Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-31
will present Browning's I'm a Bal
cony."
"SECRET SERVICE" FILLS
THE BELASC0 THEATER

1t is easy to understand the enor-
nous drawing power of Gillettes Sc
cret Service" played at the Belasco
theater last night before an audience
that filled every portion of the house,
kept the gathering in a continual state
of nerve-racking, delirious enthusiasm,
and called forth scores of curtain calls.
Gillette's play of Richmond during the
dark days of the siege of the city by
the Union forces introduces a number
of very strongly drawn human charac-
ters, and these are placed in situations
that are certain to reap whirlwinds of
approval when the scenes have pro-
ceeded to logical conclusions and the
curtain has descended.
"Secret Service" Is one of those sure
fire plays that can always be counted
upon filling a theater, besides permit
ting such an aggregation as the Be
lasco stock organization to shine to
special advantage. 1t is said that Gill
lette gave a revival of "Secret Ser
vice" in London last night but 1t is
pretty certain that aside from the work
of the actor-author himself, the English
production was no better than that re-
vealed at the Belasco. The entire COM
pany acquitted itself most capitally.
The mechanical force surpassed most
of it's previous efforts and in no detail
was the presentation lacking. The big
audience voted Secret Service" the
most enthrallingly successful play the
Belasco stock company has given in
many moons.
Galbraith was intrusted with the Gill
lette role of Louis Dumont, the federal
secret service official, known in Rich
mond as Captain Thorne. Galbraith
has made most of his successes in far
cical absurdities, where he has not
been called upon to display any great
histrionic capacity, but last night he
surprised his audience by the force and
compelling power OF his portrayal of
the northern spy His frequent flashes
Of humor were all the more appreci-
ated by reason of the seriousness of
the major portion of the part and in
the strenuous scenes Galbraith was, in
many respects, just as convincing as
his more illustrious successor in the
role.
William Bernard, the well-known ac-
tor, who made his first appearance last
night as a member of the Belasco COM
pany, scored an immediate and en-
phatic success in the role of the south
ern secret service officer, Arrelsford,
and was given an enthusiastic recep-
ton. Bernard proved to be a strong
addition to the Belasco company and
his work throughout the entire evening
was of the best possible sort
Richard Vivian as Wilfred Varney,
the hot-headed young southerner had
a part very much to he fancy and he
achieved an immense personal success.
Howard Scott in the role of Thorne' S
brother gave another of his brilliant
bits of acting, full of intelligent study
and artistic conception. George Bar
mum played the negro servant, Jonas,
admirably and William Yerance as
General Randolph was virile and i'm
pressive figure.
Miss Eugenie That's Lawton contrib
uted a charming bit of portraiture in
the character of Edith Varney. The
Belascos leading woman has never
been seen to better advantage than in
Secret Service" where her own sweet
personality adds immeasurably to the
success of the plays heroine. Bertha
Blanchard played the part of Mrs. Var
ney with a keen appreciation of the
niceties of southern manners and pro-
nuncia ton. Virginia Brissac, for the
time being, WAS Caroline Milford, the
very lovable young woman from across
the street and proved herself to be a
most engaging and pretty ingenue,
something the Belasco company has
long oeen in sad need OF.
The workings of the small sized army
of auxiliary players and the lesser I'M
portant members of the Belasco COM
pany heightened the effectiveness of