The Sunday Oregonian., May 10, 1908, SECTION FOUR, Page 2, Image 38

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j .' ' , . THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND. MAY 10, 1908, ' . '
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WILTON LACKAYE, an eminent
actor, a gentleman of fine literary
attainments and one of the recog
nized leaders of his profession In Amer
ica appeared for four performances at the
Helllg In a melodrama called "The Bond
man" over which the angels must shed
tears. It Is far and away the worst play
In which a big star has ever appeared
' here.
', Tbe spectacle of such an artist as Mr.
; Lackaye prostituting .his talents to such
purposes Is nothing short of distressing.
, People came to see Wilton Lackaye and
remained. If they did remain, to grieve
; over the evil days upon which the stage
.has fallen.
; The coming of Wilton Lackaye is
'. always an event. It la to be hoped that
1 the next time he comes he will bring
: something with him worth considering.
An exceptionally fine offering is to be
credited to the Baker interests In "The
Climbers" which ran through the week
most successfully. In point of produc
tion and Interpretation It represented the
acme of stock excellence In Portland.
' The Lyrics gave very creditable perform
' ances of a new piece "Under the Mag
:nolia" and pleased its numerous patrons.
Those fond of the type of musical show
presented by the Armstrong ComDany at
the Star patronised that theater liberally.
The Grand and Pantages are from week
to week Improving the quality of their
bills and last week marked a conslder
. able advance.
Tonight at the Helllg "Mrs. Temple's
" Telegram" should command considerable
attention particularily because of the fact
ijthat William Bernard, -a great local
. . favorite for a number of years connected
; I with our stock companies as an actor and
director, has the leading role. Mr.
' Bernard is a fine actor and should find
in "Mrs. .Temple's Telegram" a vehlrle
In which he may do himself and the
public full credit.
On Monday night Bessie Abbott the
celebrated Metropolitan Opera Company
soprano will give a song recital at the
Hellig. Thursday night comes that old
favorite "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage
' Patch," one of the best of present-day
comedies. The following Sunday Mary
Shaw will present "Mrs. Warren's Pro
fession" comment unnecessary. Later we
will have Francis Wilson in his new piece
"When Knights Were Bold."
"The Heir to the Hoorah" will afford
the Baker Company many fine oppor-
" tunlties this afternoon and all week. The
Star will present "The Merry Widow's
Return."
The local vaudeville bills will change
tomorrow afternoon. As is customary the
Lyric -Will continue its present?-bill this
afternoon and tonight changing to "The
Lady From Larlhie,". tomorrow night.
From present indications Portland is to
be favored with-more first-class theatrical
attractions the coming season than evep
before. A partial list of the Klaw &
Erlanger, bookings has been received and
embraces a number of plays and operatic
attractions, never seen here, together with
some that "made good" on previous visits.
The Helllg is to have most of the high
class dramatic attractions and some of
the better operatic companies, while at
the Baker will appear the more popularly-priced
companies and comedies. For
the Helllg the list gives'
. Lew Fields in "The Girl Behind the
Counter."
Savage Opera Company.
Boston Grand Opera Company.
"The Merry Widow." .
"A Knight for a Day."
"The Bed Mill."
. "The Time, the Place and the Girl."
"The Prince of Fllscn."
r!9. Alaskan." ...
"Paid, in Full." '
"The- Witching Hour."
. "The Great Divide."
'Lillian Russell.
"The Chorus Lady."
Julia Marlowe.
W. H. Crane in "Father and the Boys."
"The Clansman."
"Classmates."
Fifty Miles from Boston."
.. "The Squawman."
' "The Man of the Hour," -..
The Jeffersnns. - - . . .'
Blanche Walsh.
Florence Roberts.
The Baker bookings Include:
"Superba."
"In Gay New Tork."
Florence Gear in "Marrying Mary."
"The Land of Nod."
"The Gingerbread Man."
"Murray and Mack."
"Little Johnny Jones."
"Lola From Berlin."
Hose Melville in "Sis Hopkins."
Paul Gllmore in "The Boys of Com
pany B."
"The Isle of Spice."
"The American Girl."
"The District Leader."
Xat Mills in musical comedy.
"Brown of Harvard."
"The Cat and the Fiddla."
"The Black Crook."
George Ade's comedy, "Just Out of Col
lege." v .
"Dream City."
"The Royal Chef."
"Coming Thro' the- Rye."
"Forty-five Minutes Kroni Broadway."
"The Honeymooners."
"Hans and Nix." i . .
"Checkers." t '
James J. Corbett.
A. A. G.
"MKH. TEMPLE'S TELEGRAM"
Brilliant Comedy Attraction at the
Helllg Theater Tonight,
t
"Mrs. Temple's Telegram" proved to
be the dramatic surprise of last season
In New York and London and will be
presented at the Helllg Theater, Four
teenth and Washington streets, tonight
at 8:15 o'clock. The engagement is for
one night.
The farce is mounted In. the .most
lavish manner and employs a perfect
company in its interpretation. William
Bernard and Margaret Snow are a com
bination of farceurs difficult to equal.
They play with most perfect skill and
the play runs smoothly and delightfully.
One begins laughing with the first word
spoken and does not stop until the final
curtain falls. New complications arise
every moment and the interest is sus
tained until the end of the play, which
comes suddenly and without the usual
warning. "Mrs. Temple's Telegram" is
modestly announced as a farce, and so
it is, technically speaking, - but so skill
fully played as to give to those who
see it the delight and satisfaction which
attend a finished performance of com
edv. It Is a farce played as a comedy,
and thus treated. Its clever situations
and entanglements, which otherwise
might seem strained and theatrical, be
come the "real thing."
"Mrs. Temple's Telegram" was orig
Inally produced by Walter N. Lawrence
at the Madison Square Theater, New
York, and by special arrangement
Messrs. Stockwell & McGregor have se
cured the rights to the play and in pre
senting It to Portland theatergoers feel
confident that It will duplicate the Fast
ern success. A cast of clever comedians,
headed by William Bernard, formerly of
the Baker Stock Company, have been
engaged and the scenic environments are
of unusual merit. Seats are now on sale
at the boxofflce of the Helllg Theater,
'THE HEIR TO THE HOORAH'
Paul Armstrong's Popular Western
Comedy at Baker This Week.
The opening performance of Paul Arm
strong's well-known Western, comedy.
"The Heir to the Hoorah" will take place
at the Baker this afternoon, and all week
the stock company will present this fa
vorite piece to the delight of its many pat
rons. This is the first time it will have
been seen here at popular prices and as
Its fame has spread all over the land
during the three seasons It. has been pro
duced by road companies, there is no
doubt of a large army of popular price
theater-goers eager to welcome it. The
Baker Company la extra well suited to
present it, for It Is largely a man's play,
full of rich comedy, such as the men of
the popular organization are Justly famous
for.
'The Heir to the Hoorah" Is the story
of Joe Lacey, the young and handsome
Westerner, who owns a third interest In
the great "Hoorah" gold mine. In the
beginning of the play, Joe has just mar
ried a society belle of Newport, her
mother having arranged the match for
financial' reasons. The contrast between
this delicate conventional woman and the
big-hearted, but somewhat rough man of
the West, the desperate efforts of himself
and his close friends to meet the re
quirements of fashion, are part comedy
and part pathos, for Joe loves his wife
with all his heart and soul, and when the
awakening comes, when he learns that it
Is only for his money she has married
him, the blow is a terrible one. All is
made right in the end, however, by the
appearance of the heir and the develop
ment of the mother's broader and belter
nature, caused by the mother Instinct,
and the fact that she has always loved
her husband deep within her heart, but
was completely under the influence of a
scheming mother. The little Baby
Gleason will make its : first appearance,
playing the title role in other words,
the heir.
CABT OF CHARACTERS.
Jos Lacey. owner of the Hoorah Mine..
George Alison
Dave Lacey, Joe's brother and partner
James Qleason
Bud Young. Joe's friend and partner....
Howara Hussell
U. Van Ressalaer Kelly, foreman of the
Hoorah Donald Bowles
Livingston Wlnthrop, an Eastern capital
ist Robert Humans
Gus Ferris, owner of the Dixie Ranch....
n.an u uwire
Bill Ferguson William Wolbert
Lon Perry William Gleason
Dr. Whipple, a physician Charles Lewis
Morris, an Imported butler. Ronald Bradbury
Hush, a Japanese valet, by himself
Mrs. H. J. L. Kent, a mother-in-law
Mina Crollus Gleason
Mrs. Joe Lacey. .her daughter. . Itetta Jewel
Mrs. Kate Brandon, owner of the Katydid
mine Miss Louise Kent
Madge Casey, maiden aunt of Joe and
Dave Lacey Miss Hilda Graham
Jane, a maid Miss Luclle Webster
MIsb Johnson, a trained nurse
Miss Luclle Webster
'MERRY AVIDOW'S RETURN
Sprightly Musical Comedy at the
Star Theater Today.
No one has escaped hearing of the
"merry widow" hat, and many have been
unable to escape the hat ItBelf, which is
the most wonderful creation of headgear
in the history of lids. The largest "mer
ry widow" hat In the world has been
built especially for the Armstrong com
pany, and will be Introduced In the new
musical comedy at the Star Theater this
week. The title of the new offering at
the Star is "The Merry Widow's Return."
It will have to be seen to be appreciated
and every woman In Portland will want
to see the hat. which is a microscopic
lid, with a range of six feet from tip to
top. There will not be much spare room
on the stage of the Star when this hat is
brought into action.
The object of the Armstrong company
is to please, and to this end there are
three musical comedy performances every
day at the Star. The first is a matinee
and the other two performances are
given at 7:80 and 9:15 respectively. The
past two weeks have shown that It Is
possible to give good musical comedy at
the lowest possible - prices, and the
amusement-seeking public has made the
discovery. The result is that the Star
is the mecca for those who like this sort
of entertainment, which means most
people.
In addition to several comedians, a
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.V - tVAfl
prima donna, soubrette, and a chorus
which can sing and dance and cut up, the
entertainments are lengthened by the
provision of extra vaudeville specialties.
On the new programme theie will be
three of these supplemental vaudeville
acts.
AU the songs In "The Merry Widow's
Return" will be new to Portland. They
are of the catchy kind, and will set the
boys whistling. As to the plot, there will
not be more story in the play than will
be necessary to serve as a peg for a lot
of amusing nonsense and funny business.
The Star Is now the only plnce where
musical comedies can be seen regularly
In Portland, and If you have not yet
attended one of the three dally perform
ances of the Armstrong company, there
Is an agreeable surprise In store for you.
Considering the price, the people are see
ing a corking big show of fun. A trip
to see "The Merry Widow's Return" will
convince any amusement lover that the
Star is the place to go for fun.
"MRS. WIGGS" COMIXG.
Lleblcr & Co. Will Present Famous
Comedy at Hellig Thursday.
Laughter dominates tears In ' "Mrs.
Wlggs of the Cabbage Patch," which
comes to the Heilig Theater, Fourteenth
and Washington streets, next Thursday,
Friday and Saturday, May 14, 15 and 16,
on its way to Australia for a 30 weeks'
tour, but there is much genuine emotion
In the play. Two touching scenes un
usually well acted give the serious contrast
to what might otherwise be called the
"short and comic annal of the poor."
There must be something very special in
a play of this type, which unfailingly en
tertained the most blase audiences for
five seasons In the greatest cities of
America and has a record run of S00 per
formances In London, England.
"Mrs. Wtegs" did that, and It is the
kindly humor and breezy philosophy of
the woman who, with a whole family on
her back, so to speak, finds life not only
worth living, but absolutely enjoyable.
at rf-fjE:
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Mrs. Wlggs is a woman who gives you a
belief in human nature, after all. The
books upon which the play le dramatized
have been so widely read that all the
quaint sayings and sunny philosophy have
become public property. The incarnation
of the character something that rarely
happens In dramatized stories by no
means weakens the points, but gives them
fresh new strength and zest, and the lines
become more meaningful when spoken In
the stage picture. The play le adroitly
staged. The devices which poverty com
pels in the manner of keeping house and
taking care of a large family of chil-
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MARGARET SJiOW.
Clever actress, recently here with "The College Widow," will appear
In the brilliant comedy, "Mr. Templer's Telegram," at Helllg Theater
tonight, with our own William Bernard in the cast.
dren strike the feminine side of the the
atergoing public on the funny bone at the
beginning, and even the most saturnine
of bachelors Is compelled to laugh. The
character of Mrs. Wiggs being natural,
one never in any particular being over
drawn, she commends herself at once to
the favor and liking of the house, but the
fun really begins when Mis' Hazy makes
her entrance.
Helen Lowell displays the genius of
comic sadness in Mis' Hazy's appearance
and impersonation. Maybe it Is just a
little bit of a caricature, but It Is kept
well within the lines and sustained with
such perfect seriousness that It becomes
positively convincing and Incessantly
laughable. She reads her lines with a
voice so woebegone and acts the accom
panying business with a rnethod so in
keeping that Mis' Hazy will never be for
gotten by any one who sees the perform
ance. John Webber Is Mr. Stubblns,
which he makes a rich comedy character.
He- Is capital in his drunken scene, and
the wooing of his dollar wife e hallarlous
ly laughable. Helene Raymond and Jen
nie Reiffarth give capital pictures of the
characters of Mrs. Schulti and Mrs. Klch
orn, and there Is a delightful variety of
neighbors, children and domestic animals
who add to the highly developed spirit
of comedy. Miss Lottie Alter, a particu
larly comely young woman, has been se
lected for the delectable and sympathetic
role of Lovey Mary, which goes straight
to every woman's heart. Master Francis
Fostes Holmes is the little Tommy of the
production. Billy Wlggs and Chris Hazy,
with his wooden ' leg, are real boys.
Blanche Chapman gives more than
a bit of character work as Mrs.
Wlggs, the practical side Of the woman
makes her philosophy convincing.
really the result of experience. Her
cheerfulness seems genuine, and nothing
in the role appears assumed. A special
matinee will be given Saturday.
"Under the Magnolia."
The closing performance of "Under the
Magnolia." that beautiful Southern
drama which the Allen Company has been
presenting this week, will occur this
afternoon and tonight.
'THE LADY FROM LARAMIE."
Allen Company Will Present West
ern Drama Monday.
Those who are devoted to vigorous
American drama, ably acted by the best
popular-priced stock company on the Pa
cific Coast, will be more than delighted
with "The Lady From Laramie," which
j will be ofered by the Allen Stock Com
, pany for the week commencing Monday
' night. The play affords every member
of the cast all the advantages which they
could desire for the display of their tal
ents. The play deals with the experiences of
a rich old Wyoming cattle king and his
family in London, where they aspire to
break Into English society. The charac
ter of greatest Interest Is that of the
cattle king's daughter. "The Lady From
Laramie." played by Verna Felton. For
rest Soabury will shine in the role of
the old cattleman, and William Blake
will score a hit as a comedy character
Englishman. The rest of the cast will
company will present a. character singing
plnylet, entitled "Happy's Millions."
They feature a fat midget as a pink
Cupid and the pink Cubid will be there
with bells and other things at the finale
of the act.
The Boston Comedy Four dancers and
comedians; Zimmer, a clever comedy
Juggler, and the Beardsley Sisters In a
singing, dancing and talking act, will
furnish fun and amusement of a high
class. Gene Wilson will be heard in a
new Illustrated song and the latest mov
ing picture novelty will be provided by
the blograph.
The bill for the week just closing,
including Jacqueline and her two kil
ties, the quaint Scottish dancer: the
great Klnsners, European equilibrists:
May Evans, whistling soubrette; Big Jeff.
the boxing kangaroo; J. Francis Dooley
and Corine Bales, singers, dancers and
be adequate and the settings will arouse
wide comment. Do not miss the opening
performance on Monday night. Moving
pictures between acts as usual.
COMING
Charles Frohnian Presents Famous)
Comedian at the Helllg.
Charles Frohman. with his many and
varied attractions, has no star with whom
he is associated who Is a greater favorite
with theater-goers than la Francis WIN
son, the popular comedian, wno a lew
years ago gave up comic opera, and cam
under the Frohman banners In tho more
legitimate field of straight comedy. It Is
considerably more than a decade since
Francis Wilson has appeared profession
ally in this porton of the country, but
theater-goers who remember his clever
antics in "Ermlnie," "The Lion Tamer,"
'The Merry Monarch" and the many
other big musical productions with which
he has been associated have much to look
forward to in his coming visit, -when he
will present Charles Marlowe's comedy.
When Knights Were Bold, whlc:i is
everywhere described as "one lon? luut,l "
It Is the general opinion that Mr. Wil
son has not had a part so well suited to
him since his. famous Impersonation of
Cadeaux In "Krmlnie," which is one of
the classics of the stage In this' country.
Mr. Wilson is the central figure in the
new comedy, and lias a part which offers
him the greatest possible opportunities,
and of them he takes the utmost advan
tage. Charles Frohman has surrounded
the popular comedian with an exception
ally strong and well-balanced company,
and will present star and play at the Hei
lig Theater, Fourteenth and Washington
streets, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
nights. May 18, 19 and 20, with a special
matinee Wednesday.
SERVICE" COMIXG
Raker Stock Company to Appear In
William Gillette's Drama.
Following "The Heir to the Hoorah,"
the Baker company will continue to hold
up Its line of big offerings by presenting
Gillette's noted play dealing with the
Government Secret Service during the
War of the Rebellion, entitled "Secret
Service." Gillette, who, bji every thea
tergoer knows, is one of the for'emosc
actors In America, played several sea
sons in his play himself and scored im
mense success all over the country. It
has since been played with equal suc
cess In the principal cities of Europe,
and, like his other creation, "Sherlock
Holmes," has a record of making long
runs everywhere. Special plans will be
taken to make the Baker Company's
production- just a little better than any
thing before offered this season, and the
play offers unlimited opportunities for
scenic and dramatic display. It has not
been seen In Portland for several sea
sons. Mary Shaw at Helllg.
The brilliant emotional actress, Mary
Shaw, will be the attraction at the Hellig
Theater next Sunday evening. May 17.
PAXTAGES SIGXS NEW ACTS
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Attractive Vaudeville Programme at
tho Marquam This Week.
When you give the theater-goinR pub
lic that which it likes, that which pleases
It, it will demonstrate Its appreciation
by its continued and increasing patron
age. Manuger Johnson, of Pantages,
now housed In the commodious and com
fortable Marquam Grand Theater, has
spared no pains or energy In his effort
to secure the very best In the vaudeville
line for his popular playhouse, and that
he has succeeded has been demonstrated
by the fact that the big theater has
been parked at almost every perform
ance. The bills provided for the first
two weeks that the attractions have
been housed at the new place have been
of special merit, and the programme for
next week is Just as good if not a little
better still.
The bill for the week of Monday,May
10, scintillates with brilliant features,
and it will undoubtedly prove to be one
of the strongest drawing-cards the house
has had. There will be two feature acts
either one of which Is worth the price
of admission.
One of the two feature acts for the
coming week will be that of Valvlno
Brothers, celebrated European acrobats.
Valvlno "Brothers are considered among
the best In the business, and they will
present the latest thrilling feats of
human strength and cleverness.
Owing to an accident to one of the
champion hounds, the scheduled appear
ance of Mile. Camllle and her troupe of
trained dogs and leaping greyhounds
had to be postponed until later..
Ray and Brocee, very clever comedy
sketch artists and comedians, will fur
nish the second feature act on the bill.
They Just bubble over with fun; they
can't help It. Morrow Schellbcrg and
comedians, and the Golden Gate Quintet,
is proving itself a winner.
BIG SHOW AT THE GRAND
Management Is Leading Up to Or
pheuin Shows Which Begin Soon.
One big show follows another at the
Grand. Sullivan & Consldlne are show
ing the people of Portland the best vau
deville In the history of amusements and
each week newer and better bills are
presented. The management Is leading
right up to the Orpheum shows, which
come in August. For this week, for In
stance, commencing tomorrow afternoon,
there Is a vaudeville entertainment such
as could not be sen in the East for
twice the money. There are eight acts
on the bill and each one is certain to
strike a right spot with the audience.
The Doris Four has been selected as
the headline act. This Is a classy sing
ing act, one of the best in the profession,
composed of Billy Moore, Charles Reiner,
Ken Metcalf and Wilbur Turner. Each
one is a soloist of ability and distinction,
(Concluded on Page 4.)