Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-21
OPENING OF THE GRAND
SEASON is AUsPicIoUs

An excellent play we.l presented to Z
crowded house Is an auspicious combina-
tion of circumstances for the opening OF
the regular winter season at the Grand
which took place yesterday afternoons
The Lieutenant and the Cowboy" is
the name of the play, and 1t is to the
credit of Anthony e. Wills, who wrote Il,
that he resisted the temptation to make
a red fire melodrama out of material thst
seemed particularly suited for such pur-
pose. Instead he has given us a real
drama with military plot and a cowboy
hero-a play that observes all the drama
tic unities has the virtues Of possibility,
probability and playability in combina-
tion with dramatic intensity and thrilling
interest from the rise of the curtain to
the last climax.
There seemed an unearthly stiffness
about the Grand yesterday. Where the
roar of artillery and the rattle of small
arms has so long usurped the place CT
acting there was a story, the elimination
of which were attained by psychological
action and even by dramatic silence In
stead of red fire there was real life. In
stead of threats and murder and the tor
ture of the innocent there were villain
and hero who were neither impeccable
nor smirched beyond cleansing, and, O
heroine who shielded the man she loved
from the result of crime which she
knew he had committed.
Company Is Good
.'The Lieutenant and the Cowboy" is
supposed to feature Theodore Lorch, but
the management has gathered about their
star a company of good average ability.
1t is a play for actors, consequently the
fact that the demale roles are entrust I'D
to actorines does not greatly detract from
its merits.
"The Lieutenant and the Cowboy is in
slight measure reminiscent of Ran
SONS Folly" but the author cannot he
accused Of plagiarism. for 1t Is not the
lieutenant who would sacrifice himself
for the father of the girl he loves. but
the cowboy who endeavors to save the
girls brother, guilty of the stage holdup
and of misappropriating funds sent out
TO pay the soldiers of Fort Garland
story Of the Play
Lieut. Bruce Corbin and Edith Faulkner
are betrothed in childhood, and the en-
gagement is reluctantly ratified by the
Young woman on coming of age. She Is
on her way to Fort Garland, Colo. where
her father, Gen. Faulkner; her brother,
Corporal Faulkner, and her sweetheart
are stationed.
The lieutenant and the corporal become
boon companions and the former leads mis-
younger IrleUu luio tiio 9iiot - - -"N
gambling clique at the fort. The young
man loses, embezzles regimental funds to
meet his losses, and at the lieutenant
suggestion holds up the Denver stage to
recoup himself. At the last moment the
lieutenant withdraws, and Bud Larabee,
a daredevil cowboy, is induced to act as
second In the affair. At the crucial mo-
inent Bud yields to girls entreaties
and hands back every article OF loot, In
Guiding the paymaster's chest. his mask
falls off and the girl recognizes him
The girl is Edith Faulkner, and her ac-
count of the affair at once fastens sus-
picion upon Larabee. She resolves to
shield him, his rude chivalry having I'M
pressed her with the fact that he Is not
a professional highwayman
Lieut. Corbins -'oluminous correspon-
dence addressed in female handwrltins
leads young Faulkner to suspect tnat MS
friends love for Edith is not as sincere
as II should be. He abstracts several let
tiers from the lieutenants trunk ana
learns that a wife and child nave oeen
deserted in the east. He faces CorDin
with this fact, and the officer threatens TO
expose his juniors embezzlement ana at
tempt at stage robbery to the general
Driven to desperat ton the young nun
shoots his superior and in an attempt az
escape is shot by the sentry.
Girl tc the Rescue
Again, Larabee is to be made the scape-
goat. but again the girl comes to the res
cue-this time in Justice. She urges hst