Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-09
BELASCO HAS
STRONG BILL
HAppoN cHAMRERs' PLAY GIVEN
FINE PRESENTATION
MISS sroDDARp ADMIRABLE IN
TITLE ROLE
----
Other Members of the Company Share
In the TrIumph--prama Has
No Fewer Than Seven
Good Parts
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE

In QOJnluB InaI t0e eACeptloH1ily
capable Belasco company has presented
this season have the individual mem-
bers of the cast appeared to better ad-
vantage than in "A Modern Magdalen,"
Haddon Chambers play. first produced
in this country by Amelia Bingham.
The drama itself has been skillfully
written and doubly skillfully con-
structed, 1t displays good literary
ability and fine stagecraft. Probably
1t is the best thing from critical
standpoint that Mr.. Chambers has given
to the stage. and l say this with full
realization of the fact it mover can
hope to attain to the popularity ac-
corded the same playwright's more
melodramatic offerings
Doubtless many of the excellences of
last nights presentation are due to Mr..
Hobart Bosworth, the Belasco stage
director. Mr. Bosworth himself Is not
In the cast, but his influence is very
much in evidence.
"A Modern Magdalen" is by no means
q one-part play. Obviously it was not
written to order for the exploitation of
any one star. 1t tells an interesting
story in a sane and convincing manner
and It's characters are flesh and blood
people who comport themselves just as
such persons might be expected to do
off the stage. Probably the most un-
just adjective that could be applied to
the play is the one used by a local re-
viewer who termed the drama
naughty" 1t is not naughty. There
is not naughty line in it, nor
naughty situation.
Not a Problem Play
The drama propounds no problem. 1t
asks no embarrassing questions. On the
contrary it asserts plainly and uncom-
promisingly that woman may, in the
circumstances shown sacrifice her good
name and still be worthy of respect nay,
even Of the admiration and of the love of
a good man.
This modern Magdalen is a young wo-
man with an invalid sister. disagreeab.e
stepmother and Pecksniffian father, who
leaves her poverty stricken home that
she may acquire money to provide her
sister with what are to her the necessi-
ties of life. This motive is so forcibly
shown that the audience never loses sym
pathy for the character, though the cir.
becomes what the title of the play indi-
Gates.
In the end the man who had taken ad-
vantage of her need is compelled to flee in
order to escape arrest for a defalcation,
and the woman, declining an offer of mar
riage and luxury made to her by a sec
ond and wealthy suitor. departs with
young student who had confessed his
love before she left her home, to be an
army nurse and, ultimately, to marry
him who had kept her enshrined in his
heart through it ali.
This is a bald and incomplete outline of
the plot and it fails to show the delicacy
with which the theme Is handled and
which redeems it entirely from ine stigma
of the frivolous naughty
Manv Good Roles
There are no fewer than seven roles in
"A Modern Magdalen," which provide
excellent acting opportunities for the
players cast in them, and in addition
there are several good "bits."
Miss Blanche Stoddard in the title role,
presents an exceedingly good interpreta-
tion of the part. 1t is rather complex
character, this; much more so than ap-
pears upon the surface, and Miss Stod-
dard handles it admirably She depicts
with fidelity and cearness first Katinkas
contemptuous aversion for her step
mother; her indignation at the man who
has followed her into her home to lure
her from it; her plying affection for her
incapable father an affection in which
respect and admiration have no place;
her love for the invalid sister; her strong
determination that this sister shall not
suffer If she can prevent it, her tolerance
of the mode of life into which she is
forced. together with repressed resent
ment against her fate; and, at the last
her love for the man whose own love has
been strong enough to make him dsre-
gard conventions and seek her for his
wife All these things and more are re-
allied with apt art and consummate skill.
In this role Miss Stoddard is seen at her
best. and how very good that best is only
you who see the play this week can
realize.
Murphy rs the Father
John DAILY Murphy is the hypocritical
father, man to be despised and pitied---
not hated. Mr.. Murphy seems to fit into
the role as though 1t had been builded
for him, which it was most certainly not.
Miss Eleanor Carey is the stepmother
and has no small share in the success of
those scenes in which she has place.
Richard Vivian does the best acting
have ever seen him do in a character
part as a Summing reformer of not over
nice personality; William Yerance is ex-
cellent as the wealthy suitor for Katin-
ka's favor. ard Howard Scott is natural
and unaffected as the girls accepted
lover. Lewis Stone plays the role of the
young mechanic, whose love for Katinka
is strong enough to surmount all obsta-
cles and who, in the end, reaps his re-
ward. The part is comparatively unim-
portant from an actors standpoint.
though of vital Importance to the story.
However, Mr.. Stone gets out of ii all
that is possible and redeems the charac-
ter from any suggestion of priggishness.
He has two big scenes and is admirable in
both of them.
Briefly, "A Modern Magdalen." as pre-
sented at the Belasco this week, is easily
worth twice the money. 1t is bargain
IL .k-.f.. L. n