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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1905)
.. ,f. ! . . . THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL PORTLAND. SUNDAY MORNIKO. Il.r.CII fl. X: V " MD.;: FORBES D.GBEIITS IN "LOVE AND THE MAN"- I . . . By' JULES BCKBRT OOOPMAN. 'v-'? '. x LEAUEE. BOSS of you who witnessed the . Columbia stock company' - . eel lent production of 01d Hel- ! ' ' derberg" last week mar recall T a, dosen or mora supernumeraries who . Dosed during two acts of tho play as i 'university students. Wherein ths stag tama ooened a new -field of endeavor. Ths -super has been a fixture In tha drama from the earliest stages of Its i dtvioDDit Wi have seen him as 'soldier and serf, prince and peasant, and ' always with a f eeling of dread at bis 'approach. .His most frequent appear ' aacea, perhaps, have been with halberd or spear, but oftentimes ne naa ex- c ban red these for musket or sword. -Hi participations ? as ' a "clttsen," under which classification the extra hand may run the gamut from mobocrat to aristo- erat 'have been - Innumerable.' - Full . many a time he has (owned himself as ; (rand duke and pauper In ' the course .of one. evening, and at last has at- - tained. tne supreme eminence or aium- j. bling over a rue while announcing tha arrival or milord' carnage. i " But all these former glories fade Into 'oblivion, v The "super" has he so me a student. A. studs nl. of--Heidelberg at -.' that. Heldbelberg. where frolie Is rem anent and cars - unknown where the I. brains of Oormanyare thawed out and r molded Into great forms, which push :' the empire along It path of progress. .,'': It Is Idle to descant on the stupM stage presence of the "super." He '-- never' was at- home on the stage, and do matter what walk of life he may rep resent, he looks, feels and acta unlike :' the thing ha should be. And yet the "super" is indispensable. His absence would be mor noticeable than bis blun ders. To carry actors for all the roles. . . played by "supers" would be obviously ,; : lmpractieable. even "Mansfls and - Botbern, with all the care and pre ' claton, which attend - their productions, ' , have been, unable to entirely overdbm .the objectionable necessity of extra hand. -r .- v.'.; . y However awkward and unsightly the f supernumerary ' may be, it is unques v Uonably true that he has undergone a, .'steady evolution within the peat 1 ' , years. ; ' Where, the outsider', ' hastily called In to fill' In some emergency did .- bis part without compensation, or, at 4- moat, for a few complimentary admhv "' skona to the Performance In which he ". .took part, manager nowaday - pay .'from e cents 'to II for each perform ' . ance. For this they expect some quai : Jty. ' It may be either a good physical -f appearance, a heavy voice, oe graos of : " manner." Never - were the -three eom i , 'blned In a "super,'" else he would not -' have beea one. A story la told of Ed , win Forrest, the tragedian, which la aa ' pileabl to present conditions Just as '.'-' dearly as It was to those of his day.- -' Forrest -was conducting -a - rehearsal, '. k which to him was a serious and Impor tant performance. ' "everything went - well tiatll it same time for one of the 'supers" to speak a single line, which .. fell to him In the character' of a ser vant. The line wss: - "My lord, tho duke has returned In great anger.? -ft . v The line was delivered in such an Insipid manner that Forrest wss filled with rage. . Stamping his ' foot and clenching his hands, the tragedian cried. "That will never' Ho. Never! Try It again.' The second attempt wag worse than the first. , I The Irritation of the celebrated actor V Increased until finally, taking the .cen- tar of the stage, ha said to tha uafor--tunate "super"; "Watch me. and listen ''.'to me, and you will see how' the part i, should be acted. Then, walking down toward the foot llgnta, hastily, he dropped on one knee. '. ' threw out his cheat, and exclaimed. In , l a deep, melodious voice, "My lord, the ' duke has returned In great anger.' It , was perfection, of course, snd Forrest ?i looked at his subordinate with an air : i which) seemed to say: "Why don't you v - do It la that fashion V " . The man lifted his. hand la respect ' ' and remarked , L"Mi- Forreet, If yea v will permit me. I would like, to make ' aa observation." 'Certulnly,- replied: Forrest, "go ? . Jr---r"-- '. "it is simply this, sir; If I was able ' . to deliver the Jlnf as-yoo have done . ,1 would not be working here;, Mr. Tor , , reat, for $ a week.'' - ' - Forres Joined la the roar of laughter lhat followed,-and the pert remark of 'the "super" so Interested him that be '.took the man. under his .training, and ' soon gave him a regular posftloa in his oompany. ,.. $.; '.; , . . r .,-t. - . --' -f - In recant years, more than formerly, the supernumeraries ' have been Impor tant factors In ths making of a play. ; For Instance, when 'The lit was put , on In New fork Manager W. A. Brady n tared 400 men to take part la the celebrated wheat eichange . seene. His Idea was t make this the most lm nresalvo sotne of the sort aver attempt' i . ' ' i , . f , - . '. ' , V , : . li ' v :.' "' ' ' - ' "1 '(: ' ''' ed. and the critics were united In credit lng him with success beyond his most sanguine expectation! Indeed, It has been said that toe mob scene saved the play. , u : - . In days gone by it was the custom for show., to advertise f or, "sups" as they were needed. That custom la practically obsolete. It waa always un satisfactory, for white nuqdreda ' of men and . women applied at rne stags entrance, few of . them filled tre re- qulrementa of tho stage manager. Now adays, every wellrf gulated theatre keep a book containing the names and addresses of the extra people available in the city and they are notified when wanted. " la the larger cltlee competent "supers" find almost steady employ ment throughout the theatrical season. v w . RACK WHITNET. SMALLTALK OF STAGE The them of "Marta of the low lands"' haa beea employed la a, twe-aot opera produced In Paria. - Tha 'charact ers are Russian Instead of Span la h. , Tbe Education, of Mr. Pipp"- has bad Its' first heartna. H1U were made by Kate Pen In Wilson, Jennie Buataoe and the prompter. - -It Is probable ' that Blanch Walsh will lead a stock company In New York next season, under the management of Wsganhals. and Kemper, . with . Robert Drouet as leading man. ' . Before soiling for London recently. Charles Frohman announced his plans for, ths rest of the season, as follows: The farewell engagement of William Gillette In "Sherlock Holmes' at , the Empire: the appearance In the spring of Annie Russell In "Jinny, the Car rier": the production of the farce, "The Mountain Climbers." and a new musical production -with Ram Bernard. - Margaret Angnn nan proaucea , .irm. a new emotional play by Usury Miller and Hartley Manners. ' ' . .- Robert' Dawning: contemplates a re vival of Toodlea" la New Tork. PhU Rogoway. the local . dramatist who haa "The Day of Atonement," "Re pentance" and several others to bis credit, ha Just copyrighted "Joseph la Egypt a three-act romance irom tna Bible. ' M. Wltmark A Son have bad eopy. lighted a lot of burlesque oa Shake speare's plays, written by one .Frank Dumont., From the burlesque title the articles them selves will bs no funnier then tho usual attempt. ... y - Julie Heme haa appropriated her father' quill and turned out a play called '-R tenter's Wife,' which wUl soon go on tour. Mary Mannerlng will begin her New Tork engagement la '''Nancy, Stair", at the Criterion theatre March It. Amelia' Bingham ha a new vehicle, entlUed "Mademoiselle MarnV .tn which shs will appear la New York aoon. Captain Bonavlta, the lion tamer. whose wonderful performances were features of Coney Island, last season, has had to have his right arm ampu tated because of an attack made oa him by on of hi big beasts daring an exhlbitloa. . t . . i , 1 - Upon his return to London. George HVIwarftee, - the English manager,- oa clared that New Tork' theatres are far superior ' to those of London In archi tectural beaoty. ' . , It Is a singular fact that almost on the 'Very day that Ada Rehaa reap-, peered as Lady Teasle, fire forced Lil lian Rassell to quit playing It. . - , Theatre ticket a peculate ra In Boston weiti badly bitten recently during the "Checkers" - engagement. Anticipating the big, demand for seats, they pur chased block of tickets for every per formance, i Immediately the manage ment discovered It . they' secured four megaphons men, placed two tn front of the theatre and two at the next corners of ths street, on at . either, place, so that everybody might ' receive warning that tickets purchased on the sidewalk would not be received at the door. The speculators got rid of a -number of their holdings by 'moving farther up the street, but toward the test of the week 'they capitulated and aeoepted the offer ef the management ' to, redeem ' their ticket at purchase, value and quit The tickets were then , sold to the regular playgoer."-". - - "Old HwllbT.' Never before, la . the bWsiory of the Columbia theatre, or la faot la the an nala of any stock company In Portland, haa there been such demand . for a pro duction that the management.. deemed It necessary to -continue It Into another week. There never has been such an elaborate and beautiful production given In stork her before, and tha public, quirk to - realise when It la getting something that If unusual or out of the if r MONOLOGUES. " ordinary,; bar continued to lock to the Columbia In such largely - Increasing numbers, with each successive perform ance that t hero is no other-thing to do but to continue the play as ths publlo demand a It. Hence It will bo seen again at the Sunday .matinee and evening per formance and for at least three more performances . Including : Wednesday night, and It Is not ' Impractical to be lieve that Its success will continue for another solid week. . "Old Heidelberg" is Indeed worthy of all the plaudits It baa received from sincere press critics and an -exacting public' It .la a 12 show for ( cents, complete, perfect and as nearly without a flaw as la possible. Ths performance haa been shortened at -least Z minutes. by cutting down many delays thst were unavoidable In the beginning, and aa tha' large number of extra people and supernumeraries have become more per fect In their parts the whole thing goes with a dash and vim that will make It seem almost aa entirely new production to thews who-saw it this past week. No one will regret having aeon "Old Heidel berg" the second time, it is a piay one could see many times, and appeals to all persons tn every walk of uxe. it la the reeUaattoa of the children fairy tale; it appeals to every throb of ro- MOT IB. UW awmrxm fc v mot- older. oeoDlc It recalls many nappy asye. college life and dreams of the days when life' aun shone the brightest ? Branson Howard' masterpiece, ."Aris tocracy," IS Id preparation to follow the nhenomenal run of . "Old . Heidelberg." and timely announcement will be made of the opening data. ... f.-.r .,..' A"1- ; , Creatorc'g ItaUga Band. . In the hand of Creator, who, with his famous band, comes to the Marquam Grand theatre Monday, and Tuesday nights, March and 7, with a popular nrtoe matinee Tuesday at a o cioca, mu sle become, not only on of the one arts but an exact science, aa well. No one who haa heard- bla splendid organisation will dsn that the band which Creator controls so completely and to aucn gooa ouroose Is tbe best balanced to be round anywhere. .Than thla no better evidence could be desired ox creator anility as a musical general and past master of the art of instrumentation. One of Creators' pet bobble la the wood-wind or reed section of his band. To thla collection of instruments he pay particular attention, and rehearse the men who play them to a point Involving the finest results which can possibly be produced with thla class of instruemnta. 8UU. In bla attention to the reed section. Creator doe not forget tbe bras In struments. Remarkable results .are not secured la a day. and. to preserve them, whea one attained. Is no light matter. The balance la arrived at by the utmost" oar at rehearsals, when Creator la.-la- tha habit ef rehearsing each section sepa rately, even extending his attentkm to the musicians individually. uaatorr program: - , . March , evening. . March, "Tannbauser. Wagner Overture. "Mlgnon" Thomas Teraette from "AUfla"... ....... Ver.1l goio by Signer! Tommaalno, ForceUatl and ran sco. . Organ. Offertory ............;. Batiste Suite, "Scenes Plttoresquee". .Massenett ' tai jssreae. " b) Alf do Ballet1' : - (c) Angelus. --y . ' . ' (d) .Fete Boherae. - ' , - .':' -.: Harp solo, "Tama Coa Varlaaione" . . . . ..,ti Wagner - "SlgsorC Sodero. Orertasa, "Tannhauaer"... ... ..Wagner March T, evening i ... - March. "Royal Purple"....,. Creatore Overture, "Zampa" Herald Prelude and Nacre Scene, Act 1. 'Par sifal" ....iw.. Warner Miserere, 1 Trovatere" ..... i . . .Verdi Solo by Slgnort Tommaaaino and For- eeiiati, , Minuet ..,..........,.' Paderewskl Harp solo, "Vala da Coaserto". . . . j. . ,,....... ...... ........ Halsemaln Birnor C Sodero. Orand selection. "Carmen" Blast March T, matlneex - . - March, - "American Navr", .... .Creator Overture, "William Tell" Rossini Funeral march. ...... Chopin Sextett from ,Luela"r. . 4 . .DonlsetU Solo by' Slgnorl Tommaalno, Sementa ForoellatL Ptodrillo, Tansco and Glove, Waits. "Blue Danube" Strauss Harp solo, "Pensee Poetkjoe".., .Lebano 81gnor C. Sodero. , Retnlnlscences ef Scotland.,,,,, Godfrey .-,.'5 '''-: " V,j ;.':(. 'Thg, Virt-inigji." ;vf.;' .; '; Owen' Wlatr., the dramatisation of whoa successful novel, "The Virginian.' Is to be keen at the Marquam on- Thurs day and Friday night and Saturday af ternoon, March is, it and II. does not In any way starrest by bis manner, speech or appearance a man who haa spent a good part of years In ths BlMol Mr nf Ik, iuil a-.! '.., that is what thla eastern writer of vivid fad. absorbluj eowbojr toiie ha dona. fiOBBNT- ATHQM-- Since early In the '0's he has made an annual trip of several months' duration to the land ef the long-horned steer. If Mr. Wlster-s description of ranch life are graphic If his insight Into the spirit of the west seems to be acute, If his feeling for western Instincts are a tree re and If the cowboy character In hi stories ring true. It Is because he writes at first hand and because, through year of living in the far west he has come to love It and Its people. - 7, --,. Th Earl 4t Pgwtucket," v. Ths Earl of Pawtucket with lUw, rence COrsay and ths original New Tork company, comes to the Marquam Grand,. theatre for three nights begin ning March It. v ' Augustus Thomas', sprightly comedy will prove a distinct revelation to Port land theatre-goers. The engagement Is notable from- the fact that Xwrencv COrsay. the star about whose nerson. allty Mr. Thomas states that hs wrote the play, will, of course, be seen In his old -role of lrd Cardtngton, the run away English peer, whose attempts- to disguise, himself aa an American - nl him into all sorts of humorous diffi culties. ( ... . .. , , -. , v , "Your Neighbor Wife." ' The attraction booked at the Empire theatre for Friday and. Saturday god Saturday matinee Is a sparkling comedy from the pen of Charles Ellis, "Tour Neighbor Wife." The title suggests a series or complications that should Interest comedy, lovers. There is noth ing ' risque or offensive: all is cure. wholesome laughing material, Reports from ths cities where this attraction has played on Its way from tbe east are very nattering. The company numbers over 1 people, and one of the bright particular star in tha theatrical world Is Mister Wilfred Dunbar, who has won the title carried for so many years by ths late Charley Reed. "Just - the plain comedian." , Another actor of na tional reputation is James T. JfcGov- am. . whoso clever Imitations of the tramp character haa mad him famous In .th Urge eastern cltlee. Master Wil fred Dunbar aa "Buster Brown," wh l ramlllar to every man, woman and child, particularly ths children who have read of his prank with high glee, will, no doubt attract great attentioa at the Saturday matinee, . . -. . ; Mahara'a Minstrel. V Th famous - Mahara'a operatic rgln atrala, announced for an engagement of four nights at the Empire theatre, be ginning with th usual matinee today (special matinee win also be given on Wednesday). I a superb combination of tbe best and moat popular ef opera, travesty, vaudeville, music, snappy spe cialties, beautiful costumes, funny co medians, novel dance, special scenery, brilliant electrical effect, pretty1 girls, picturesque ensembles, . bewildering drills and all ths latest song hits and many new and original stage novelties. The entire performance I presented by a metropolitan organisation of the fore tnoet colored ' singers, comedian and specialty artist of their race In Amer ica, More bright music and entertain ing ' vaudeville numbers are crowded Into two and a half hours of Mahara'a minstrels than- would supply half a dosen of th ; average mualcal faro comediea . . ,. . .-;.. ,' a--.;a'-- ,; . ; The Grand Theatre. .. v The Grand theatre thla week ha th greatest list of attraction which It ha sver offered th Its patrons. Dan Mason, king'of mirth makers, formerly of Ma son and Mason, head the bilh His work I well known her and be Is en extra ordinary attraction... Charles, and Edna Harris will present a new sketch entitled "The Dark Eyed Widow." Palmer end Robinson will-' offer "The Sorcerer and the Soubrette," a very excellent attrac tion. Th whole turn Is full of novelty. In addition to the sterling features the Grand will present Sylvester, Jones and Pringle, tbe greatest minstrel 'trio In American vaudeville. , They are direct from Chicago.' 'Morrell and Evans, an operatic duo, will also appear In a reper toire of high das selections of the nrast attractive character. . Last week Alf Bonner mad a pronounced bit with his song, and .with "In the Shade of the Old Annie Tree " hs will mora than r,r,t his success. The grandloaoope pictures wiu be a eties of th latest Parisian films. , '' --. ,. , ' ' ' " - ;"- . '7- Tha Star Bill ' ; The Star Is th popular family theatre of tbe city, and accepta pothUif but the I ryjtXJR'lI0RD0Z5 WtFE KT TKB BalTOvm)arT. best attractions. Th bill-thla week U aa follow': Ascott Eddi Co., - tbs vaudeville gems, la a novelty ' sketch entitled. Things Will - Happen"; IOne, In a spectacular sensation, an electric revelation, a symphony la colore, "JLa Dance do r Monde"; . the- renowned Washer .brothers, tire ' original boxing midgets; Hansen - and Drew, In ' their comedy -playlet ' "Breaking Up House keeping"; . Del Adelphta, ths king of magicians: Arthur Jackson, . In . illus trated songs, and the Edison projecto- scope, showing, Imported film of - the latest subjects, v - J If you want the best follow th crowd to th Star this week, and you will get It - It should be remembered that on account of the length of the program only one performance Is given - In th afternoon and two In the evening. The price of admission remains . tbe same. The new .bill, opens Monday ' aftsrnoon at 9 p. m. ,.-... s 7 :;-..-.'.; ; .- .(;' New Bill at the Baker. 'This week's" bill at "the Baker Is a list of star attractiona in vaudeville acts.' The new bill opens Monday after noon and is aa follows: Wilms -slaters. popular duetlsts; John Welch, the fun niest man to visit the coast ths three aerial Stuarts, very clever gymnasts; Weaver and Jones, ; funmakere; Alf James, monologulst; zondo, world s igreateet contortionist; Gene Wilson, la illustrated song; Fern Comedy eur, la a comedy, singing sketch, end the blo grepa In a mils of new moving pictures. Tea big acts to please the publlo for a small sura. ., Ths -other bouse are fall ing Into line with the Baker policy of on performance In the afternoon and two -in th evening. The present . bill hold over tonight . 1 . ; " At the Lrric" ,' ;;".-' Th popular' Lyric atock company, which haa made such a pronounced hit with Its clever productiona, will pro duce for the week commencing Monday the sensational drama- to four acta, "Master and Man." Th scene of the. play la laid In th Cascade mountains and tells ths story of a little mountain girl and the r. thrilling experience hs goes through in order to save her sla ter's' sweetheart from the gallows for a crime, he never committed. The mys tery Is finally, cleared up. through , the earnest endeavor of an Irish lad, a ser vant 01 ths .. household. . The play abound tn heart Interest, "., and at the same time Is Interspersed with delight ful comedy. The finish of the third act, which show a big storm at sea. Is si id to bs on of th most thrilling effects ever put on a stage. The management promises a finished 'production. High olaas vaudeville will be Introduced be tween acta. - Ladles will be admitted f res on Monday night v when aeconu psnled by anyone purchasing a 10-cent ticket before 7:39 p. m. Doors open Monday night :4I o'clock. -' 'r Concert ta a Wall. ' .- .; From' the London Dally Mall. For- many year there ha been a scarcity of water at Woolley, Hunting donshire, th result being that when at last a new well waa dug the villagers thought It a moat Important event. A rellglou service was - conducted s round tbe well, all the women and chil dren Afterward being entertained at tea. In the evening tha men ef the hamlet as sembled at -the bottom of the Well, which was, of course, dry.' After a prayer by the Rev. A. E. Farrat, tbe rector, there were song and speeches, and refresh ment were handed round. '. - - Where Urge Ar Currency. , From the Dublin Lady of the House. Errs ar current coin In Mayo, Kerry. Donegal and Lsltrlm. ' They ar every where received over the counter In pay ment for tea, sugar, meal, oil, bread, to bacco, patent medicine and general hab erdashery. . Account ar kept open and good supplied on credit In eggs. Preda tory agents traveling through the wljds with- worthless teaa. Itinerant tinker and mustdsns. polish Jews hawking tin sel jewelry and holy pictures, all accept this current coin, generally unloading It at the pea rest railway, towu . tv "TEW YORK Feb. tl. Dorothea Is IXI Dorothea is tnus a T""" I lady." Every Saturday matlne , , Dorothea goes to ths theatre with on or another of her "young lady" friends. They Invariably gat (seat In the top 'gallery, take along a f ohocelatea and wear their best Beside thla Dorothea goea during th . week, once or twice perhapa, downalalrs with a 'gentleman friend." ' " . The Dorothea who .goes upstajra with her girl friends and a box cjxqcolates, however, is quite a different Dorothea from the Dorothea who goea downstair with a "gentleman, friend." 'The Doro thea of the upstair 1 a spontaneous, happy,, natural creature,' come Intent to enjoy - and- enjoying;, the Dorothea -of downstair is a critical young miss who with true femlnln instinct ."feel her escort' opinion and expresses It aa.lf It were her own. Ask the Dorothea of tha upstair ; What she thought of the play and she will answer: "Oh, I think Maude Adams Is Just too lovely for any thing!" Ask the Dorothea of tha down stairs and she, will sagsly say; "A rather clever play, butdon't you think It lt sentimental T And there you are, . When we go-to the theatre. Just what do we go to eT Is It a pUy or 1 It ..iimt ' A phoaen few demand bolh. acting, perfectly expressing story and character. But, ths vst majority aoairv primarily, If the truth were known, act ing. It la to see Miss Rehan or MU Adams or Mr. Drew or Mr. Mansfield, not to sea th play In which they are appearing. I know of a certain promi nent actress who - oald to a dramatist with whom she waa negotiating for a play: - "Don't forget in maxing your term that It is f anu noi " whom ths naoDle are coming to see. The statement waa not egotism; it was the literal . truth, at least ms meri -... her ui and the general truth of flv year ago.. The point la: do people nowadays go mrreiy ..to. see act ing t r- 4 -;.v'vv ' "'' : ! Even th ordinary theatre-goer can notice a change In th audience ef re cent year. They have oecoro more critical and more ' exacting. , Except In one' of two signal exceptions the artlet must hava a play behind him or be -cannot make good; that Is. ha must hsv; a play pf fair merit and one which will exhibit those qualities In his acting that havs won him hi buocesa. Ana tnc reasons whIch-haV-tedr-to-thl-taU of affatra'ar not hard to trace. . First and foremost the tystem' 'tf creating "stars" overnight has made peo ple skeptical. - There ar too many svars today; too few real actor and actresses. Secondly, with the rise of the modern realistic drama of such men as Ibs-m and Ptnero and. Indeed, the whole mod ern echool, a publlo haa been educated which la eacn oay. growing mwi m more to look upon plays as literature. The dramatists have forced audiences to think about and. discuss their work It mattered -not who appeared tn a play like "Tbe eoond Mra. Tanqueray," for example, -whether It was Mrs. Kendall or Ml Nethersole or Mrs. Campbell; after all was said and don about the acting you had to consider the play. Tbe modern dramatist naa lorcea nis audience to think of bin, and to .take him seriously, V -- -- - On top 'of this and for the moot part contingent upon there has been a change la acting fromTOie old sweeping suge-lllllng sort to the' modern realistic method. Th romantic aotor of a decade or more ago waa usually distinguished especially for one or two roles, which be played at about stated Interval. HU mathoda were auch that th emphaals waa put entirely upon the acting and it. was the actor powr. that held'th audience. Tbe modern naturalistic act ing throws th spectator back on the piay for a Judgment or ins actors won. Aaaln the olay cornea Into prominence. - Theoretically at least then th play I becoming mor and more eacn oay to be tbe thing.' A a matter of fact thouah. a great Dart If not the majority ef nresent day audiences, are like Doro thea of the upetalra. Thr have beep examples this winter of poor piay wnicn have ran several week, until th per sonal appeal of the star haa worn off a pure case of acting winning our. over tbe play. Asd there la at thla moment a phenomenally aucceaaful play on the board which I triumphing solely be cause of the acting of tbe star.- On th other band certain play with r. well known player In tbsm have failed out right no amount of popularity or act ing belag able to carry tnem larougn. For the most part however, It will- be found that these plays offered no chance for acting, er else were Inadequately acted, exhibiting their - principle per former In A bad tight Tat underneath all thla thsr can be seen element at work and these element point la no uncertain light to th fact that th drama ia faat coming back into Its own, that It 1 ceasing t be a mere vehicle for displaying the personality of soma actor or aetress and I each day de manding more for Itself.. - ' t ' .r t , , ' The Aotor and las Flay. -A rather good example of this waa the experience of Mr. Forbes Robertson Isat season with Klpllnra "The Light That Failed." Mr. Robertson Is one el , th finest actors od the stags. ' HI elo cution 1 a marvel of richness and de light His acting ta characterised by alt that 1 artistic and true. Yet not even he could drag the dramatised Kip ling story, to success, and before the season waa ever . he had to substitute "Hamlet," in which hs won signal and Instant praise. Last Monday Mr. Rob ertson returned, to New , York In a new play by H. V. Esmond. It remain to be seen If he will not have to have re course again to Shakespeare, Of all the plays seen In New York this season, Mr. Esmond's "Love and the Man". Is' on of the most difficult to Judge fairly and to estimate correctly. In Its eeeentlal putllnea It I so splendid and In ons or two part of It construc tion so fraught with potential strength and verity, that It seems hardly possible that Its . author . could have failed to create a really great play. Mr. Esmond Is no novice and he haa written some very successful plays and some - very delightful ones. Is . there anyone who ha not seen "Whea We "Were TWenty- Ona" and enjoyed itT , sentiment, l Mr. Esmond' strong fort, and In on or two play he rise far. above mere sentiment and alma at the subtle and meaning. .' H he aimed at the, subtle, snd meaning In "Love and th Man." He come rloa to bitting it - - . -J Gerald Wagoneur ha . distinguished himself In parliament. Bo strong Is his position that it Is common talk that he Is In line for the premiership. At Just this moment,' the turning point In hi career, there cornea into hi life the Inevitable woman. She I Lady Gaud- mlnster, who for If year ha endured- so we are repeatedly told the almost Insufferabls cruelty and barbarity ef her husband, who Is a cripple; a fact which doe not prevent him from being a brut, in the second act th drawing room In th Oaudmlnster Souse, you see tht amiable gentleman playing a gam of bridge and making himself generally dlsagreeabl while hi wife puts the prod to her training and trio to be the charnUpg. boat, . - -, Then too bear that Lord Oaudmlnster has had Lady Oaudmlnster dog killed because he ha mad too much noise. As ths lady receive thla new you ar told that a storm la brewing. The storm break after Lord Oaudmlnster haa re tired and ths guest nave gone Wegoa eur cornea and the lady open hsr heart and tells him all that, shs haa suffered. There Is- a splsndld scan where th two confess their love, and at the same time the hopelessheea of it J Then Lord Gaudmtnater I wheeled In hi Invalid' chair back Into the room and acouss them.. The finest bit of ths play fol lows where Wagoneur tella th lord that he ' loves Lady Gaudmtnater and . that they are about to leave the . house to gether, just, aa they are: passing through the door Lord - Gaodmlnsur say. "Would you kindly ring th bell for my man!" Th curtain goea down upon the line, ' - :.,,: -,-.5-,- . The third act finds Wagoneur haying given up bis career and living under th same roof, but In perfectly honorable relations, with Lady Oaudmlnster, in r iv vora ueuaminsier a pre text for a divorce. It 1 Just her that the lady dtecover that ah la "keeping the man whom she. lovas from hi career and. a telegram eorelng from her husband, offering to take her back and. keep silent over the past ahe determine ' to free Wsgoneur and sacrifice her lov to hi destiny, , .-Y,', . By act four soma month have elspscd. ' Wagoneur ha become- prime minister. It I a crisis iB the -nation At thla moment when hi presence la abso- . lutely necessary "to avert ruin to the" country there, come , a meaaagr from . Lady Oaudmlnster that ahe la dying and 1 waging aim 10 com to fler.- la the struggle between his 4ov and duty be choose -duty. , . . - Act five show that th lady did not really die. She I very 111. butTrhe baa grown better.' The husband, too, la ap- . parentiy very much eirr.- with dia bolical gunning be plana- to entrap hi wife and Wagoneur together, and , a manage to ' com upon them 'Just ' a Wsgoneur ia kneeling at Lady Gaud, minster's . feet He now , retracts hi promt to keep silent longer, and call In an ' the servants t tell them th scandal, and thus at a blow to destroy both his wife' reputation and that of a man who - baa been honorabl In hi lov for her. . There 1 a rather Intense scene - between T-the - hueband and - the - lover, th one attempting to speak and th other insisting that hs shall not. . Ia th midst of thla kind fat. In th shape of death; steps In and kindly remove the husband from the scene. -, - Bieca aa faifrtoaJ4ty. '; . At bottom such a theme aa may be seen' from even this ' cursory tailing la Intensely dramatic Ths 1qv of two honorabl people, auch aa Wagoneur and Lady Oaudmlnster for -each other, th Impossibility of that lov on 'on aide and th struggle "between love and duty on th other, la a atory charged with great value and surgestlvs of real tragedy.. Th treatment must however, be upon' a high plan and far removed from sentimentality and mere theatri cality, it must, be .absolutely' con vincing and Inevitable In ita . telling. It la Just, hers that Mr. Esmond, fail a. Ia tha. first, act we have an. overheard conversation, .terminating U.a.jilghly sentimental . scene... where ; Lady-i rfQaud-, minater places her bands on the-, bead of the aleeptnr Wagoneur and ha dream Uhat she aoe . thla. Straight, - through th play there ar touches like this, little speeches and acta that barely skate over the -danger point of the ridiculous and th super-sentimental. 'When Lady Gaud mluater in tbe second act says that tha killing of her dog was the straw that' broke th Camel's back well you had to make an effort to keep within the at mosphere of th play. - And yet aid by aid with this sort of thing, there are bits se fine and', splendid that they almost etarti. That curtain of the second act after tn lovers have declared their lov to th husband and ar leaving him, a crtppl la his chair, la little short of magnifi cent. Again in the fourth act where Wagoneur must choose between going to tbe lady and going to th cabinet meeting, the line ring with quiet truth and power, And finally. Just after, the death of tbe husband, where Lady Oaudmlnatr says, "Let us kneel," there 1 a splendid Una said by .Wagoneur. "No, God la a just God; w . cea facet nim atanaing. . , - Th play I thus a' at ran re mixture of tbe dramatic and th purely, theatric, of the true and the sentimental, of th real and th romantic ml Robertsoa doe wonder with Itr bringing to th role of Wagoneur a perfection . of art that lifts- It and makes yeu forget any Improbability at least for tha tlme b- lng. - If for no other reason, merely to sos th acting of Mr. Robertson thla play la worth watching for. HI Is of the type of acting seen only too rarely upon th slag. Which after all Is a proof pf our statement at tha begins lng of. tola article - v , ,.; ,. '. "AawaJI aad Orae CJeorg, - i " Thar la a good deal of . novelty and some charm too In the new play pro duced last Tuesday at tha Savoy with Mis Qrae George In the title part' It I called "Abagall," and ha to do with a prim little girl who oomes down from Masaachusetta to New York to earh a living. 6he kettle In a typical (?) New York boarding or rooming bouee, 'the kind, with the coarse. Inquisitive land lady and the Bohemian roomer, On on aid of Abagall. there Uvea Sylvia MoCann, an artist and on th other Theodora . Robbing. ' a singing teacher. " The atmosphere Is Very "Informal." Here Abagall start to make har own living and 11 v the life of the city.,. About her first act la- to fall, in lov with a. young man, John Kent who happens t be in love with Theodora.. You tnay Jump from this part In the story to-th last act, where Abagall haa Inherited f 12. 000, too and ha become on of th "four hundred." but I still in lov with John, who - bs - been away , to South America.- but - who 1 return in tlma to propose to Sylvia Over th 'phone.- k f The setting ef this play Is novel and out of the ordinary Its characters, too. are away from the beaten track and the line ar, fairly humorous. Throughout th comedy element ar well managed. It la only when It coma to th sentl- (Contlnued on Page Seventeen. ) 2l t MAKER WACm3IGT0N ST , ' OP f, ' PORTtAMtt fiCNsTf" "f.r", '.1 . - - ' '. . .
