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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 16, 1917)
1 " i .'". ' ST5" W IN "Turn to the Right!" th widely praised Winchell Smith comedy . drama which comes to the Heiligr Thursday night, beginning a three days' engagement. Portland audiences will find sharp contrast with the rather colorful and sophisticated "Follow Me," in which Anna Held and her fellow eyncopators have been holding forth these past three days. For be it known that "Turn to the Right!"' is a bit old-fashioned in its atmosphere. There is the fragrance of a bouquet of mignonette in its quaint story of the? boy wanderer whose footsteps were guided homeward after seven years by the lamp that Had. been placed in the parlor window every night during his long: absence. Of course, it was. a mother's hand that placed the light-there and therein lies the keynote of the play's story mother love. With millions of sons breaking home ties for war's acVveiiture, fraught with all its tragic possibilities, it is a timely, theme. - Not in three generations has" " the mother-love sentiment been so tenderly insistent as it is, today and in this may lie one of the reasons why "Turn -to tho Right!" is making a rortune for its producers. During its long runs In New York and Chicago the play was billed extensively as a great laughing, hit, but it is a safe wager that its more serious moments-and there are many of them are far more powerful ss box-office factors than the comedy lines and situations with which play wright and producer have so richly in vested it. Th American 'stage has not pre sented a more splendid tribute to the American mother than "Turn to the Right!" In simple, entertaining fash ion it shows' the great power for good that lies in a clean, beautiful soul's un dying belief, an dthat soul is Joe Bas com's mother. She is the apotheosis of the million heroic mothers who are to day sending their, boys te the front and it is not to be wondered at that she is one of the most applauded char acters of the pjay, Jn the hands of Mabel Bert, white haired and angelic, reviewers say, the role of Mother. Bucom is played with most .beautiful fidelity. There is the note in her portrayal which is' beyond all human emotions the fundamentally human. In one scene particularly does this Indescribable quality of her artis try reach ethereal heights, causing the audience to forget for the moment that they are watching a play and to won der whether' a miracle of transfigura tion has not been performed before their eyes. This. is the scene wherein Joe Basrom suddenly reappears in the home that he left as a young boy seven years be fore. The scene is. laid in the kitchen of the Bascom farmhouse. Mrs. Bat corn is reading her Bible, seeking to prove to herself that her boy must re turn from his seven years' wandering in answer to her prayers. Suddenly the old lady's sweet and gentle .face is raised, as if in response to some whispered call and her tired old eyes gaze into those of the son for whose return she has just been pray ing. For a moment neither stirs.- Then the old lady glides forward and takes the buy Jn her arms. Not a word is spoken. The mother's prayer has been' answered, as she knew it would be, .and when she speaks It is almost in a whipper, "Joey, my Joey, and you came right in the middle of my prayer." Then- suddenly-the mother slips from her boy's arms and falling on her knees, buries her head in the old rocking chair'and pours forth her soul in silent thanksgiving. Callous indeed must be the heart that is not quickened by sweet memories during thnt ' scene, and nerveless the eye that S not mjsted by its' gripping appeal. Over- at the Baker Theater the "Al cazar Flayers are going to put on a farce-comedy this week, one of the gay, rollicking sort that thoroughly entertain without - causing a brain storm in a futile attempt on the part of the audience .to solve something, "Too Many Husbands," the week's of fering, is the work of Barry Conner. It has an unconventional heroine, played by Ruth Gates, and of course the hero character is entrusted to the care of Edward Kverett Horton. The flavor of the farce is on the plan of "Toj Many Cooks" of a few weeks ago, one of the plays built for laugh ing purposes only. The heroine chases through most of the story clad in pajamas and a fur coat, there are crooks, policemen, rube constables and only the audience is let into the secret activities of the two dozen characters. It promises much fun and the entire cast of Alcaiar folk will support Hss Gates and Mr, Horton in the leads. Again the. Orpheum will favor us with another . extra Wednesday- night performance, an open date the Heilig permitting vaudeville . to hold sway. Like last week and the week vrevious, the Orpheum seems to have a good show to offer the popu lace. It is another four-star affair, two headlinera looming and two other big-type acts gracing the poster at the bottom. The headliners are Jack Wyatt and his Scotch lads and -.las sies and Charles Withers, in -''For Piti-'s Sake." At the bottom in big . type are Herbert Clifton, famous im personator, and Jim and Betty Mor gan, young singers and song compos ers, in their own .ditties,- . . .. They are real Scotch, Jack Wyatt and his lads and lassies, none of your Imitations, and their offering .Is. so entirely Scotch that it transports Its audiences mentally across the seas to bonnie Dundee, The scenery smells of the heather, apd you see the com pany of 11 dance the Highland -Fling-in their native kilties and tartans to typically Scotch, music. They sound the pipes and tap the drums and sing the braw belles of the Land of Heath er and roll their r's -until -it. sounds like tijrujD firing uij. toe western X front. Picturesque and deliciously Scotch ' Is- the act calculated with a clever eye and ear to "gladden the hairts of ev'ryyin an' er'rybody frae everywhere an' warrm the cockles o' the hairts o' thoosands o' Scottish bud dies." The Scot is a great patriot, no one can deny that. And Jack Wyatt says that one of the reasons for his act is to keep Americanised Scot from. for getting the beauties of their native land. The enthusiastic receptions ac corded him and his handsome lads and winsome lassies on the Orpheum circuit is proof positive that the American Sc.otchman can't forget his native land and' doesn't. Those of us who remember the days of the melodrama recall that' an actor wasn't an actor in those tjmea. unless he could "double," that is, play more than one role in the same production. The company supporting Charles Withers in "For Pity's Sake" has to be equally skillful and by the fact that- the member double' they' height en: the travesty and .make it even more mirth-compelling. Mr. With ers' company consists of nine persons, but they.pjay a score of characters. Herbert Clifton eame to vaudeville after beiivg- featured in the Ziegfeld "Follies of -1914."-where, it was gener ally conceded, he "ran away- ahead of the show." . From the time he left that organization, until now he has been a two-a-day feature. He ' has been ail over the world and has been In the show business from the days when- he wore knee-pant as a member of the old Moore and' Burgess Minstrels ' in London. . A. tew. years after that his voice "broke." and for a time it stopped his professional career. Then, by some strange freak of the vocal chords, he developed an almost feminine soprano voice. This is pnly apparent, how; ever, when he s-lngs and it Is upon this strange combination of voices, the male speaking and the female, singing, that much of- his comedy hinges. Mr. Clif ton is not a temaie impersonator, natn- er,-he s best described--as a burlesquer of female impersonators He assumes feminine attire, ranging from gorgeous creations to the ' gingham of a scrubwoman. Although- his act, for the 'most part, is given over to. comedy. serious note is struck when he ex hibits the wide range of his voice by singing some classical selections, such as Tosti s Goodby. Mr. Clifton is assisted by his wife, a winsome young woman,- who accom panies him on the piano and is, besides. the possessor of a delightfully appeal ing voice. Another musical comedy in miniature form toplines on -Fantages' new bill opening tomorrow Jn '.'The Honey Bee," featuring Billy Browning and 10 at- ti active busy buzzing bees Maurice Samuels and his players in "A Day at Ellis Island promises diversion, and half dosen other numbers hold promises of real entertainment at this popular home of vaudeville. 'TURS TO THE ' RIGHT" NEXT Melodrama, "With Comedy Side liglit, Opens at Heilig Thursday. With its peach blossoms, " its old fashioned mother and its nimble-wit ted young crpoks, "Turn the Right! comes to the Heilig Theater for three nights, beginning next Thursday, with matinees friaay and- Saturday. Winchell Smith and John I Golden are sending here the original Chicago cast and production and the play will be seen exactly as. -it ran for nine months at George M. Cohan's Grand Opera-House. "Turn to the Right!' will be presented -only in the larger cities rhis season. The story of "Turn to the Right! which is told in a prologue and three acts, deals with the regeneration of three wayward youths through the lova of a white-haired, saintly old lady, the mother of one of them. Though it bristles with good fun, its lesson goes straight to the heart and places the -play en a plane with "The Old Homestead." "Way Down East" and others of that rugged type. In its comedy lines and situations it bears a resemblance to "The Fortune Hunter,' and there is enough religious spirit to entitle it to a niche with "Ban-Hur.1 In the company to be seen here are: Ralph Morgan, Barry McCormack. Wll THJi LiUg TOE SUNDAY OltEGOXIAX. PORTLAND. DECEMBER 1G, 1917. A- I i W1 iam Foran, James H. Huntley, Bishop, Gene Lewis, Charles W Philip Gooi- rich, Samuel Lowenwlrth, Mabel Bert, Ethel Remey. Helen Collier, Dorothy Betts and Maude Fox. ORPHEUM HAS EXTRA BILL Managment Extends .Show to Wednesday Xlglit Again. Next Wednesday night again will be devoted to Orpheum vaudeville at the Heilig Theater, an open dale giving the Orpheum the privilege of presenting an extra performance of the show which will open with the matinee today. The new show is another four-star aggre gation, there being two headliners and two added attractions. The headliners are Jack Wyatt's Scotch lads and lassiea, one of the big hits of the 1916-17 Orpheum season, and Charles Wither in "For Pity's Sake," a travesty melodrama in four scenes. The extra attractions are Herbert Clifton in his travesties of the weaker sex. and Jim and Betty Morgan, com posers of the song. "Don't Bite the Hand That Is Feeding You." Jack Wyatt and his Scotch Lads and CHORUS IX t"TUE MKRHV LIAUS" i -s J?' -t" i $ " K " 4 ir V .-JUS ' 0 0:, rfzrr Lassies interpret a bit of Dundee enr tertainment into American flavor. The eompany of 11 hail from the land of the heather. . Charles Withers and his company bring a new act to the Western end of the circuit in "For Pity's Sake," a travesty, melodrama. In which . Mr, Withers stars as Cy Splivens, manager of the op'ry'-house. Splivens is not only the manager, but the stage mana ger, scene shifter, orchestra and janitor. While the melodrama is being staged Splivens is in full view in the stage loft, working the traps and handling the props, and with a trick ladder and a trick ear. is a scream to the extent that the audience . sometimes forgets what Is doing down below In the way of melodrama. In the Ziegfield Follies of 1911. Herr bert Clifton was entered in the running but was an exceedingly dark horse, as nothing whatsoever had been heard from him on this side of the ocean, although in the English music halls, according to report, he achieved considerable success. Much to the surprise of ail concerned, the dark horse caifie under the wire a winner, and the one big hit of that season's appearance was Her bert Clifton. His character impersorta- TU1S AVKKK. rJm&SZ&r.('T'-& 2 '". 'SVsx .SS.-- 7 -;;-YC'w,- C, '-t' Si -i mmmmmmmmm . k - K' 1 tions were flawless and gained for him a budget of commendatory dramatic criticism. Musicians, hardly more than a boy and a girl, are Jim and Betty Morgan who are known as composers of maiyr excellent so- a, Including "Don't Bite the Hand VW'at Is Feeding YQt" and "Cleopatra Had a Jasz Band." Remaining acts are Edwin George In "A Comedy of Errors"; Herbert's loop- the-loop and leaping canines, cats, pigeons and roosters, and the Levolos, a sensational act made conspicuous by the fact that every feat shown is brand new. The Orpheum Travel Weekly and the Orpheum Orchestra under the leadership of George E. Jeffery, in i 20-minute concert preceding every per formaoce, complete the show. . . FARCE IS BILLED AT BAKER "Too Many Husbands" Said to Be Brimful of Merriment. The seaond farce of the season will be presented by the Alcazar Players at the Baker for the week beginning this afternoon. Right in line with the first great success, "Too Many Cooks," this will be Barry Conner's ''Too Many Hus bands," said to contain more genuine laughs, more rapfd-flre action and more original and humorous character creations than any farce seen here for a long time. Itis best described as a three-story comedy structure with all modern improvements, lighted with brilliant situations, and fully venti lated with gales of clean, fresh, humor. Many romantic young girls of the present fasUmoving age would revel in just such adventures and matri monial difficulties as all but engulf one Peggy Colgate, heroine of ''Too Many Husbands." With no mother to guide her she has become addicted to novel reading and with a head filled with foolish ideas, goes forth. Her first venture is a flirtation in a motion picture house which ends in a wild elopement, followed by a missing husband she does not even know the name of; another elopement with a ceremony that dees not seem to take, and a whirlwind of mlxups introducing a number of startling characters and surprising situations that keep the audience up on its toes, as it were, guessing, laughing and holding its breath. Of course true love finds a way out of all these difficulties and there Is a happy ending to it all. Ruth Gates, Edward Horton and the entire com pany will appear to unuBually good ad vantage, and matinees will be given today, Wednesday and Saturday. PAXTACES HAS CLEVER BILX Programme Includes Stars Well Known to Vaudeville Audiences. Topped by the latest musical comedy success, "The Honey Bees," the pro gramme at Pantages for the week commencing with the matinee tomor row promises to be one of the big of ferings of. the season. , J. C. Brazse, who has sent Westward in the past numerous banner produc tions, has returned to the field, and in his initial 117 offering he has reached harmony in music, comedy, costumes. colors and girls. Billy Browning, who has been seen here as a road show star, Is featured In the ot for which Dave Peyton ar ranged the music and Nat LeRoy wrote the book. Costumes are by Mme. Mc Gregor Hull and the scenery is from the Sosman & Landia studios. The many song hits include "M-a-r-r-l-e-d Spells Married," "The Good Ship U. S. A.,' "That Hula Hula," 'Beware of Pink Pajamas." "The Butterfly and the Bee," 96. V iat f cz r- a nd "Oh, Mr. Mailman." There a frothy plot to the production, and it will provide the brightest of enter tainment. Maurice Samuels has made as much of a classic out of the dramatic play, A Day at Ellis Island" as Joe Jefferson did with "Rip Van Winkle" Mr. Sam uels as the Italian immigrant who tries, hard to become a real American', and with success, has a part that only Mr. Samuels, can . play and play . with , the true artistry which he introduces. Mr. Samuels is supported by a most capable company, and the act will be pne of the features of the bill. The Transfteld Sisters are. probably the best-known . musical women in vaudeville. They Introduce in their act the trombone, cornet, xylophone, saxo phone and ukulele. Their numbers are numerous and diversified and they are personally charming. West and Hale in their blackface travesty, their songs and their pranks. are most popular with those who de light in brisk fuu,. Their material is new and clever. Mle. Therese and' her company have one of veudeville's -noveltvee in which acrobatics and trained animals are happily combined.' Mile. Therese is a charming young Parlslenne who Is a favorite from the rise of the curtain. Flanders and Elster offer the best in piano selections and songs. They are an attractive duo and their presence adds much to the programme. Pearl White has a thrilling role In the loth episode of the great Pathe serial, The Fatal Ring," which Is fast drawing to its close. Keek Seun and his company of magic masters who have been creating a sen sation In the Hongkong mysteries, will .conclude their-, engagement with the continuous performance today from to 11 o'clock. LYRIC PLAY HAS REAL PLOT "The Merry Liar" Is New Vehicle for Billon and Franks. Dillon and Franks and tlje Lyric Musical Stock Company will prusent "The Merry Liars" for the week start ing this afternoon, and it is one of the biggest laughing: bills of the season TICKET OFFICE SALE OPENS TOMORROW IHEILIOl Next sg Higkls, Dec. 20-21-22 Popular-Fries Matinee Friday Special-Price Matinee. Saturday Winchell Smith and John J. Golden Present THE COMEPY THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER ----- i urn ir -i i" ' V A PLAY OF LOVE, LAUGHTER AND THRILLS By Wlnebell Smith (C-Author of Original Cast and Production as k.tz , Mine Months COMPANY Ralph Morgan Barry McCormack PhJIip Bishop Mabel Bert William Foran Helen Collier Gene Lewis Porothy Betts Samuel Lowenwirth EVENIN'O PHICES: Lower Floor, 11 rows, $2.00; 7 rows, 1.B Balcony. J1.00. f5c, 60c. Gallery, 60e. ' .111. MAT. Floor, fl.00. Balcony. 75c, 50c. Gallery. 50 c. SAT. M-VT. Floor, $1.60. Balcony, J1.00, 75c, 50c. Gallery. 60c. CITY AID OUT-OF-TOWN MAIL HEILIG Jg&T- Nights, Dec. 26-27-28-29 Special Price Matinee Saturday Selwyn and Company Present AMERICA'S FASTEST AND FUNNIEST FARCE . Fair and EVENINGS Floor, $1.50. Balcony, SATURDAY MATINEE Floor, $1. showing the two favorite comedians, t Mike and Ike, attempting to shield a young scapegrace nephew of Mike's and save him an Inheritance. "? Bill, the nephew, has pretended that he has been in business in America when in reality he has been on a wild; pleasure trip and his home-coming Is fraught with difficulties. Mike starts t to fix it up with Aunty, who controls - the moneybags, and he uses poor lKa -as the goat. Ike Is forced to disguise ; himself and play the part, but mean- - while Bill also fixes it in his own in- dependent way. Wires get crossed and in the mix ups poor Ike nearly gets his finishing touches. The mass of fabrication finally becomes too much it gets top- -heavy and everything conies down on the heads of the merry liars with a -crash. But with the confession of a"; couple of love stories that have en- tercel Into the plot. Aunty's heart Is . touched and she forgives them all. "The Merry Liars" carries more of a genuine plot than is usually found in . the Lyric shows and there will be also -more than the usual number of song .' hits. Among these will be "Ramona." . "By the Old Wishing Well.'" Joseph Howard's "Indian Love- Song," and v. others. Matinee every day. and two -feature nights Tuesday with the Coun try Store and Friday's ' chorus girls' contest. .... SIXGIXG ' ACT HEADS HlP BILIj ' Contortionists, Roller Skaters, Boom- " crang Throwers to Appear. Hippodrome patrons are promised one of the most brilliant musical num bers of any on the circuit, with the new bill of vaudeville this afternoon. The act Is called the Sorrento Quintet in "A Neapolitan Fantasy," consisting of exclusively ensemble singing, Italian, French and English and instrumental music on guitars and mandolins. The Brads, a man and woman, will present a conception consisting of feats of contortion, tumbling and gymnastics that is said to demonstrate wonderful ability. The number is billed as "Sunshine Cut-ups," and 1 laughable enjoyment is the sunshine of l ConclutW'd till l'ae .". Column tl. REMEMBER Two Mats. FRIDAY 50 TO $1 SATURDAY 50 TO $1.50 The Boomerlng") and John K. Haxsard Played One Year in New York and i : "i.: in Chicago INCLUDES Maude Fox Ethel Remey Jas. H. Huntley Chas. W, Goodrich George Spelvin ORDERS REC'D NOW $1, 75c, 50c. Gallery, 50c. Balcony, $1, 75c, 50c. Gallery, 50c Wsurmeir