Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-07
The Theaters
kkT1YHE PRISONER. OF zENDA," ]"
which James X. Hackett is now

eEVNHE PRISONER OF zENDA,"
which James X. Hackett is now
n playing in New York city some
twelve years after his first assumption
of its leading role, is revived at the
Auditorium this week, with Lewis S.
Stone in the dual parts of Rudolf Ras-
sendyIl and the king, and Florence
Oakley as the unhappy Princess Fla
via. The play is too we'll known to
require comment. 1t is a dramatiza-
tion by Edward T.. Rose of the An
thony Hope romance, and the best
dramatization Mr.. Rose ever accom-
plished.
At the Auditorium the play is ef-
fectively staged and well acted In its
leading roles. The support, however,
leaves much to be desired. Mr.. stones
Rudolf has pleased local audiences in
an earlier season. The role gives him
ample opportunities to display his abii-
ity as romantic actor and few OF
them are overlooked. Sword in hand
and with a heroic speech upon his
lips, Mr.. Stone casts aside his subtle
ties, his quiet methods. and his dis
cretion and braves 1t with the most
gallant gentleman of the romantic
stage. His love scenes with the prin-
cess are marked by tenderness and
fine expression of feeling. His sword
fight with young Hentzau is well man
aged. On the other hand, Mr.. Stone
bungles the second act scene in the
audience chamber. Here, at times, he
sacrifices the dignity of the character
he portrays for the sake of a laugh.
The grimaces, aside to Sapt, are In
exceedingly bad taste and do much
to destroy the effect of an otherwise
well played scene.
Miss Florence Oakley again evinces
abundant charm in her acting of the
Princess Flavia. Joseph de Grasse
plays Duke Michael in correct tempo.
and William G. Mason is bluffly sat
isfactory in the part of Col. Sapt. The
role, however, has been considerably
cut; perhaps because Mr.. MaSSon'S du-
ties as stage director of the company
give him limited time for study.
The Hentzau of George Farren lacks
any touch of lightness. Mr.. Farren,
instead of making Rupert a pictur-
esque bravo, transforms him into a
villain of conventional department and
bad repute. The Interpretation is by
no means to be defended or approved.
Miss Leslie Preston is scarcely more
happy in her playing of Antoinette de
Mauban. Frank Richardson is good
in the small part Of Marshal Strakencz.
Charles Giblyn has Joined the Bur-
bank stock company and will make his
debut with that organization next sun
day afternoon in my Wife" Mr.. Glib
4
Frenchman. He has had much stock
experience and should prove valua-
Bile addition to the Burbank forces. He
was a member of the Shuberts' So
called "All Star Stock company"
played for a season with the Alvin
company in Pittsburg, was with the
Pike organization in Cleveland and In
dianapolis, and has played in several
stock companies in New England.
Eight years ago he played season of
five months at the Burbank, the house
to which he now returns.
Since the opening of the Gayety en-
gagement at the Grand, three months
ago, Mr.. Giblyn has been the character
comedian of that organization. This
week he Is playing the part of "Hot
Scotch" He has had, in addition to
his stock experience, numerous engage
nents with various musical comedy
organizations, including the company
formerly maintained at Daly's theater
New York. This training doubtless
Will stand him in good stead when
Manager Morosco again puts on mu-
sical comedy at the Burbank
McPhee, an acrobat of the team of
McPhee and Hill, at the Orpheum this
week, broke one of the small bones in
his foot as the result of fall upon the
Orpheum stage yesterday afternoon,
and consequently will be out of the bill
during the remainder of the week. His
place last night was taken by a sub
stitute The injury, it is said. VIII not
incapacitate him for long, though 1t
was exceedingly. painful
Haddon Chambers play of Captain
Swift" with A. H. Van Buren, as
the gentlemanly bushranger and Lovell
Taylor as the girl with whom he rallS
in love, is current at the Belasco this
week. The play has been seen fire.
quently in stock, but it is a good old
play and it wears we'll
It's central figure is an illegitimate
son of English parentage, who mas
been dsowned by his mother, and who,
years before the opening of the stage
story, has drifted to Australia, where
he has become knight of the road:
subsequently he returns to England
and "by the long arm of coincidence
makes his way into the home of his
mother Here we have a melodramatic
setting, but Mr. Chambers has handled
his materials temperately and the play
never quite crosses the border line OF