The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-12-11


which would be stars have sought
their laurels- Dodson and Irish in an
American Invasion" Minnie Dupree
in "A Rose o. Plymouth Town" and so
it goes. But managers don't seem to
learn from their experience. Poor play
wrights get their efforts exploited be-
cause something before of theirs has
found a footing, but its quality as
play is forgotten If it ran" Worthier
efforts never see daylight, but make
managers, who know 1t ALL" will not
risk work by an unknown" writer.
All will stay unknown at this rate
The supporting company in Audrey"
is disappointing. None is bad, but
many are not good. Hugon as played
by Frederick Perry is excellent, and
Mrs. Stagg (Anne Caverly) is pleasing.
]. e. Wilson as Marmaduke Harvard,
the hero, is overbearing and unattrac-
tive in his role, and Ada Dwyer as De
borah Darden is not up to her usual
high standard, for she is a good ac-
tress. George Woodward was not con-
vincing as Parson Darden, and Selene
Johnson was impossible as Evelyn Byrd.
There was discordant note all through
her work, yet l cannot honestly say
just where the trouble lay.
The mounting and costuming of the
play were good, but there was nothing
startling at any moment. l hope to see
Miss ROBSON soon more happily placed.
Some years ago that prolific genius.
Clyde Fitch, who grinds out a play just
about as reporter grinds out story
of a fire, wrote a something which he
dubbed Major Andre" Naturally the
interest Of the story centered about that
unfortunate young Englisbman who, in
trying to arrange with Benedict Arnold
a "coup" which would have been a ter
rife and perhaps fatal blow to the
cause Of the patriots, was captured and
hanged 1t will be seen that Major
Andre in the flesh had troubles enough
to satisfy the ordinary mortal, but all
these perplexities were as nothing COM
pared to the trials Of Major Andre in
dramatic form The odd part of the
affair is that even now no one appears
to know just what the status OF the
work Is At least those who are will
ing to tell all about it don't know, while
those who do know won't tell.
According to current report Mr.. Fitch
originally wrote major Andre'' for An
ma Held, though what she could have
done with the piece it is difficult to inn
agine. Rumor goes on to say that An
ma Helds husband did not like the Ii
bretto, which was then rewritten for.
Fay Templeton, who contemplated
using it as a stellar vehicle. Next
again following the story Frank Nc
Kee bought the play, which turned out
to be not a musical comedy at all, and
announced that he would star Arthur
Byron in it. Still later Dame Rumor
had it that Major Andre" was really
a musical comedy and that il had been
secured by the Shubert brothers or some
body else for the use of Fay Temple
ton when that rather ample but I'M
doubtedly talented burlesque artist
goes a-starring next season So there
you are. you pays your money, and
you takes your choice" There are GER
tainly enough versions to select from.
Like a pack of toy spaniels swapping
at the heels of lion, there are in GER
tain cities Of the United States critics
who lose no opportunity to belittle the
work Of Mrs. Fiske. This lady is, by
practically common consent, regarded as
the greatest actress in America. When
she has poor play, or is not at her
best in a certain vehicle, these fellows
are almost vituperative in their abuse,
but when she presents a medium like
Mary Of Magdala,' in which one role
at least is superior to the one reserved
for herself, they are almost nOnplused
They cannot condemn the play as
play; they cannot criticise the stars
acting with reference to It's being in
thorough accord with the role, and
they cannot belittle the importance of
the venture from either the artistic or
the business standpoint So they seek
refuge in comparing the work of the
actor who has the best role with that
of Mrs. Fiske in a less snowy part;
they misrepresent the motive of the
play and seek to make it appear sacri-
legious; they must admit the value of
the mounting, and therefore exagger-
ate it's Importance by attempting to
create the impression that it is the
best thing in the play.
But the facts are there MARY of
Magdala" is drawing large audiences