Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-20
FUNNY SCENES
IN SCHOOL PLAY
AT BELASC0

Although James Wobberts, Fresh
man." was the original title of "a
Strenuous Life" at the Belasco, in the
farce James Wobberts has little to
do except to give Josehp Galbraith, as
the scapegrace Tom Harrington, a
chance to show what an exceptionally
competent liar he is.
There are few side-splitting lines in
the play, the fun consisting mainly of
absurd situations which are created by
the endeavors Of Harrington to con-
ceal from his father, who has unex-
pectedly appeared at Berkeley, the fact
that he had been Sinking his studies
and riotously spending his substance.
The plot becomes exceeding involved
and until The finale of the last act
there is good and sufficient reason for
considera BILE anxiety as to the out
come. Miss Lawton is pleasing as the
sweetheart OF the football player and,
although a great number of obstacles
arise between them to demonstrate the
fact that the course of true love never
does run smooth, everything is finally
explained to the satisfaction of every
body.
The delightfully."- Vacuous expression
of James Wobberts freshman, when
he first meanders casually into the re-
ception room of the boarding house in
which all the action of the play takes
place, is positively eXcruciatingly
funny. The utter absence of an APP
pearance of anything resembling COM
mon sense causes a ripple of laughter
to run throughout the house when he
makes his first entrance.
Richard Vivian makes a decided hit
as the unsophistcated freshman who
is forced by circumstances and Tom
Harrington to assume the role of a col
lege professor. He learns quite rapid
1u IN, Of NUbinI IN ha
second act with Toms sister, played
by Virginia Brissac, might be intro
duced in evidence.
The light and airy tissue of prevari-
cations strung together by the unre
generate Harrington becomes more
and more tattered, until, in the first
part of the last act he is quite dunn
founded, for his father has disowned
him, his sweetheart has cast him off
forever and his chum, Reginald Black,
played by Robert l.. Dempster, tells
him to go % the devil.
Truly" he asserts, The way of the
transgressor is paved with good inten-
tions."
Dan Devanent, from the hills, who
has come with his daughter, Dulcie
miss Lawton), is portrayed by How
ard Scott, and the rip roaring son of
thunder of the play loses no particle
of his Wooliness by the characterize
tion.
"A Strenuous Life" is the play which
opened up for Richard Walton Tully
a career as a playwright. 1t was orig
inally intended only for presentation by
the Junior class of Berkeley, but was
a success to such an extent that 1t was
revised so that any company might
play it. Although the humor and sit
uations of the merry farce apply with
more force to Berkeley men, the alb
surdities cannot fail to arouse laughter
in any one who is capable of enjoy
ing a froth of delicious nonsense.
"A Strenuous Life" is most assured
ly a success. Others who appear to
good advantage are Eugene Mockbee
as Nugata, the good, honest intelligent
Japanese school boy, his "Yis" is in
imitable and causes more trouble than
anything else.
Miss Margaret Langham is vlvacious
as Ruth Thornton and demonstrates
most pIausibly how one should be made
love to. William Bernard as the real
Professor William Everett James,
whose place Is usurped by James Wob-
berts, freshman, was as dignifed and
sedate as he could be i'm the ridcu-
lous situations In which he was placed.
But Galbraith. as the partially re-
pentant and wholly capable football
captain. was the hit of the piece OF
course finally he Is forgiven byfather,
sweetheart and chum, but he earns 1t.