Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-04
THE HEIR TO THE
HOORAH IS GOOD
POPULAR PLAY RETURNS TO.
MASON FOR THIS WEEK
sold Heidelberg" Delights the 5eIsseo
Audiences as Of Yore--Good Bill
at the orpheum Draws the
Usual Large Throne

"The Heir to the Hoorah,' Paul
Armstrongs clever play which pleased
large audiences at the Mason last sea-
son during its brief stay, returned last
night for weeks visit and proved
Just as happy an affair as ever
In many respects the company re-
mains the same, Guy Bates Post Is sun
Joe Lacy, Ernest Lamson is MS
brother Dave, and Ben Higgins re-
mains as Gus Ferris, who insists upon
wearing spurs with his dress clothes
and has to be thrown as is bucking
broncho when collar is attached.
Several other familiar faces are noted,
too.
In one or two respects the company
Is weak, Frank Monroe Is rather
wooden as Foreman Smith, and Ada
Nevil is STACY and exaggerated as the
mother-in-law. while Janet Beecher S
sweetness is her main strength as Mrs.
Lacey. In fact, all the effete eastern
ers, men and women are inferior to the
westerners. who are the strong feat
IRE of the play They contrast decid-
edly with the others in looks, ability,
naturalness and power. The most
unique parsonage in the cast and one
of the very best is Japanese, II. ).
Hashida, who plays the valet, Hush.
He is the personification of the part
and absolutely perfect.
The play itself presents the lights
and shadows of contrast between the
artificial civilization of the east, ano
the reality of the life in the west. OF
course. upon analysis, neither side of
the picture is wholly accurate. The
west is not inhabitated by such un-
couth and generally ignorant though
true hearted specimens as are depicted
here, nor is the cast made up of cads
and snobs. There are both sorts In
both regions, and they commingle and
mix with good grace in both Big
heartedness is recognized in the east
the same as it is in the west, ana some
times more quickly.
Nor is the play well within the range
of probability as regards its main epi-
sode. No man who loves his wife will
stay months jim the same house with
her after their baby is born and not
make an effort at reconciliation or per-
nit her to do so when thrown with her
constantly, nor will she refrain from
doing so when her heart aches for it.
These, however, are dramatic
licenses: they are necessary premises
or there is no play in this case, and
they are permitted with good grace
because they enable us to get divert
ing comedy drama with many side
lights of humor and comparatively lit
tie gloom.
The drama gets pretty broad at
times, not in a smutty way, but along
lines which, even around birth, are
hardly discussed in promiscuous So
ciety, especially in the presence OF
young girls. Nothing really bad is
said, but it might have proved bi
embarrassing to a young man and his
woman friend to have heard some OF
the lines were they not especially frank
and well acquainted. And these do not
add to the dramatic action or values in
any way.
However, when alIs said and done,
''The Hoorah" furnishes some very
lively and diverting comedy, bit of
rather forced pathos, much broad and
hilarious farce and a rollicking even
ings entertainment.
Next week, "Strongheart," with Rob-
ert Edeson.