The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-24
Amusen1ents


"The Other House..
That odd fellow, Harry Beresford,
comes very near reaching that pima
Gle to which his artistic temperament
aspires in his new piece, THE Other
House"
Mr.. Beresford is a treat in his in
inlitable portrayal of the absent
minded man of genius. He has the
same opportunity, along slightly diff
ferent lines. that he had in The Pro-
fessor's Love Story" In which he even
outshone the almost matchless Will
lard.
As he wanders upon the stage in his
seemingly aimless way. he impresses
with the absolute naturalness Oh his
presence. A man but recently in his
thirties, his conception Of the peace
full. innocent, erratic man of genius
of mature years. is little short Of re-
markabfe.
|, When Henry Beresford walks F. c.,
turns to his companion player, with
head thrown back until the range of
F., vision is focused through the glasses,
set low on his nose, one instinctively
feels that he Is a finished artist in his
particular line. When he raises his
hand 40 his head in a gesture OF alb
sent-mindedness, one knows that he Is
genius. Such he was In THE Other
House.
THE Other House" is one Of those
quantity humorous plays that lets one
settle comfortably into an orch estra
chair to smile broadly all the while.
All the latent good will that Is in
man comes to the surface. It's the
pure, good old soul triumphing in the
end by his very trust and honesty.
It's the fundamental principles of gen.
uine success and happiness that one
sees exploited.
Daniel Hake,, (Mr. Beresford), Is an
eccentric inventor Numerous firms
have sought the products of his gen.
ius. but a crafty second wife. not the
mother Of his beautiful daughter. in
tercepts the letters making the Of
fers.
The villain, in the shape of Jabez
Vennary. loan sharp, also appreciat-
ing the worth of Hake's inventions,
buys up she accumulated indebtedness
OF the man of genius with an idea of
trading a courts Judgment for the
output OF the mans brain. He noti-
fies his victim of the impending crash,
and that on the morrow he will de-
mand his due. -.---- -'--.--.--
Meantime. wealthy textile manufac-
turers send representatives to secure
the patent secrets of the inventor. A
son Of one manufacturer engages to
work for the inventor, with the idea
Of stealing the plans. He falls in
love with the daughter. Meantime,
the father OF this young man, who is
no other than the wealthy maufac-
turer, comes to bargain for the pat
ents, making an engagement for one
evening.
A storm stirs all of the superstitious
sentiment In the nature OF the inven-
tor. He knows nothing of the coming
of the textile manufacturer, for the
note has been intercepted by the kind
hearted but ignorant maid, and thrown
in the fire. AS he sits at his table, In
almost total darkness. Nicholl, of the
firm of Nicholl & Nicholl, makes his
appearance through a window.
The supernatural atmosphere is all
around the eccentric inventor and when
Nicholl proceeds to talk in terms which
would have been ineligible had the
inventor received the note. but which
were suggestive of q different mean
ing, Hake believes that he is being be-
friended by the devil, especially when
Nicholl asserts that he is often called
"Old Nick"
Every sentence uttered from then
until the end of the play bears out
the idea that the Devil is befriending
the inventor, when in reality it is
Other House" firm which is bent on
the inventions of Hake at
small cost.
. Hake believes that any wish he may
express will be gratified. The son of
the wealthy textile manufacturer. in
love with Hake's daughter turns to
his assistance and deposits money in
the bank to Hake's credit. When the |
Shylock comes Hake gives him a check, |
little knowing where the money is COM
ing from. but having implicit conf
1ence that the Devil will pay. The |
arrival of a loud, but pretty female |
of the Nicholl firm,
whose business 1t is to fascinate Gus
toners, further convinces the inventor
that the Devil Is sincere In his good |
Offices.
The son of the wealthy manufactur-
pr gives up his idea of stealing the In
joins the forces to protect
The confiding old inventor and in the
end II all turns out right. Hake gets
OTIS of money for his inventions, young
Nichoil gets Hake's daughter, the
girago who is Hakes second wife. is
proven a bigamist and Hake Is left in
peaceful possession of his home and
shop.
Mr.. Beresford is unfortunate in hav-
ng imposed upon him company not
'uiSCu ~ thS plcCe' ne lultiiiHShN
IF one of his ambitions is to carry the |
play to Broadway, where he has been
booked. but 1t Is safe to say that ere
his Is done there will be some changes
n the cast.
Virginia Ackerman. as Lila Hake, was |
altogether charming and natural. Her |
ole Is one that ordinarily would not |
be impressive. but Miss Alderman |
hrows into it such a charm of purity |
md simplicity, that ii really becomes |
me Of the features of the performance ]