Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-10-15
LORIMER AS ASTAR.
Young Romantic Actor to Have
Play of His Own This
Season.
PAYS VISIT TO THIS CITY
Comes Here TO Consult Frank Will
Iiams, His Future Man
ager.

Wright Lorimer, known to theatre
goers here as leading man with Mil
bred Holland and Katherine Willard
for the past three years, and to a
select coterie of friends as one of the
pleasantest gentlemen when off the
stage that has risen to some measure
of fame, was in Rock Island yester-
day. 1t will interest local admirers
OF his baron Ronald" to know that
Mr.. Lorimer resigned his connection
with Miss Wizards company Il short
time ago, and after remaining to work
his successor into the role that he has
filled so well for three years, came
out here in connection with arrange
ments that he is making to star in a
play of his own next year.
Mr.. Lorimer's particular mission
her was to consult with Frank Viii
liams, the manager of when Johnny
Comes Marching Home who will be-
come Mr.. Lorimer's manager when his
play is ready to be produced. Mr.
Lorimer counts himself fortunate in
securing Mr.. Williams to look after
his business affairs, as his long eN-
perience in managing stars and big
for stellar honors being made upon
the right lines. Mr.. Williams was the
first manager for Clara Morris, man
aged Booths theatre in New York, di-
rected Augustin Days affairs for de-
caGe, and is known TO the profession
at large as clean cut, discriminating
manager Of long experience. He will
bring Mr.. Lorimer out in New York
in Il manner that will insure the sue
cess Of the trial if the new play proves
to be all that Mr.. Lorimer, Mr.. Will
liams and other good judges have de-
clared it to be.
Wide Scope In New Play.
Mr.. Lorimer goes to New York at
once to give his entire time to pre-
pairing for the production of the play,
the staging and costuming and as
sembling and drilling of the capable
company with which he intends to
surround himself. The new play will
allow him a wide scope for this pre-
liminary work, as it dips into new
field and one that offers wide latitude
in the matter of artistic embelish-
ment 1t is entitled 1.-The Shepherd
King" and is Il romantic drama in
four acts. by Arnold Reeves and
Wright Lorimer, telling an old tesla
ment story of beauty and power, and
without bad woman in it, as Mr..
LCrimer states with evident satisfac-
ton. While he is not trying for re
form on the stage, Mr.. Lorimer is an
ardent advocate of all that tends to
its elevation, and he holds to the
somewhat heretical belief that good
women can be made as attractive on
the stage as bad women. Mr.. Reeves,
the main creator of the play, is known
as very clever writer, and Mr.. Lori
mer supplies the scenario and will
have personal charge of its produc-
ton.
1T is evident that the young actor
manager has set himself n large task,
but those who know him believe that
it Will be found within the range of
his capabilities. He has everything
in his favor-young, physique. hand
some stage presence, intense earnest
ness, ambition, perseverance, talent
The qualities that win. He has made
steady advance from an unimportant
position in stock company six years
ago to leading man in some of the
best companies that have been on the
road.