Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-15
ALOMYJANE'
A FINE PLAY
MASON HAS BRET HARTE STORY
IN STAGE FORM
PIECE Is ARTIsTIcALLY ACTED
AND WELL STAGED
No Better MeIodrana of California
Ever Has Been Seen Here-com-
pany Is Nicely Balanced
Organization
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE

BY SiDLE LAWHENCE
To the native sons and daughters who
love their state, its history and the red
blood romance of its earlier days, "Sa-
lomy Jane" will appeal with all the elo-
quence of storm among the giant red
woods; and to those others, native sons
anu daughters of another commonwealth
who have sought to make California their
own by right of conquest instead of right
of birth, the play will provide realistic
picture of pioneer times; a picture that
will enable them the better to under
stand the sort of men and women who
brought civilization to the new Ell Dora
do. The play is leaf from the story of
the states making; fiction, certainly, but
fiction that embodies more of truth than
many of the histories.
Here In the state he loved SO well
and appreciated with so complete an un-
derstanding there is no need to say that
Bret Harte knew his California. On the
Mason program this week his story "Sa-
lomy James KISS" Is desc ibed as Cali
fornia idyl, and 1t deserves no lesser
designation. 1t is of Importance, how
ever, to say that Paul Armstrong, who
gave that idyl stage form, has done his
work artistically. The charm of the story
has been retained with praiseworthy
fidelity to the original From the first
rise Of the curtain to It's final fall that
lgnus fatuus of so many playwrights, at
mosphere, is ever present. "Sue," with
Annie Russell In the name role, was a
good play; M liss, as presented by An
ME Pixley, was perhaps better one;
but "Salomy Jane" is best of all. 1t is
frank melodrama, every line of 1t, an
excellent example of melodrama In its
best form.
An Excellent Production
Doutbelss much of the charm of last
nights presentation at the Mason was
due to the capable manner In which the
play has been staged. 1t Is typical
Liebler production. complete In every de-
tall No more effectively dressed stage
than the first act scene, showing the
meeting place of the vigilantes among the
big trees, ever has been presented here.
Nothing was lacking, even to the pungent
forest odors which foated out into the
auditorium as soon as the curtain went
up. And the last scene of all, the cor
raj at dawn, with the gray of early
morning Frightening into day and the
sun rising over distant hill, was
triumph in stage effect.
"Salomy Jane the play, tells Its own
story. No knowledge of the original Is
necessary for it's understanding and ap-
probation Here are presented all the
familiar characters in their proper per-
sons; Salomy Jane, herself, her creed
that of the rugged days in which she
lived; Colonel Starbuckle, a bombastic
Kentuckian; Yuba Bill, the stage driver
with heart as big as his great ungainly
body; Jack Marbury, gambler and
man; Lie Heath, Madison Clay, Red
Pete. the children and all the rest OF
them. Interesting folk to know, this lit
tie crew; good and bad alike as must De
in every community.
I do not know how mary of the players
who appeared upon the Mason's stage
last night were in the original production
of the play in New York, but do know
that the actors seem to have been selected
with an eve especial to their fitness for
the roles in which they are cast and that
no better balanced organization has been
seen here this season.
Miss Izett's Good Work
Jessie Izett is a delightful "salomy
Jane" Her methods are quiet and tre-
mendously effective. When she bids her
suitor to kill the man who had insulted
her she does it in a way that carries
conviction. When she mothers the halt-
orphaned baby of Red Pete, victim OF
inst Judge Lynch, she is all womanly
tenderness; and when she Kisses the
man, she kisses him as though the caress
mean something. 1t is a well-concelveo
pOrtraiture tnat MISS l1clt Bi'SS eS' 49,
lnat should entitle her next season 10 the
distinction of big type on the biLpoards'
And the Others there is Daniel GIL
fether as Yuba Bill. He played the same
character with Annie Pixley years ago
and we can only hope that he Will con-
tinue to play it for as many years 10
come The Yuba Bill of "Salomy Jane
differs not a whit from the Yuba Bill Of
'M'liss," and that of course, is as II
should be.
the only character in the play dignified
with this prefix; Burr Caruth as Salomy's
father Stokes Sullivan as the man ana
Florence Gerald as Lie Heath all mt into
their roles with nicely bespeaking close
study and artistic ability. Miss Gerald In
particular gives an excellent portrait OF
the pioneer wife of rascally, good-for'
nothing husband Spotswood Aiken as
Col. Starbottle has, perhaps, the most
difficult role of the play. He is amusing
always. If not always convincing.
The children-there are three OF them
are as natural as Riddles can be- They
don't act They just are.
The Mason last night had many vacant
chairs If merit counts they should be
filled during the remainder of the week.
AScO PRESENTS NEW