The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-29
IN Il THEATRES
BLANCHE BATES IN "GlRL
OF GOLDEN WEST"
Belasco Play Repeats Its Success at the
Shubert-Denman Thompson in
"The Old Homestead"

Golden West" the stirring Western drama,
which interrupted the run Of vaudeville at
the Shubert Theatre this week, Is the work
OF that distinguished playsmith. Result:
A large house and a thoroughly pleased
audience. The play Is well written and
effective melodrama. The production is a
wonderful piece of stagecraft. Add to
that a thoroughly capable company, with
Blanche Bates in the stellar role as the
girl and there is nothing left wanting.
The Girl OF the Golden West" with its
typical Western scenery, characters and
episodes, is not entirely new to Newark
theatregoers. But those who had witnessed
the production before were glad to renew
its acquaintance and those who viewed it
for the first time last night were held SPELL
bound In admiration. The story deals with
the mining regions OF California in the
days Of 10, when the gold fever was upon
the country. The girl Is the orphan
of the Polka saloon at the mountain camp.
She is the only white woman in the region
and has been reared among rough-speak-
ing, rough-acting men,, all of whom love
her and are prepared to sacrifice their lives,
il need be, in her behalf. She Is content
and happy with her lot, a rough but hon
est life, until she meets one Dick johnson.
a gentleman in appearance and tone, but
who, by heritage, is the most desperate
road agent of the West. Dick, in his career
as road agent, learns of the wealth en-
trusted by the miners to the girl OF
Cloudy Mountain and reaches the camp,
intending 10 hold her up and loot the treas
ure. He enters the Polka saloon but his
action is inhibited by the appearance of
the girl" whom he had met once before
on the road to Monterey. Tie girl
recognizes him at once. but is y ware Of
his character and mission, and Expresses
her favor with the pure frankness of a
child, even telling him innocently where
the wealth is stored and how she would
guard with her life the hard-earned savings
of the miners.
The second act shows the cabin home of
the girl, high up on the mountain top.
The outlaw visits her there. Their love is
mutual. During his visit a blizzard RACES
outdoors, obliterating the old trail to the
foot of the mountain and the camp, where
the road agents men are in waiting. With
the love of the girl a new light dawns
upon the outlaw, and he resolves to him
self, now that the old trail is lost. to find
a new one, leading to an honest life.
Meanwhile n posse had learned of Dicks
identity and mission, and had followed
him to the cabin. Headed by Jack Rance,
the gambler and sheriff, they enter the
1OIlt VI TIC ETl, anu. HIllc Dlth 10
screened behind n curtain, tell her of the
outlaws real character and the object of
their midnight visit.
The girl will not divulge her lovers hid
ing place, but after the posse had left
she orders the outlaw from the cabin. 1t
is here that Miss Bates most conyincingly
displays her ability in the depletion of
conflicting emotions. As Dick leaves the
cabin and faces the binding snowstorm a
- - --I tnr1-.. H. - Ls...f - .-s--
the girl, excitedly. well, ] don't care;
j don't care" The next moment she
PUSHES to the door, opens II, catches the
outlaw, who had been wounded by a shot
from the sheriff's pistol, in her arms, and
in a twinkling hate has been transformed
into love.
The sheriff, however, returns, and ulti-
mately. by the dripping of his blood, To-
Gates the wounded road agent. The girl
still has a last card 10 play, however.
Knowing that the sheriff is in love with
her. and an inveterate gambler as well.
she proposes that a poker game shall de-
eide her lovers rate. If she wins Dick
shall be permitted to leave. If he wins
the sheriff shall take his victim and her
besides. The cards are dealt. Each wins
q hand. The next will tell the tale. The
sheriff holds three kings. The girl
meant to be on the square, but the stakes
were too high and the sheriff had already
stacked the cards. Catching her adver-
sary off his guard for a moUent. she
whips O. hand from under her cloak.
1t contains three aces and a pair and the
outlaw is hers.
The posse is led to believe that the road
agent had been killed and further search
is abandoned Dick, after a weeks nurs-
ing in the cabin of the girl leaves on
a journey to other parts. But he is once
more captured, this time by the agents of
the Wells-Fargo Express. To dangle from
a tree Is to be his fate, but at the last
moment the girl arrives upon the scene
and in response TO her pleadings, the
miners give the captive his freedom. The
last act. which is of only two minutes
duration, shows the girl" with Dick. bid
ding good-by to her beloved California, her
beautiful West, and leaving on the trail
for a new life.
Miss Bates's portrayal of the girl was
beautiful In it's simplicity and art. Her
portrayal of unselfconscious innocence sub
jected to difficult test. as In the cabin
scene, was excellent. The persistent girlish
innocence and goodness and purity were
moving and convincing in the expression.
1t is by no means an easy part TO play
and Miss Bates played 1t with absolute
truth. Her support was very good. Frank
keenan, has been succeeded as the sheriff
by Cuyler Hastings. Charles Millward still
plays the road agent.
NewaFk-"The Old Homexfead.o
Though 1t was seventeen years ago, we