The Washington herald., 1908-08-11
THE STAR BOUT"
Taylor Granville Ia Clever Play at
the New Academy.

the New Academy.
Realism is the word that best describes
Taylor GrsuviIie's stirring melodrama-
The Star Bout" which opened at the
Academy this week II caters essentially
TO the tastes Of those who love realism.
especially sporting realism. From TIE
time the curtain rises on a gambling han
10 the final drop on the climax. prize
fight with knockout. It Is true 70 life.
so true in fact that it carries the man
who sees II 70 q state Of hilarious enthu-
siasm. whether he be in a box or the
peanut gallery.
It Will be long time before Washing
ton wiz be able 10 see a truer depletion
Of a prize fight than that in tue third act
Of the play between kid Spang.e." f"
played by owen Martin. and Joe
Brady" the "Goslin,' acted by the
writer OF the play. 8Ir Granville.
The fight is in three rounds. and sup
posedly for the feather-weight champion
skip of the world. Everything about it
is realistic In the third act, when the
hero knocks Kl6 Spangle into a state OF
bT1ssfuI unconsciousness. and the crowd
Of stage spectators break into a roar Of
JOY prCclaiming hin the new champion.
the scene carries one back beyond the
time when bouts had 20 be fought under
the watchful eye q q deputy sheriff. and
the oniooker wants 70 join in the gen
eral yell Of acclaim.
The play is remarkably well staged. and
the cast is selected with q care that is
q credit 10 Mr. Granville Due credit
should be given 20 8Ir. Martin for his
Characterization Of kid Spangie- Aside
from the fact that he Is a clever actor.
Mr. Martin has a certain facial resem-
bIance to Elbows 8IcFadden. Of old time
fame that adds materially 10 his part
and his acrobarics during the boxing
scene Is splendid He IS a remarkably
clever boxer.
To Mr.. Granville is due large need OF
praise for the manner in which he alsys
the typical prize-hghter OF The higher
class His represeutation Of the man
lwhO is rough Yet true. uncultured yet
gentlemanly. and, above all honest 10
the core IS splendid. and IS free from
that mOllycoddHsh "hOlier than thou" al
titude assumed by the average hero Of
melodrama-
The plot deals with the efforts OF a
villain with the egphouious name Of
steele 10 TX a prize tight between his
man. KID Spangle.F and some other
rl---L ANl OH a-l-
world Just as be has satisfactorily ar
ranged matters with a person named
kid HeriaU." that individual gets gun
over by g car. OF something. and u is
necessary 10 secure a substitute
No substitute being HANDY. the genial
Steele tries first tc buy the 6ovn-ard-
out Joe Brady. and failing. agrees 10 lei
him have a square nsht wi-h hid
Sransle. Il appears that the Two pugi-
lists have met previously IN The ring.
and they seem 20 hold d gruGse that is
anything but friendly
When the - 10 IS arranged = comes out
thar the KID has not trained. The
genial Steele then endeavors 10 right
things By getting the hero. Brady. knock
ed out that he may not appear al the
fight His schemes are foled. the fight Is
pulled of on the square. and Brady pEo-
ceeds 10 thrash the tar out OF The feather
weight champion IN "a ms1ner entirely
satisfactory TO himself and others
The various scenes throughout the PLAY
are well arranged. the view of the prize
ring at the Olympia Athletic Club being
unusually vel staged or the ladies'
Naym= Farrell. as PLAYED by- Laura Pier
pOut. easily leads Miss Pierpont. the
heroine, and in love with the fighter
PLAYS the part opposite 20 3Ir. Granville
with verve and vivaCitv entirely de-
liEayfuL The uelodraIa furnishes Just
the sort o., excitement Academy patrons
love Il Is a good show.
HECTOR FULLER.