The Sunday Oregonian., February 25, 1917, SECTION FOUR, Page 3, Image 51

THE SUNDAY OREGONTAX, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 25, 1917.
i
NEW YORK THEATERS, THESE DAYS OF WAR
TALK, OFFER CHIEFLY LIGHT COMEDIES
An Exception, However, Is Presented in "The Thirteenth Chair, a Drama of the Thriller Variety "The Man
Who Made Good," Another Tense Play, Is Filling the House Nightly.
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BT LLOYD F. LONERGAN.
TEWiTORK, Feb. 24. (Special.)
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has not dimmed the enthusiasm
or ineatereoAra iti ?w v nrk m fact.
t seems to have added to the number
.who nlgrhtly throng- the theaters along
the Great White Way. A recent an
nouncement from the Shubert offices
to the effect that until the present
exciting season is over, their concern
"will produce only light comedies and
musical shows, will probably be fol
lowed by similar announcements from
other theatrical managers.
This recalls an incident of the early
days of war in Europe. Paul Kimberly,
of London, representing American, film
Interests abroad, visited this country
and declared that picture houses over
there were playing to capacity. The
light comedy films attracted the most
attention, people being too deeply ab
sorbed in their own troubles to care
for sorrow on the screen. He pre
dicted that similar conditions would
follow those which existed In the coal
regions during a very severe -strike.
The miners drowned their sorrows not
in the public house, but in the little
theaters, where sometimes three and
four performances were given one of
ter another to crowds.
Certainly while the foreign trade has
been badly hit by the war, there has
always been call for comedies and this
step of the Shuberts shows great in
sight on their part.
Thirteenth Chair" Is Thriller.
All the "Standing Room Only" shows,
however, are not of the lighter type.
One of the biggest successes of the
season might almost be called grew
some. It is "The 13th Chair," which
is filled with thrills from start to fin
ish. The play, by Howard Velller. is
founded upon these clever stories by a
very clever Californian, Will .Irwin.
They are about "Rosalie La Grange,
Medium," and the cleverness of the
lines is not lost in the dramatization.
ISlr. Veiller'haa used much original ma
terial in weaving his drama and the
tenseness and mystery add much to the
success of the theme.
New York audiences are credited
with being an unemotional lot. Any
one who goes to see "The 13th .Chair"
will never believe that statement.
There Is one buzz of excitement and
expectancy during the entire perform
ance that is rather annoying to "one
who likes to see a play in silence. But
he soon catches the spirit of the thing
and becomes excited himself. The first
net ends in a most dramatic climax.
The lights have been extinguished to
permit a realistic seance to take place.
c? Vdc tVz y y, ' '
Thirteen are seated In a circle holding
hands tightly. Twelve are house guests
and the other Rosalie. She has been
in a trance, answering questions from
a friend of the group who haa been
mysteriously murdered. The man., who
is trying to track the criminal. Is ask
ing questions, when sudd nly there .is
a shriek, the lights, are turned on and
the occupant of the 13th chair, the
last to be seated, is found murdered,
just as his friends had died.
There is no clue, even the fatal knife
has disappeared. The second act shows
the same room 10 minutes later, when
the detective arrives. One of the 12
is guilty and he tries to learn which
one. The rest of the play Is a battle
between the detective, the medium and
the unknown guilty one. Suspicion is
fastened upon Rosalie's daughter, who
is engaged to the millionaire's son and
has been living under her real name.
Rosalie, in a wonderful scene, uses her
trickry to good purpose- and draws a
confession from the guilty man one
who has been least suspected.
Scenes Tense to the End. -
Margaret Wycherly, as Rosalie, does
some of the best work of her career.
It is hard to believe that . Rosalie on
the stage and the attractive Miss
Wycherly are one. Her comedy work
Is wll handled and in the tense scenes
she never overacts. Harrison Hunter
is the detective. Katherine La Salle the
daughter and the rest of the jcast is
up to their standard. V
"The Man Who Came Back" Is an
other tense play which Is packing 1n
the crowds, in spite of war rumors.
Jules Eckert Goodman is . the author
and. like Mr. Veiller. his play is based
upon a well-known story. John-Fleming
Wilson wrote the latter. "The Man
Who Came Back" is the vivid tale of
a young millionaire, spoiled by too
much Indulgence, who drifts into the
life of a drunkard and opium fiend
after disinheritance. He sinks lower
and lower, yet his regeneration is ac
complished through the love of a wom
an. Her love for him is so strong that
she follows him to China, and when
he sees her in an opium dive he real
izes the depths to which he has sunk
and tries to lift her out. Then they
are shown in Honolulu, married and
happy, yet always with the dread over
them that some' day one or the other
will backslide. The millionaire father
hears of the son's cure and sends for
him, on the understanding that the
woman be left behind. He refuses,
but his wife feigns drunkenness and
he leaves her in loathing and returns
home. Later he finds he cannot live
without her and the two are reunited
in his father's home. The play is su
perbly staged by Mr. Brady, -with
scenes in New York, San Francisco.
Shanghai, Honolulu and back to New
York. It is a very appropriate theme
Just now when the drug habit is one
that In being-discussed and should pro
vide thought and hope for those who
think that such a poor soul cannot
"come back." ...
Galsworthy Play at the Maxlne Elliott.
A new Galsworthy play was present
ed by a fine cast at the Maxlne Elliott
Theater. Two of those who appeared
In "Justice," his play of last season,
were among the actors, O. P. Heggie
and Cathleen Nesbit, of the drama of
the evening which was by G. K. Ches
terton. Following the English idea,
"The Little Man" was used as a cur
tain raiser and told of four men, rep
resenting as many nations, who meet
in a railway carriage. There is a
fifth in the party, a quiet drab Indi
vidual, who listeria to their talk but
has little to say in return. He is so
Insignificant that the others pay no
attention. Each of the quartet gives
his Idea of war. timeliness and other
themes and boasts of what he (and his
nation) can do in emergency. The
little man looks on but speaks not.
Then a lost baby Is left on their hands
and - each proves that his fine words
amounted to nothing. Not so the little
man. who looks after the baby until
the mother claims it. A sort of moral
"actions speak louder than words."
The long play, "Magic," gives wonder
ful opportunity to Mr. Heggie. As the
highly spiritualized psychic he gives a
wonderful performance. The story Is a
bit wlerd, but may attract 'a class of
thinking people whose mind can un
derstand and appreciate the psychol
ogy of It.
Kay Balnter Selected for a Role.
Fay Bainter, who appeared in stock
here not so many seasons ago, and
whose work in "Arms and the Girl"
made a sensation In New York, has
been selected by Cohan & Harris for a
role In their coming production. "The
Willow Tree." It is by Harrison
Rhodes and Bennme, and rehearsals
are already under way. Miss Bainter
made her first appearance on Broad
way this season and made an instant
success. Since the play went on the
road, there have been all sorts of
rumors about, her future affiliations,
but she kept right on playing the part
and gaining more laurels. The name
of her successor In "Arms and the
Girl" has not yet been named, but the
latter play will continue on the road.
George M. Cohan has returned to
New York after his work down south
on his first picture. "Broadway Jones"
will be released soon, but George M.'s
admirers, while wishing him all sorts of
luck in the new venture, hope that the
triumphs of the screen will not lead
him to forsake his first love. There
is . much patriotism In "Broadway
Jones." at least there -was In the play
and patriotism Is In style these days.
Dixie Girard at the Hippodrome as
Columbia never had as many curtain
calls as within the last few weeks,
and the singing of "The Star-Spangled
Banner" has come to be a regular cus
tom at each performance.
"Her Soldier Boy" gives an Ameri
can touch to this introduction of some
of our National airs between the acts
and the Belgian settings of the play
particularly appeal to Americans.
Herbert C. Hoover, chairman of the
Belgian Relief Committee. Is a Cali
fornian and is particularly busy Just
now getting extra enthusiasm in New
York for the cause abroad. At the
Hotel Astor the other night there was
a dinner and mammoth meeting and it
Is probable that, a number of theatri
cal benefits will be given shortly for
this same cause. New York was very
enthusiastic in the early days of this
work, but has become lukewarm. Mr.
Hoover returned to America a short
time ago and his inspiring talks will
do much to rekindle the lost interest.
George Hassell. who has played the
Orpheum here, is one of the features
of the "Love o' Mike" Company. Surely
you have not forgotten that funny
dress suit (style .1880 i or maybe
earlier), and the equally funny lines
which made up his patter. He con
trasts well with the pretty girls of
the show am' well into the comedy
part. V . s
NEWS OF THE THEATERS
(Continued From Pare 2.)
psychology at the University of Ver
mont. Pauline is featured at Pantages
for the week, commencing with the
matinee tomorrow, and his local en
gagement promises to be as much of
interest as were his appearances In
Paris. Berlin, London, New York and
other centers.
Pauline has astounded the leading
students of psychology and the drama.
Edwena Lawrence Davis, dramatic
critic of the Philadelphia Record and
co-author In many scientific works,
said: "I am convinced that Pauline is
a scientist in the vanguard of modern
psychology whose work may open up
valuable fields for modern science to
explore and till. His efforts deserve
exploitation, not skepticism."
Supporting Pauline is a bill filled
with striking features including won
derful Marie Russell, the Belle of Ken
tucky, whose mode of entertaining is
quite unique. Miss Russell has her
original song successes, and she ren
ders them in a manner distinctively her
own. This Is Miss Russell's first ap
pearance on the Pantages circuit, and
she has met with a great deal of suc
cess. Huso B. Koch, well known as a
dramatic star, wjll appear in the strik
ing sketch, "Ten Years After." Mr.
Koch is supported by an excellent
company. The playlet Is' powerful and
the climax is one that is thrilling.
Evelyn and Dolly are petite enter
tainers who can ride trick bicycles,
dance and sing with, equal skill. Their
act is an Interesting one. '
Goldsmith and Pinard have a laugh
ing success in "The New Salesman."
In which they introduce many new
songs and clever Jokes.
Daisy Darling Is a very clever char
acter comedienne who can sing.
The third episode of "The Secret
Kingdom" is' a thrilling one.
Bob Fitzslmmons and Bob, Jr., will
conclude their engagement with the
continuous performance this afternoon,
commencing at 2 o'clock and ending
at 11.
"THE BLUE ENVELOPE" COMING
Alcazar Players to Offer Late New
Vork Hit Starting Sunday.
For next week, starting Sunday mat
inee, March 4. the Alcazar Players
will present "The Blue Envelope," one
of the latest New York farcical suc
cesses to be released for stock, which
will offer a sudden and delightful
change from the heavy drama of the
past few weeks also. There are no
"heart throbs," no psychological prob
lems and no sex conundrums to worry
over In "The Blue Envelope."
It's a farce, fast and furious in ac
tion and extremely laughable all the
time. A couple of men. one old enough
to know better, and the other at least
at the age of discretion, have had a
naughty little flirtation with a dan
gerous blonde, and are now wildly anx
ious to be rid of her for obvious rea
sons. The plot concerns their real troubles
in this direction, for she is of the
"clinging vine" sort, and refuses to be
dropped so easily. Certain Incriminat
ing evidence against them is contained
in a mysterious blue envelope which
cuts an important figure in the plot,
and which has a most irritating habit
of disappearing and turning up again.
One act takes place in a rest sanato
rium and is extremely funny every
minute, as Is the whole farce in fact.
Wednesday and Thursday nights the
house has been taken over by the
Shriners, who Intend to make them
events long to be remembered. They
will not only pack the theater with
friends and families, but will introduce
several "extra added attractions" of
their own to enliven the occasion.
PORTLAND TO HEAR STARS
Artistic Stage Settings and AVell
Trained Chorus Are Promised.
The grand opera season In Portland,
to be celebrated at the Eleventh-Street
Playhouse on Monday and Tuesday,
March 5 and 6, will undoubtedly be
one of the most important musical and
social functions of the present season
here. The tremendous influx of mail
orders already received by W. T. Pan
gle, who is handling the business ar
rangements for the Boston National
grand opera season. Indicate capacity
audiences.
The repertory as now completed will
include "Aida," on March 5, with Gio
vanni Zenatello, Luisa Villa.nl, George
Baklanoff and Vlrgilio Lazzari; Tues
day afternoon the new Japanese opera,
"Iris " with Mme. Tamakl Mlura.
Thomas Chalmers. Tovla Klttay, Elvira
Leveroni. Vlrgilio Lazzari and Romeo
Boscacci; Tuesday night. "Faust," with
Riccardo Martin. Maggie Teyte. Jose
Mardones, Graham Marr and others.
Extreme novelty Is the keynote of
the presentation of opera this season
by the Boston National Grand Opera
Company which is to visit this city this
season. In its tour last season the or
ganization, whose managing director is
Max Rabinoff, presented much that was
novel and set new standards of opera
production standards tnat obtain In
the big operative centers of the world,
but which were decidedly new to the
majority of American cities.
Managing Director Rabinoff from his
long experience in the music world
deduces that the American people want
the best the best and most famous
stars, the most thoroughly trained or
chestra and chorus, and the most ar
tistic stage settings but it must have
as well a sauce of novelty. This long
ing for the unusual and the new Mr.
Rabinoff expects to eati:fy.
STRAND HAS TONG WAR FILM
Vaudeville Half of New Bill Ts Up
to Photo-Drama Standard.
A tong war In films is the feature
that photoville will be treated to in
the new bill opening at the Strand
Theater Sunday.
The recent developments in the wars
of the Chinese tongs in Portland have
directed attention so strongly to this
phase of Oriental life that this -new
Portland's Only EXCLUSIVE Home of the Spoken Drama
Broadway and Morrison
Milton W.. Seaman, Mgr.
The Incomparable
Alcazar Players
(Always a $1.50 attraction at popular prices)
Week Starting Sun. Mat., Feb. 25, 1917
Tiff IT
... As played with great success for two years by . s t
WILLIAM FAVERSHAM
A superb drama. First time in this city.
Powerful acting situations. Thrilling plot.
Eveninjjs 25c, 50c, 75c. Mats. 25c, 50c Wednesday Bargain Matinee, 25c Only.
Next Week: The Blue Envelope
I
i 1
Red feather feature comes with excep
tional timeliness.
Moreover, it is an all-Chinese pro
duction the first of its kind ever pro
duced in the United "States. It was
written by a Chinaman and the entire
cast. acting In it Is Chinese, which as
sures that the play will be as nearly
true to life as possible.
In the photodrama the war develops
over the rivalry of two Chinese leaders
for the love of Suey Lee. the heroine,
whose part is taken by Lin Neong, a
pretty little Chinese girl, and a re
markable actress Plot and counter
plot develop rapidly, the spectators are
led Into the secret of the inner work
ings of the tong system, the Chinese
lottery and other Oriental gambling
games, and the drama develops to a
brilliant and romantic climax in the
closing episode.
The vaudeville half of the new bill
measures up to the high standard of
the photodrama.
Billy Small, the beloved violinist, who
Is a "natural born" musical humorist,
returns to the Strand patron in the
new bill, with the same delightful
repertory that has endeared him to
them on previous times.
Burton and Smith are a pair of danc
ing comedians of brilliancy and orig
inality. Chase and Janis have a sparkling
act that includes singing, talking and
dancing, and has a mighty store of
delightful comedy in it. '
Mile. Cecile Pacquin and company
have a posing act of infinite variety
and beauty. Reproductions of famous
paintings and poses are reproduced
most artistically.
The ninth episode of "The Purple
Mask " which runs as an additional
feature in the programme Monday and
Tuesday, features a great automobile
race, in which the adventuresome hero
ine plays the leading part.
"THE PRINCESS PAT" COMING
Sparkling Musical Comedy to Be at
Heilig Theater March 8, 9, 10.
With its rippling, charmingly ex
pressive and altogether tuneful music,
tbnt Victor Herbert alone run write.
"The Princess Tat." one of the season's
most notable musical bookings, will be
the attraction at the Heilig Theater
Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights,
March 8, 9 and 10, special matinee Sat
urday. The work of our American
"Gilbert and Sullivan," Victor Herbert
and Henry Blossom. "The Princess
Pat" proves Itself a distinctly worth
while entertainment, quite up to the
standard of those harmonious collabo
rators. Musically it has as many riches, melo
diously and orchestrally. as any one
score Mr. Herbert has prepared, and
unlike most of the recent musical com
edy. Isn't constantly making us try to
remember where we' have beard the
tune before.
The book is altogether delightful,
sprinkled liberally with some of Blos
som's happiest epigrams and providing
lyrics which are always effective,
runrlnff from uf-h Ine-enlous matter as
the Imaginings "I Wteh I Was An Is
land in An Ocean of Girls." sung by
Ben Hendricks, to a song about "first
and second husbands." sung bv Alex
ander Clark. Miss Blanch liuffleid.
who sings the prima donna role, la
truly a stunning picture as ehe makes
her entrance on horseback clad in a
smart riding costume; hor voice is
rich and colorful and has a quite ade
quate upper range and also that raiity
among light opera leads, a delightful
mezzo quality in her lower notes.
John Cort, producer of this delightful
offering, has retained practically the
complete original New York cast, en
semble and orchestra, and It conies to
this city exactly n presented in New
York, Boston and Chicago. Among the
principals are Blanche Uuffield. Oscar
Flgman. Ben Hendricks. Eva Fallon.
Alexander Clark. Louis CasavanC David
Qulxano, William Quimby. Jack
Thiri,cnT niH Tsnrtlle Jnson.
1
ma
Home of the Big Shows
IPPODROME
Broadway at Yamhill
Starting Today
or Four Joyous Days
Pepple and GreenwaJd's
"ALL-GIRL
REVUE
OF 1917"
A GORGEOUS MUSICAL
FRIVOLITY IN TWO ACTS
AND SIX SCENES
Featuring1
"A NIGHT AT MAXIM'S"
With 20 Beautiful Girls
A great vaudeville show offered
in pretentious musical ' comedy
style a revel de luxe.
Presenting
BABE WILSON
The child prodigy.
DOYLE & ELAINE
The girls with the jiggly feet.
ALICE DUDLEY
She will make you laugh.
LOUISE ELLIOTT
The American Vesta Tully.
Photoplay Features
-A MILLION VOLUNTEERS"
Episode 11 in Pathe's big serial,
"Pearl of the Army"; Pathe
News and a Comedy.
Prices the same Weekday mat
inees, 10c; Nights, Sundays,
Ho'idays, 15c. COME EARLY.
Continuous today 1:15-11 P. M.
Claude Gillingwater
Assisted bv MISS JULIE HERNE
&2 and his own excellent company in Reginald Barlow's de-
lightful "Punch" playlet, "THE FRAME-UP.'
HARRY AND ANNA SEYMOUR
PAT BARRETT, Unusual Songs in Unusual Manner
FRANK WILSON. The Cycling Genius
Thomas F. Swift & Co.
Present "ME AND MARY," an Incident With Music
MEREDITH & SNOOZER, The Intellectual Bulldog
ORPHEUM TRAVEL WEEKLY
ORPHEUM CONCERT ORCHESTRA
The
M
isses
Campbell
IN SONGS
Matinee Daily. lOe-SSe-SOe.
Mlbls, 10c-2Se-50e-7Se '
ANTAGE
r'EQrALED VAIDETILLE Broadway at Alder.
MATINEE DAILY. 2:30. Twice -Nightly. T mad 9.
PUFl'LAU PRICKS Boxes and Loses Reserved.
WEEK COMMENCING TOMORROW'S MATINEE
PAULINE
The Scientific Sensation
Marie Russell
The Belle of Kentucky.
Goldsmith & Pinard
In
"The New Salesman."
The Secret Kingdom
Third Episode.
Evelyn & Dolly
The Petite Entertainers.
Hugo B. Koch & Co.
In
"Ten Tears After."
Daisy Darling
The Girl Entrancing-.
M
n
- SOTICE Todf the enrtala will rise promptly at S o'eloelct doom
opea at 1. Last appearaaee ( Bob Fltulaaou aad an all - star
bill at this continuous performaaee. gn
'