The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-29

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Palmer and Charles Frohman of the
new.
The second debut made by Harry
Corson Clarke was nearly 20 years af-
ter the first He did not discover his
line of work, however, until he under
took the eccentric comedy character of
the stage manager in Nam zele." This
was his first pronounced success. Near
ly all of his work since has been con-
fined to eccentric comedy. Attracted by
his ability in this line, Jarbeau engaged
him for her western tour. He played
in her support for Al weeks, and it was
while in San Francisco that he again
became prominent through 4 remarka-
bic imitation of DiXey as Henry Irving
The Irving episode suggested to the
young actor the possibilities of scien-
tific makeup within his grasp. 1t re-
suited in an earnest study of character
old men, which special division of the
eccentric he found the most congenial
After originating the part of DR.. Cupid
with Frank Daniels. he next drifted
into comic opera joining stock com
pany organized in New York to play a
season at the new Broadway theater,
Denver. AS the leading comedian he
grew to be Denver favorite. and he
has done a great deal of work in the
middle West and on the Pacific coast,
playing in a great variety of eccentric
parts with an unusual measure of sue
cess. However, his clever characterize
ton of Jones in the rolicking farcical
success, What Happened to Jones'"
has brought him into the most pro-
nounced favor in all parts of this coun-
try.
The coming of so clever a comedian
as Willie Collier in H. A. Du Souchet's
successful farce, The Man From Mex
ico,' at the Grand opera house Feb. 2,
and 4 cannot be regarded as other
than an event of genuine Importance
Mr.. Collier, so well and favorably
known here, is an artist to the tips of
his fingers, with a fund of humor that
bubbles forth without apparent effort
on his part and that has plenty of
room in THE Man From Mexico" Dur
ing the original run of this farce at
Hoyt's theater, New York, where it re-
manned for months. the audience tested
the capacity of the theater nigntly,
and most of the time the orchestra was
banished under the stage to make room
for the spectators. Both the matiness
were crowded, and THE Man From
Mexico was easily clasSed among the
farces that will be enduringly popular
with the fair sex. 1t is claimed that
more than anything seen on the New
York stage in years it has proved that
the playwright need not descend to the
gutter for his material, that morbid
sociological studies and heroines with
questionable 'pasts" are not essential
to genuine amusement and pleasure
giving in the theater, and that play
goers' minds are still receptive to the
higher things even in farcical comedy.
In The Man From Mexico Collier is
frolicsome married man. goes to din
ner, but skips out before the feast is
ra1ded by the police, only to get in a
wrangle with cabman, and getting
saucy with the police judge, receives a
30 days sentence. He comes home
with a deputy in charge of him and
meets his wife. who went heavily veil
ed to the dinner. was gathered in by
the police, but escaped unseen save by
a waiter. There are two pairs of lovers
who add to the confusion somewhat.
and aid materially in the main fun The
husband gives it out that he is off on
a trip to Mexico, but really goes to JAIL
and the second act with Collier in a
striped suit is excrutiatingly funny,
when the wife, distributing
flowers as member of the flower mis-
sion to the prisoners. nearly stumoles
upon him. In the last act he returns
in startling Mexican outfit. while
Louise Allen-Collier, as his wife, does
an excellent piece of work in a welcom-
ing fandango, in which Collier joins to
the delight of the spectators. Willie
Collier stands almost alone in his ne
culiar line of comedy, but he has never
before had given him the scope to dis
play his art of expression of body,
voice and face like THE Man From
Mexico His every line of comedy is
quantity humorous, his every move
ment irrisistibly funny and his face is
at all times a study. The members of
the company who will support Mr.. Col
ller in the Interpretation of the farce
have been carefully selected by man
ayers Smyth and Rice with a, view to
their special fitness for the characters
assigned and comprise the following
well known names: Thomas Evans,
Adolph Jackson, George W. Parsons,
Louis Bishop Hall, NJ. l.. Heckert, L,
j. Sheehan, Eugene Jelis, Miriam Law
renee, Julia Bachelor. Leslie Haskell
and clever Louise Allen Collier.
The presentation of THE Man From
Mexico will be marked on this occas-
ion by complete and elaborate scenic
equipment which has been painted pv |
Arthur Voegtlin, the celebrated scenic |
artist. The costumes which will be worn
are almost new and contain some of the |
very latest Partisan importations and |
novelties. 1t is said that the gowns
worn by Louise Allen Collier viii be
of modistes.
There have never been as many sue
cesses on the American stage at one
time as at present. The season mas
been simply phenomenal in New York.
and pretty good in all the other large !
cities when attractions of the right sort |
were presented, writes Leander Rich |
ardson. The out of town theaters will |
not, however, benefit to any great OK
tent from the big hits of this year until |
next season finally opens. At that time |
all the winning shows of the present /!
period in New York will be turned |
loose upon other communities and a |