Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-26
THE CAST

The CAS-
Servant at the Warder's. Gilmore Walker
Eva Linden ........... Katherine Emme'
Laura Fraser ............. Bertha foIt1
Becky Warder ........... Katherine Grey
Lindon ....................Ai Alfred Hickman
| Warder ................. Robert Warwick
| Roland ................. 'hhrtisuh HuhtO'
| Mrs, GepeyIeye Crespigny -. Ina Hammer
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE
| CLYDE FITCH'S amusing comedy
drama of "The Truth" was pre-
~ sented last night at the Mason
for the first time in this city, the play
serving to introduce to Los Angeles
audiences Miss Katherine Grey, a
player of pronounced personal charm
and of admirably modulated voice;
whose acting, however, Is marred by
| lack of repose and by somewhat exas-
perating artificiality. In the support
| ing company Is Miss Katherine Emmet,
recently leading woman at the Belasco,
and Miss Ina Hammer, who has many
| friends here. Both Miss Emmett and
Miss Hammer were greeted with APP
plause upon their first appearance on
| the stage last night.
The truth is conspicuously absent In
Mr.. Fitchs play down to the last act.
The, central figure of the comedy Is
married, cannot resist the lure of in
discreet Irritation, and who attempts
| to lie out of the scrapes in which she
| becomes involved as result. Her
husband discovers the fibs and pro-
poses a separation, imagining that his
wifes lapses have been much more
serious than they really have been.
| Thereupon the. young woman promptly
goes home to her father, himself an
| 4, tar tNh fhaFa
| tiresome and inconclusive argument
anent heredity, very unlike 1bsen and
| totally devoid of what a certain wit
once termed Ibsentiment In the END
the husband follows his wife and a
reconciliation Is effected, though no
single thing occurs to make him change
his mind.
Fitch Not at His Best
The play is by no means Fitch at
his best but 1t is amusing and 1t con-
tains occasional flashes of Fitchtan
epigram. Moreover the character OF
the fibbing wife Is developed easily
and entertaingly; and there is another
character, that of the boarding house
mistress, which is a humorous achieve
nent In liberal and unconscious Vpl-
garity.
Judging merely from her work in last
nights play | should say that Miss
Katherine Grey has been lily fitted In
this Fitch role. Miss Grey is not a
Coincidence. She is an actress OF ex-
perience and ability in more SERIOUS
roles and in the bigger moments OF
.'Ths Truth" she acts with quietness
and with a sincerity that proves her
art. Herein is to be found the positive
excellence of her work. Its chief mega
tive virtue is the admirable discretion
displayed in the scene with Lindon,
where this man with whom she mas
been carrying on an innocent hirta-
ton mistakes her temper and steals
kiss. Here a false step would be easy,
but Miss Gray does not take 1t. In the
lighter passages of the play she evinces
abundant personal charm but scant
knack of comedy.
The role of the parvenu boarding
house mistress is finely handled by Miss
Hammer, who brings to its presenta-
ton just enough of the farcical to best
serve Fitch's purpose. Miss Katherine
Emmett plays the part of Lindons
justly jealous wife. 1t is an ungracious
bit intruded upon only two of the four
acts of the play, but it is well done
and 1t is not made "catty."
Robert Warwick plays the husband
in Straightforward and convincing fash
ion.
THE Truth" is at the Mason for
half week only. with a matinee tomor-
row afternoon.
THE Fifth Commandment" which
Mr. Julius Steger and his company
present at the Orpheum this week, Is
one of the few good dramatic sketches
in vaudeville. 1t has been we'll writ
ten and constructed-the program
says by Mr.. Steger himself-and 1t
is, in the main, we'll acted. 1f you are
looking for comedy, however, you Will
not find it in THE Fifth Command
ment." The little play tells story
of considerable interest and tells 1T In
thorough going fashion. There Is
music, Mr.. Steger singing a song to
harp accompaniment and singing 1t
well, but the music is part of the play.
1t is not dragged In by main strength
and awkwardness. The actor-author
handles his role skillfully and Miss
Minnie Lee Is acceptable in the part of
young girl, the one weak spot In the
presentation being the Stephen Win
throp OF Richard Malchien.
May Boley presents what she terms
musical monologue. This is series
of character approximations fitted into
songs. The burlesque is somewhat
broad, but the act is well done and 1t
makes big hit with the audience.
The types carieatured include chorus
girl, the understudy to the prima dom
wishes she was lady"
Avery and Hart present an excellent
duologue, with near-song interpola-
lions. The men are negroes, and they
are the cleverest team of the kind that
has been seen on the Orpheum stage
this season. One of them is a comedi-
an of merit and the other serves adj
mirably as a foil for his partners
foolery.
Agnes Mahr, assisted by Flora
dora" has a dancing speciality, at
tractively and adversely costumed, but
otherwise far from noteworthy. Miss
Mahr does just one stunt that is worth
while. She has trick of rising to a
toe dance position from her knees and
doing 1t gracefully. "Floradora" occu-
pies the stage while Miss Mahr is
changing her costumes and proves that
she is both symmetrical and graceful,
though her steps are of the simplest.
Cliff Gordon offers a new introduce
ton to his ludicrously nonsensical
and makes his usual hit
with the house. Gordon is funny and
his talk is down-to-date. His German
Senator stunt richly merits the popu-
larity accorded 1t. The other hold
overs include the Carbrey brothers,
the Banks Breazeale Duo of instru-
mentalists and Marie Florence.
Lew Worth and his pretty wife,
known professionally as Miss Jennie
Delmar. are presenting a musical act
at the Empire this week, unique in it's
way. and which made a hit with last
n ioht'q hnYtqas Miss Delrparta UGotpsa