Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-22
FRA WILEY IS
BURBANK STAR
BUT WILLIAM DESMOND SAVES
"THE CLIMBERS"
PLAY SADLY CAST AND MOURN
FULLY DONE
Frawley Himself Is Disappointing.
Several Others Obviously Out
of Their Proper At
mosphere

"The Climbers" will have to do consid-
cradle of it before 1t reaches a place
of memorable worth in the annals of the
Burbank stock company productions-and
then some
AS offered in that theater yesterday 1t
was a shining example of how badly that
organization can be- how easily some OF
it's members permit themselves to be mis-
cast; how one player can carry the
weight of a whole drama on his shoul-
ders and how unfortunately a popular
idol and stage star can be introduced
to an eager and adoring public.
Every one knows 1.-The Climbers" with
it's Fitchian atmosphere; it's pert with
cisms and cynicisms. it's sport of mourn
ing and it's sneering at smart society,"
alas, most of which is too near real life
to be comfortable-so the play itself can
not in this instance be blamed
In fact, it is perhaps the best that
Clyde Fitch has penned, though it shows
strong traces of his habit of taking one
telling situation and few modish hints
and making comedy out of them during
the days of his great vogue.
The first act, at the funeral, when
cleverly done, is delicious; the second,
with it's back stairs gossip and its de-
nouement in pitch darkness, is thrilling.
True, it let's down there, but two good
acts IN a t1ICn COHCOCLlOH give Ollt
than is usual. So that even the Burbank
ers at their worst couldn't utterly spoil
it-and they were at their worst yester-
day.
In the first place, the players are bad
" cast Henry Stockbridge has no busi-
ness attempting the foppish Trotter; he
clowns it where Harry Mestayer would
have made the role a work of art. John
Wy fhn
of the family is David Harum in the
disguise of a long frock coat
Louise Royce as Mrs. Hunter never
gets into the part at all; neither has she
yet got her lines. Elsie Esmond is bet
ter as the flip daughter, but is sweet
rather than cynical and worldly.
And Blanche Hall, who tries hard to do
Blanche Sterling, must have been put in
that role because of similarity of the
front name; she does not give the char
acter life or make it real, despite her
palpable efforts. And with this army,
what can the others do?
True, Maude Gilbert is delightful as
Miss Godsby, and Margo buffet equally
so as Miss Selerton, but these are only
bits. Norma Yeager is colorless as Miss
Hunter and Hazel Buckham hardly
makes any one notice that she is cast as
Jessie.
and T. Danif Frawley' and it is up to
And Desphond does the salvation act.
Never hasf "Bilr' appeared in finer per-
spective-4nd 1t is not wholly by contrast
by any means. He portrays the weak
Sterling and he does it to the life. 1t is
a splenbidly conceived and carried out
piece Of work and lifted him high in the
estimaf afion of all who appreciate true art.
=
Mr.. Frawley? well-there's the rub.
Every one likes Tim Frawley, and is
glad to welcome him back-so glad, in
fact. that the audience yesterday had
not taste enough to permit the post
funeral mournfulness to go on, and he
had to make speech to the applauding
throng.
Maybe this disconnected him; let it be
hoped So For his entrance is very bad;
he stands about like a simpering matt
nee idol and he is that way through most
of the subsequent proceedings. In fact,
he appears to a distinct disadvantage;
he lacks virility and his work is such
that II disappoints all true and discrimin-
ating critics.
Just why this is II is past the present
writer's ken. Tim Frawley can act; he
did some good work when he was here
before. He has had several years prac-
tice since then. And surely he is not
bashful.
But it remains to be said that Des-
mond puts it all over him" and really
becomes the bright and shinig beacon In
the fog that envelopes most of the rest
of the organization.
Mr. Frawley is to appear here several
weeks. 1t certainly is to be hoped that
he will make a stronger impression in
his later performances.
AS a result of this heterogeneous con-
glomerate, instead of the close ensemble
that the comedy requires, team work is
utterly lacking.
The smartness of the first act is en-
tirely missing; it drags dreadfully, and
is pointless. The mirth and merrymak-
ing of the second, instead of being strong
to contrast with the tragic close, is dis
pirited and funereal. The later acts. not
requiring the same fine acting, are better
singular thing, isn't it?
But the whole shows plainly how de-
plorable this company, good in so many
mediocre things can be when trying out
a really clever conception.