The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-04-19

Those of us who care for the tricks that
have helped Miss Annie Russell to her
pleasant little fame have good reason Tor
a journey to the Olympic Theater this
week. for the small actress of much come
dy was never more herself than she Is III
the transplanted play of Mice and Men.
She has secured for herself Il company oil
men and women who know their work
rather well. added reason for a TRIP 10
Mr. Shorts pleasant playhouse. we again
find that talented gentleman. John Mason.
late of Boston. occupying a high place in
the cast.
He is quite the good actor of other days.
but tendency to facial fatness-to say
the least-has given to him an appearance
Of heaviness that brings up, in unpleas-
ant contrast. memories OF ether days OF
blithe. lithenesS and an activity mat
might, to be sure, be sadly out OF place
in the uncle played by him in Mice ana
Men,"
Then We have Mr. John Glendlnning as
fool husband Of beautiful woman; Mrs;
herself to the letter: Mr.. iorke as gal
liant young lover: Miss Huddleston as the
beautiful wife, and few others VINO also
ran. In this paragraph 1t Is well to say
that all rumor brings 10 US the news that
Mr.. Yorke Is now the husband of Miss
Russell.
OF fact, but not a moment of the time
did he bring one TO the thought that he
filled the eye as the stage gallant
He did not look the part. nor did he act
out to the fullness the many strong lines
and situations that have been given over
to him by the playwrsht .,, T.,
the Eighteenth Century, and some of the
scenes of the play are akin TO scenes oil
other plays from that period. which may
not he so serious an evil. since a rev
egads must needs be thrown about when
dramas run to the days of small clothes,
wigs and patches.
herself most of the time. She makes her
appearance as one of a group of charity
pupils sent for by pleasant old student
who means to train one of them up to the
point where she will make q good mother
for his unborn children. The young wo-
man learns rapidly and grows in the favor
ment OF declaration arrives there is on the
| field younger and a handsomer man and
the ancient ones plans go astray.
The piece. rather commonplace in at
| mosphere. is bright in many spots. and
! forever rich in the pretty presence of
Miss Russell. which helps more than mere
| which was striking for long intermtssions.
! Mr.. Benjam.ns orchestra gave a good
music programme. the feature of wnsch
was I violin solo by Signor Parisi. 'Hau-
| ser.s; Rhapsodie Hongroise," rich In ex-
| hibition of the viclinist's admirable meth
| DDS.
| Lew Bloom and Jane Cooper, sterling
| delincators of eccentric character. give the
| funniest bit of entertainment at the Co
lumbia. Blooms tramp is irresistible. He
| does not make the hobo buffoon. In
stead. he impersonates. the lazy. 'dissipated.
| ne'er-do-well SO often described by Josiah
F9Fnt. ba v,,,,nt.. rsrso,,,,tv &c the neg
| upon which he hangs Il monologue that Is
| woven into q playlet called "A Picture
| From Life" This monologue is the life
| OF fhe act.
| Bloom saunters on in makeup that
would put the most ill-kept Knight to
shame. and In raspy voice proceeds to
outline his experiences IN beating his
way. Jane Cooper. as the spinster, who
| owns the premises he is trespassing up
on. interrupts him at an opportune time
| and after a spirited conversation they end
their performance by giving an old
fashioned reel dance.
Press Eldridge turns himself loose for
! twenty minutes. His gags antedate those
in the aimanacs
Let a vaudeville headiner get laugh
| and the quip that caused the mirth Will
go ringing down the ages. EIdr:dge can
| arluse but he seems averse to untried
| jokes.
shean and Warren revive their Quo
and Tyson. Fred Zobedie, the hand bal
Wfllig and Larkin. the Nambas Troupe
of Japanese Jugslers. Mathews and Ash
ley and Carver and Pollard round out the
hill