Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02
HOTCHK|SS OPENS
WITH FINE SHOW
CHRISTOPHER, JR., BREAKS
HooD00 SUCCESSFULLY
HamiIton-Howard Company Gives an
q
Excellent Productlon-Packed
House Greets the New
Players

S1f you see a host of women today
adorned with little silver swastika stick
pins you may know that they belong
to the new Order of Hoodoo-Lifters,
formed at the Hotchkiss theater last
night.
Clean, bright and refurnished from
pit to dome, this former ill-luck house
reopened with the Hamilton Howard
stock company, under the management
of G. F. Hamilton, in christopher, Jr."
former John Drew-Maude Adams
play, and before the evening was half
spent 1t was quite evident that the
hoodoo had got its "23"-had faded and
silently stolen away. For in every way
the inaugural was most auspicious,
and the play and the players made a
hit from the start.
AS the evening progressed their clutch
upon the hearts of their audience was
the stronger, till even after the final
curtain the applause was uproarious.
And George coward even had to make
speech.
Comedy With a Plot
christopher, Jr," is comedy with a
strong and rather unusual plot, relat-
ing the story of a mistaken stateroom,
a forced, blind marriage, a confusion
OF Identities and the final falling in
love and reunion of the two most con-
cerned, those who in the beginning had
wed without the formality of an ac-
quaintance or even a sight of each
other. II
A bright story thus cleverly told-and
it is so-and well Interpreted can afford
a fine evenings amusement If compe-
tently played, and in its handling the
new company is thoroughly at home.
Seemingly 1t was selected for this very
piece, and its manipulation of the vari-
Gus roles is wholly satisfactory.
George Howard, a comedian new to
Los Angeles but who declares his one
regret Is that he is not a native, pos
sesses rare gift of dry humor which re-
minds one of Willie Collier or Stuart
Robson at times. In fact, his work Is
much more Collieresque than 1t is
Drewish one can scarcely remember
Drew in this role, or see the justifica-
ton for him in the part after watching
its delineation in Howard's hands.
He was a bit nervous, of course, last
night, but this will soon wear off, and
then his unctuous manner and queer
drawl will =" more fully appreciated
even than 1t was at his inaugural
though with the superabundance Of
laughs and the multitude of curtain
calls, even the speech demanded, one
could hardly say that he didn't land on
his first appearance.
A Bright Pair
In pretty Flora Dorset he appears to
have an able coadjutor, though in this
play she has no great opportunities to
demonstrate her undoubted qualities.
The two, however, give excellent
promise for the future, and one looks
forward to a season of them with most
pleasing anticipations
Arthur Mackley as Stimson, the mild
villain, also shows talent of high
order. His methods are reserved and
suppressed. quite different from the
usual ranting style, and grateful re-
lief accordingly.
ingenue role, and Guy TIitner as Colt,
as Maj Headway is a droll old chap,
and the smaller roles are in good hands.
AS whole, the company seems we'll
balanced. composed of capable people
throughout and able to handle in fine
style the run of comedies promised
Hence and accordingly the new man
.agement is to be congratulated on an
auspicious start in the new enterprise
and bright outlook for the patronage
of those who love a clever comedy
properly depicted-and there are enough
of SUCH in Los Angeles to lift any
hoodoo that ever lived.
A spretty feature of last nights open
ing was the presentation of silver
swastika pins to all the women present.
There will be matinees today and to-
morrow. with a bargain matinee every