THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, MARCH 20, 1910.
HUMORIST IS FUNNY OFF
STAGE AS WELL AS ON
"Will M. Cressy, "Who Will Appear Soon at Orpheum, Has Written 108 One
Act Plays and Staged Eight. .
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WIM, HI. ClIESSy, WHO W ILL. APPEAR AT THIS OKPIIEUM. t
t
THEY tell a story about Mark Twain.
It will serve as an Introduction to
Will SI. Cressy, the liumorist of
audeville.
Mark Twain was invited to a banquet,
which he of course attended. Through
the curling smoke of a battery of fat
cigars the toa.stmaster called on him
for a toast. The humorist was in his best
mood and the result was a witty and
characteristic speech. Next on the pro
gramme was a toast from the Tillage
lawyer. Jle was a very pompous indi
vidual and he thrust his hands in his
pockets while he swelled up- amazingly
and became sententious. Said he:
"I have often heard of Mark Twain
and at last I have seen and heard him.
I cannot tell you how delighted and sur
prised I am to have found finally a
humorist who is really funny!" So say
ing he resumed his seat, with his hands
still thrust In his pockets.
Mark Twain Immediately arose. "The
lawyer," said he, "expresses his aston
ishment at finding . a humorist who is
humorous. "Will you permit me to utter
my amazement at finding a lawyer with
his hand in !s own pockets?"
NEWS AND GOSSIP OF
PLAYS AND PLAYERS
EDITED BY LEOXB CASS BAER.
0 w "
! -1
V
WIIX.IAM. A. BRAD? will present
at the Grand Ojwra House In
Chicago this week a new play
called "Mother," by Jules Kckert Good
uiAn, who wrote "The Test" and "The
Man Who Stood Btill." ThiB piece "had
Ms first performance in Plainfleld, N. J.,
lHst Monday night, and Mr. Brady tele
graphed the Ohlrnso manager as follows:
far as yon Tlk In Ri ertifliUK it, for It can
run a year In i'Mcniro. This la not alon
my JuOBniPTit, but thnt of Eune "Walter
nd a. crowfi of New Yorkers who came to
see the fli'Fi production.
Air. Brady and the critics who saw the
tryout of "Mother" Fay tl-.at It is the
same gripping hummi Interest as "Way
Down Rest." nrul prodict en equally
great suctH-ss fur Air. Goodman's new
play.
...
Nervous Prostration Mote Ad Woleast,
who won the tltl of champion light
weight pugiliRt of lh world from Bat
tling Nelson recently, has stepped up Into
vaudevillo nnd Is appearing for a cur
tailed easun f.ith the "Merry Maiden"
company this week in Kansas City.
...
Gerge Primrose will close his minstrel
season tne latter pari or tins mourn, uu
come Irumediatoly to Portland, where he
Is having a bungalow home built on
Prbnros Acreu, a "0-ucre tract south
Will Cressy, in other words, is quite
as funny off the stage as on. He is a
born humorist. "I was raised in Wash
ington, E. C," he said.
"I thought you were ,born in New
Hampshire," he was asked.
"Sure I was," said he. but it was a
mistake. It really wasn't right. It was
my parents' first offense, and when the
event seemed inevitable my mother went
to Concord. There I was born, but as
soon as we two. were convalescent we
went back to Washington, where I spent
the next 13 years of my life.
But it Cressy's saving sense of humor
prevents him from taking dramatics too
seriously, it also saves him from being
a bore, and that, from the point of view
of the Interviewer, is no small virtue.
"I was bound to call Washington my
native city." said he, "but was cheated.
However, that doesn't matter, nor does
it prevent me from being the son of a
politician. He Is a red-hot Republican.
Twice he insisted upon my voting. I did
even though the effort took me to Con
cord, where I was registered. Both times
that I voted the Republican ticket Grover
j Cleveland was elected. So I quit. Cressy
ana Jjayne win appear at urpneinn soon.
2Z
vr rV''.'. - fir
i ti m 5 : . hi
of the city on the Oregon electric line.
An Eastern paper words It thusly:
The recent boom in Portland - has en
hanced the value of his property wonder
fully. He is building a bungalow on one of
the choice spots, overlooking the Columbia
River. Mount Hood and the City of Port
lane. Mrs. Primrose is at present In Port
land overseeing the plans for building. They
will live there this Summer.
...
And now comes John Corbin. literary
director of the New Theater, with sev
'eral columns of announcement that he
Is going to resign his Job. as he has to
read too many plays. That is not so
bad In itself, but think of the unfortunate
orchestra that has to see every perform
ance of the plays Mr. Corbin picks out.
A London paper says that at the
final fall of the curtain upon the first
performance at the Duke of York's
theater of George Bernard Shaw's new
play, "Misalliance," the audience called
for the author until collectively and
individually its throat ached, but G. B.
S. refused to appear, saying in ex
planation: .
Well. there Is nothing new in it.
I never took a caJl at the Court Theater.
I have never taken a call since the days
when there was an opposition to he faea
snd talked to. All the public honors of a
performance are due to the pcrfoi mers: the
author has no business on the staee. He Is
not made up for it. And he often makes
his play ridiculous. Kancy delighting the
audience with a touching love scene that
makes all the young people believe that the
author must be like the portraits of Byron,
and thn an eldorly buffer like tne trotting
out before the curtain and ruining the il
lusion. M , .
iifFides, that audienre the other mgnt
almost destroyed my play. Of course, ihey
meant well. They gratified and encouraged
vs. and we love them for U. But consider
what the wretches did. Thej- actually added
17 minutes to the schedule time of my play
bv their constant lnterrupions their reck
less bursts of applause and laughter. Why
can't they laugh internally, like old Wel
ler in "Pickwick?"
How can any play be decently performed
when the actors have to wait for two min
utes between every sentence while the
audience makes a disturbance? Of course,
one likes to see them enjoying themselves;
but they lose a great deal by it. They onght
to know by this time that I do not dole
out solitary Jokes. I fling them out by
handfuls: so that If you laugh at the flrct
you lose the next six. In the modern dra
ma, too, laughter and tear come together:
If you guffaw at a Joke, you may profane
a deep stroke of pathos.
But do you expect the audience to ait
in silence?
They do in Berlin, where my plays are
an Institution. But I propose to get over
the difficulty by Inclosing the gallery with
thick, sound-proof glass and letting the
people hear the dialogue by electrophone.
Then they can laugh their fill without In
terrupting the performance; and when they
realize that every outburst loses them two
minutes of the play they will learn self
restraint. But does not applause hearten up the
actons and improve the play?
Actors need no such encouragement. They
are serious artists, doing serious service to
the community and practicing a high pro
fession. Bishops preach without applause.
Barristers plead without applause. I can
write a play without applause: do you
think actors cannot act It under thV same
conditions ? Applaud as ranch as you like
when the curtain cornea down; and show
your sinceriety by coming again; but don't
interrupt a work of art like the perform
ance of a play any more than you would
interrupt a symphony or a church aervlce.
...
Hattie Williams in "The Girl He
Couldn't Leave Behind Him," by Gus
tavo Kadelburg, begins the second
week of her indefinite stay- at the Gar
rick Theater, New York. Miss Will
iams, it is said, was never gayer, more
attractive or more f un-lnsplring- than
as Lola Cornero, a Spanish dancer.
Lola has made one of her old admirers,
Felix Pendleton, promise to spend one
day a year with her, even after his
marriage. The play takes place, 'pre
sumably, on the day on which he re
dectas his promise
Vincent Serrano Is playing; the role
of Felix.
There is but a single star under
the managerial wing of Henry W. Sav
age. He's Henry E. Dixey. Savage,
however, is featuring three players,
Gertrude Quintan in "Miss Patsy," and
Elgie Bpwen and Charles J. Ross, in
"The Love Cure." Most of the ac
tresses playing parts worthy of men
tion in Savage companies are unmar
ried. Two actresses in this manager's
forces who have graduated from the
ranks of single blessedness are Mabel
Wllber, who was seen here in the title
role of "The Merry Widow," ahd who
was married In Spokane to Madison
Corey, Just a fortnight prior to her
appearance here. The other actress Is
Frances Cameron, who is in private
life Mrs. Julian Rose.
JTew York, which already has more
theaters than any other city in the world,
is to have another new one. This will
be the Nazimova playhouse, built by the
Shuberts, at Thirty-ninth street. Just
west of Maxine Elliott's Theater, which
they also own. Like the last-named
house, it will receive its name from an
actress. Madame Nazimova will open the
theater by presenting a repertory of
plays Including three by Ibsen that are
little known on the American stage. It
Is expected that the house will be ready
shortly after the close of Lent. One of
the Ibsen dramas will be the attraction
on the opening night, although it has
not yet been decided which one is to
serve. In her repertory at the new play
house will be "Little Eyolf." "The Wild
Duck," "Lady Ingre of Ostat," "The
Fairy Tale," "An Ideal Wife," and "The
Sea Gull."
...
Two of the late plays by Henri Bern
stein have come to an abrupt close. "Is
rael" has been laid aside, and James K.
Hackett also has concluded his rather
unsuccessful tour in "Samson." He Is ar
ranging for a Spring tour, and has se
lected for the purpose "Monsieur Beau
calre," in which Richard Mansfield ap
peared some years ago.
Maxine Elliott says in a recent Inter
view that beauty is an actress' "fifth
wheel." She also says that the really
successful actresses. In almost every in
stance, are not the pretty women. This
also is true. The statement of the lovely
Maxine drives home the brutal truth that
her own progress if it can be called
progress in her art. Is due entirely to
the fifth wheel, with the others sadly
missing.
'
Georgia, Caine is to be the leading lady
In "The Lady From Lobster Square." It
is an adaptation of a farce by Georges
Feydeau, best known by his authorship
of "The Girl From Maxim's." The piece
Is ready fork rehearsal, and will have Its
premier In Atlantic City on March St.
Lucy Wreston. at present appearing in
vaudeville, and Lillian Lee, recently with
Lew Field's companies, are assigned for
important parts.
.
Speaking of Nat Goodwin, it is antici
pated" that his forthcoming contribution
to literature (spare the mark) will cause
one Elinor Glyn and almost forgotten
Mary MacLane to retire into the utter
most ends of oblivion and obscurity and
drink thick green dregs of bitter en-y.
The title of this remarkable literary (?)
abortion is "Why Four Beautiful Wo
men Married Me." Evidently, like the
advertisement for near-coffee. "There's a
reason," and the public Is at last to be
given .an answer to the riddle. Of his
quartet of wives three of them ex the
bromide Nat Writes that all may read:
My rtrst wife was an angel; my second a
silly fool; my third a Roman Senator; my
fourth makes me superlatively happy.
Eliza Weatherly married me for love. Mrs.
Nella Baker Pease to get out of the vortex
of society Into the artistic life of Bohemia.
Maxine . Elliott was prompted by ambition,
kdna Goodrich well, because I didn't bore
her.
In another instance, Goodwin causes
hio brain-child to Bay:
No self-rerpecting American citizen -would
take advantage of the unwritten law. If a
man steals you; wife don't kill him; caution
him.
...
Yenterday, March 1!. that lovahle old
actress, Mrs. Sol Smith, celebrated her
I SOth birthday. Mrs. Smith Is still adding
I honors to her already remarkable career.
UNG ALOW
PHONES MAIN 1 1 7 A4224
4 NIGHTS beginning TONIGHT
SPECIAL PRICED MATINEE WEDNESDAY
MORT. H- SINGER. Managing Director.
Princess and. La Salic Theater s. Chicago, Presents
AS
TU
gind:
With HOMER B. MASON
Company of Seventy (70 Comedians. Singers and Dancers. Including
THE FAMOUS PRINCESS' THEATER CHORUS
Book and Lyrics by Hough and Adams. Music by Joseph K. Howard.
Staged by George Marlon, Who Staged "The Merry Widow."
rmCRS BVEM.VG, TO BOc MATINEE, 1.00 TO 26c
BUNGALOW
3 NIGHTS thuday MAR. 24-25-26
SPECIAL PRICE! MATDTKE3 SATTTRDAT
HENRY B. HARRIS PRESENTS
ROBERT
eLdeso
IX HIS GREATEST SUCCESS
it
A MAN'S" A MAN"
A POWERFUl AMERICAN PLAY OF TODAY, BY AXSA STEESE
KICHARDsO.V A.D HENRY LESLIE FHIDBBERO
PRICES Evenlnca, B1.SO to BOc. Matinee, ft.OO to SSc.
Seat Sale Opens Tnraday, March 22.
COMINC TO THE BUNGALOW THEATER
ONE WEEK WM. H. BRADY PRESENTS
fcglnnkg Monday TsfTnr1 ft! A MTT?!
MARCH 28
Watch Dally pa
pers for plays.
and Is appearing In the cast of the stock
company at Belasco's New Theater in
New York. It la said that her perform
ances show that in spite of her many
years ehe has not yet reached that period
of life when the development t the men
tal powers ceases, and that her vigorous
and well-handled impersonations demon
strate her unimpaired ability. Mrs. Smith
is the oldest American actress in active
service, and for the past quarter of a
century has been "nurse" to most of the
famous Juliets1, including Adelaide Nell
son, Margaret Mather and Julia Marlowe.
She comes of a theatrical family, her
parents being Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Sed
ley, of Boston Museum fame. At the age
of 13 her histrionic ability, which she
disclosed in an amateur performance of
Shakespeare, was remarked by Char
lotte Cushman, who undertook the train
ing of litUe Miss Sedley. In 1863 she made
her professional debut, and she has since
appeared with Booth, the elder Boucl
cault. Lester Wallack, Davenport, Jef
ferson and Mansfield. At the New Thea
ter, It Is said, Mrs. Smith Is the Idolized
member of the company. Respect for
her undaunted energy and brave spirit,
which continue in spite of her many re
cent tribulations, combined with a love
for the aged artist whose interest in the
work of her younger associates bind them
strongly to her, make her the star of the
company.
Probably the most distinctly success
ful of the Charles Frohman productions
thus far made at the Duke of York's
repertory theater In London are the
two Barrie plays and the unfinished
comedy by George Meredith, which
comprised the bill for the third premier
of the series. J. M. Barrle's hand seems
to have lost none of Its cunning. One
of his plays, "The Twelve Pounds," Is
spoken of by the English critics as
being the most delightful one-act com
edy that London has seen in a long
time, and it is predicted will probably
make an early appearance in America.
It is a valuable contribution to the di
vorce discussion which is now engaging
British attention, and though presented
as a comedy, it goes deep into that
question of compatibility of tempera
ment underlying the marital relation
ship. In the other Barrie piece, "Old
Friends," the author treats the rather
grewsome subject of craving for drink
Inherited by a young girl from her
father. George Meredith's - unfinished
comedy, "The Sentimentalists," is laid
In the early Victorian period. Fay Da
vis Is seen in the principal role that
of a widow.
Marietta Mazarin, the great Hammer
stein singer who created the title role in
Straussf opera "Elektra," has announced
that on December 7 file was married to
Pierre Souzy, in Hoboken, N. J. Her
husband, who is some years Mazarin's
junior, lias returned to Paris to resume
his utudies in lh Latin Quarter. Of her
husband the einger said:
I knew him and his family, -which Is a
good one, in Paris. He loved me. He fol
lowed me to America. I loved him. Our
secret was ours but we must marry. I
did not want. Tor professional reasons, to
.i - i nv n i v rrlends at the Opera-
' House, and I asked my landlady's dauehtcr
and her husband. Mr. uu - o.....
be my witnesses. -I
was most happy because I loved. He
was happy because he loved. But he Is
poor and ambitious, and I said: "Make your
future, study, bo to Paris, and when I have
finished my engagement here 1 will Join
you."
All of which smacks considerably like
rome of the letters in "advice to Miss
jj. H." or lines from one of Laura
Leau Libbey's best seller. This is Ma
zarin's second matrimonial venture.
Sam Bernard, the comedian, says he
i E-olner to appear in a modernized
Shakespearean character, having had
predelictions in this direction for sev
I eral years. In fact since the first days
of liis stage career. It Is not generally
known that when praise for Sam Ber
! nard was not pitched in the high key
it is at present, and when he was
struggling for recognition he ap
! peared wtih good Buccess as "Poor
' Joe," in a dramatization of Dickens'
i "Bleak House." His favorite recita
tion at that time also borders on the
serious side of the drama, ana ne
took occasion at every opportunity to
THEATER
Twelfth and Morrison Sts.
THEATER
lzth and Morrison Sts.
Phone Main 117, A 4224
KE
In Shakespearian Repertoire
recite "The Faca on the Barroom
Floor."
His success in his serious moments in
"The Girl and the Wizard" has
strengthened his desire to enter the
legitimate. He has long been fond of
practicing the part of the first gravc
diggger in "Hamlet," and would like to
play this role in some production of the
Shakespearean masterpiece. As this
role cannot be consiere a stellar one,
Mr. Bernard intends to arrange for a
play which will contain something of
the humorous and philosophical spirit
of that character as the central fig
ure. Mr. Bernard has selected J. Hart
ley Manners, author of "The Girl and
the Wizard." to write his first legiti
mate comedy, and the playwright has
consented to make a study of the meth
ods of the comedian. The only thing
which Mr. Bernard specifies is that the
comedy shall contain a character simi
lar in spirit to the first gravedlgger
in "Hamlet."
"News of Cathrine Countiss Is al
ways more or less Interesting. , This
week a large-as-llfe portrait of her
Sozodont smile appears in a New York
paper above the following:
.Cathrine Countiss whose recent pereonal
success In 'The Watcher" was one of the
few bright spots in that production, is a
very busy young woman nowadays.
In addition to selecting her assistants for
the racing wheel at the Actors' Fund Fair,
she Is securing play and engaging play
ers for her return Spring season at the Ma
jestic Theater. Grand Kapids, Mich., where
she built up a Mg following a year ago.
DAItT MATINEE 15o, 25c, SOc. (HOLIDAY MAT1SEES NIGHT PRICES)
ADVANCED VAUDEVILLE
V
Monday Matinee, March 2 1
THE LEADING LADY
A musical playlet. Marguerite Haney, aaalsted by Ralph Lynn and Ed
Coleman, and a company of ten people.
WALSH, LYNCH AND CO.
Presenting their original one-act
" play, "Hucklns" Run,"
BARNES and CRAWFORD
"The Patent Faker and the Lady"
7' THE BIMBOS
Comedy Acrobats and Equilibrists
Evening Prices 15c, 25c, 5Qc and 75c
DAILY MATINEE 15c, SSc, 50c (HOLIDAY MATLNEES NIGHT PRICES)
THE DISTINGUISHED CARTOONIST
AND TRAVELER WILL LECTURE AT
THE WHITE TEMPLE
MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHTS
MARCH 21 & 22
THE
.ft
S - -j Mitt- v
L.r
NEXT ATTRACTION
All Wlr CWrUrt ?Jl,t TVUw 97
nil ii cctv iji.aii.iiig uu:i. mai.
(EASTER SUNDAY)
First time in Portland of the authorized ver
sion of the great New York success. First
Belasco production at popular prices.
STAR THEATER
it
lOc EVERYTHING
LOVE OF LADY IRMA
A Biograph.
The Enchanted Castle
A gold medal will be given to the boy or srirl -who writes the best story
on this picture. All stories must be written on one side only, and,
with name and address of writer, be left at Box Office, Star Theater.
NAPOLEON'S FAREWELL MR. CY CONFER
A Poem in Pictures. In Another New Song Hit.
New Scenica Music and Effects.
NEW SHOW TODAY
It Is quite up to Miss Countiss individ
ually this time, bk she doe not have the
assistance of K. 15. Price, still her hus
band, but no longer her manager. He will
be unabls to co-operate with her until lh
nnd or Robert Hllllard's tour in "A Fool
There "VVas."
j-or the Grand Rapids company Allan
Murnane has been engaced as leading man.
Addison Pitt will be stage director and
Charles Squires the scenic artist.
Alexandre Bisson's powerful drama
of mother-love, "Madame X," continues
to move huge audiences at the New
Amsterdam Theater. Sensational and
thrilling In the highest degree, and yet
with every character strongly sympa
thetic, this play occupies an unique
position.
KRKK LECTURES.
Professor Knox, President of Mental
Science College, Seattle, Wash., Will
Deliver Four Lectures at
Chrlnteniien'K Hall, Cor. 11th and Yam
hill, March ISO, 21. 23 and 23.
Sunday livening, "How to Cure Poverty"-
Mondav evening. "Education or
the Child"; Tuesday evening, "Law of
Mental Healing": Wednesday. 3 P. M.,
Freedom of Women.
Phones Main 6 and A 1020
CHARLES F. SEMON
'The Narrow Feller"
'BERRY AND BERRY
In their laughable musical me
lange, "Do You Like Music?"
McGINNIS BROS.
"The Novelty Dancing Cadets."
late of Cohan & Harris Minstrels
MONDAY NIGHT
"The Power of the Cartoon"
TUESDAY NIGHT
A Travelope, "Through Arabia"
Both Lectures Protussl! Illustrated with Mr. Dmranrl'i
Orawingi Admission, 50c and 75c
BAKER Mala A 3360
Geo. L. Baker, Manager.
One Merry Musical- Week
Com. Mat. Sunday, Mar. 20, 1910
Bargain-Matinee Wednesday, 25o.
Just Coming Back to Say Goodbye
Farewell Visit of
TOTEM POLE MUSICAL COME0T
A n A(vrwn rn
i A A KN
nIHInmVnH U
REV1SED-RETUNED-ALL LAUGHTER
First Time at Baiter Vricos Anywhere, by
Special Arrangement.
SAME J
Kxrfllroit t 'ompany
Snowball Battle
HEAR I
lh Totem TMn
Mother T('1
Hi! Hi. Hi!
Wlien, I Dream of Ton
-4 Other Gems of Son?.
Xlie Girtlest C liorus Ever.
Evening price. 25c, BOc, 75c, fil.OO,
Saturday rad Sunday Ma4.Uire,. 25c, 50c.
mai. u , r.;
NEW TODAY
lOc
COURTING THE WIDOW
Uproarious Farce.
AT OH JOY THEATER
SULLIVAN & CONSIDINE
WEEK OF MARCH 21
The Lady and the Tramp.
Keane & Briscoe
In the Timely Farce,
"A Trial Marriage."
Louis Guertin
World's Champion Ail-Around
Jumper.
Louise Stickneys
Dog and Pou r Novelty.
Harry Bachellor
The Musical Rube.
Georgia Nelson
Charming Vocalist and
Comedienne.
Grandascope
VAUDEVILLE
AND
MAZETTE