Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-17
DAVID HARUM"
A HUGE DELIGHT
.BURBANKERS REvEL IN THE
HOSS-TRADE CLASSIC
John Burton as the InImtabIe David
Is Gem-Rube Types Well
Filled by the Company
Members

That classic of the hoss trade, David
.Harum, has afforded many comedian,
from William H. Crane down, chances
for fame and fortune. but one may we'll
have ones doubts If even Billy Crane
played the name part better or his
company gave a more thoroughly
capable performance of the delightful
comedy than the Burbankers and John
w. Burton presented yesterday. Ger
tainly the funny situations and the
strong farcical lines caught two big
houses and every one who loves a
horse swap or delights in bucolic humor
will enjoy the presentation this theater
gives them.
AS a play David Harum'' does not
permit of much technical dissection.
But that concerns nor worries no one;
there is fun enough in it, even though
1t be regarded as a monologue for
David, with all the other characters
as mere feeders" Undoubtedly 1t is
known by heart to about all Los An
geles, as it has been done here often
enought; that two packed houses turned
out to see 1t yesterday proves that Its
unctuous humor and clever sayings are
as popular as ever.
The Burbankers are perhaps at their
best in "Rube" types; this, of course,
with no insinuations that they are of
that ilk at all. Sometimes one mimics
best his very opposite. AS nearly all
the characters in David Harum" are
of the country jake type of fiction, the
characterizations show many good
friend in the overalls and hayseeds that
he doubtless never wore off stage In
his life. The very fact that each and
all perform farm hand duties so admir-
ably shows their versatility and skill.
OF course. first honors go to John w.
Burton. He is wholly at home In this
role; admirably so. The genial and
shrewd humor seems to ooze out Of him
and the sharpness of his horse trading
is quite in line with the bigness of his
heart in other affairs, since he himself
admits that horse trade has no af-
finity with either honesty or other mat
ters of truthful nature. Burton quite
sizes up to Crane; possibly he gives
a broader tinge to his depletion, but
in most respects, while not at all copy
of his predecessor, he Is just as lovable
and as laughable. 1t is, in fact, one OF
the best things the writer has seen
Burton do.
After Burton perhaps the greatest
surprise is Harry Mestayer, who doffs
his elegance to become the small town
accountant, Chet Timson. Barring his
inevitable drawl, Mestayer quite loses
himself in the part, which he does es-
peCially we'll. Inc small cOterie VI
rural types. all more or less alike, are
well distributed among the regular
players, excellent work being done by
Harry Stockbridge as Dick Larrabee;
Willis Marks as Zeke Swinney. the
Usurer; H. s. Duffeld as Landlord FL
right Robert Morris as Dug Robinson;
Robert Homans as Bill Montaig; H j
CHM as Deacon Perkins, and especially
Gerald Harcourt as Peleg Hopkins. the
suffering boy. Arthur Rutledge seems
not quite ito grasp or to delineate the
New York lawyer; William Desmond is
a bit sunk in the role of John Lenox
the hero but does all that 1t permits
artistically, and Blanche Hall Is clever
as Mary Blake, while the others are ur
to the full standard demandef by the
fine work of their confreres.
The most refreshing thing that could
have happened, yesterday being the
warmest day Of the year, was the rain
storm Of real wet water which closed
the second act and in which III. ]. CHM
got an excellent and-to the audience
much envied bath. lie certainly did look
cool and comfortable to see the shower
beat him down and to watch him
wiring the moisture out Of his clothes.
1t was realistic, to the last degree.