pre sented in America have enjoyed the wide popularity of "Hazel Kirke.': in which Kfiie Eiltier and C. W. Coutdock made their greatest reputations. It is a piece that never grows old and is -now recog nised as a classic after which any dra matist might well model his efforts. It 13 a domestic comedy-drama treating of a plot that is intensely interesting and introducing some of the most delightful characters that have ever appeared on the stage. No one who has seen the drama will ever forget old Dunstan Kirke. the stern, puritanical old miller and his fascinating daughter Hazel, nor can they ignore Pitticus Green or a number of the other personalities who appear during its intensely interesting acts. In choosing tills play for its next offering, the Lyric management has taken into consideration the ability of the Allen company and has fitted the cast so that the principals will And themselves in congenial roles. One of the most delightful Hazel Klrkes that Portland has ever seen will be that of Verna Felton who has studied the part carefully and is prepared to give a very fine performance. William Blake will be sure to- score a great success as Dunstan Klrke and will in fact be the principal figure in the performance. For rest Seabury. everybody's favorite come dian will play Pitticus Green and will sustain his reputation as a finished actor. The other members of the company will be strictly in the running and a genuine dramatic treat may be anticipated. So far ks scenery is concerned, both r SZSSf XWO Manager Flood and Director Allen have spared nothing to make the production a record breaker for excellence. The in troduction of moving pictures between acts has proven bo popular that they will be continued, a number of strictly new Paths Alms having been secured for this week. The opening of "Hazel Kirke" will occur on Monday night. 7"?7 ZJ7f-r TAr ttTLA?E2 KS Close of "The Stowaway." This a'fterfnoon and tonight will see the farewell performances of that sensational scenic comedy-drama success "The Stow away," which has been so popular at the Lyric during the past week. The stage effects have surpassed all previous efforts of the Lyric management and the Allen company is doing itself proud in Its work. Remember these closing performances. "THE SECRET DISPATCH." Drama of the Civil War Opens at the Mar Theater .Tomorrow. "The Secret Dispatch," a drama of the Civil War. will be the attraction at the Star Theater all this week, commenc ing with the matinee . this afternoon. It will be presented by the French Stock Company and this will' be the first time that it has been produced in the NoiUi- west. Matinees will be held Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. David Higgins is the author of "The Secret Dispatch," as well as many other plays which have become popular with the theater-goers of this country.. One of his greatest successes is "Piney, Ridge," which has entertained tile pleasure-lovers of this city. "The Secret Dis patch" is written In Mr. Higgins' well known style and is interesting every mo ment. The story concerns the adven tures of a Northerner during the War of the Rebellion and his carrying of import ant war papers through the lines. Since the days of "Secret Service" there has been no war drama more thrilling than "The Secret Dispatch." The play opens In the North, when the hero is commissioned to bear the dispatch to the commanding ofticer at the iront. In order to deliver the messages where they should go It Is necessary for the officer to pass through the lines of the Southern Army, which exposes him to the risk of capture, which is equivalent to certain death. The dangerousness of this mission and the safe delivery of the documents constitute the story of the drama and with this material the author has woven together a play of unusual strength. This is one of the few Civil War dramas that the French Stock Com pany has presented in Portland. The play calls for an enlarged company and special scenery. It teaches a pathetic lesson and combines a love sory of sweet tenderness, and some rattling comedy sit uations, as well as the dramatic and sen sational climaxes. "The Secret Di&iaUi" ie a iiUy which will make a success this week becausa it is of the most popular type of en-, tertalnment. Extra pains will be taken' with the production. JAMES J. CORBETT THIS WEEK Gentleman Jim Will Present Comedy-Drama at Heilig Thursday. . James J. Corbett, supported by a clever company of players, will present the com- -edy-drama, "The Burglar and the Lady." at the Heilig Theater, Fourteenth and Washington streets, next Thursday and ' Friday nights, March 26 and 27. "The Burglar and the Lady" was writ ten by Langdon McCormick, and combines, two great book heroes who have become favorites in separate plays, wherein they have figured as the principals. Ned. Dan vers, the burglar, and Sherlock Holmes, the detective. The part assigned to Mr. Corbett is that of Ned Danvers. the cracksman, burglar and erstwhile- gentle man, who robs the rich and leaves a trail of deeds of charity along his path as a thief. The scene of the play opens In the parlor of a wealthy banker: a daughter, a niece, members of the imme diate family, a minister friend and the L'nslish detective. Sherlock Holmes, are about to depart for the-annual charity ball, but at the last moment the daugh ter of the house decides - to remain at home, and her failure to attend serves as; the binge for the turning of the entire, , i ACvavluUed. oa fane 3.). ' t
