Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-16
AT THE THEATERS

the dimpled and likewise capable
shoulders of Miss Oakley.
Mr.. Stones impersonation Of Curtiss
Jadwyn Is perhaps too well known 10
require extended comment. 1t Is note
worthy for its temperance even in the
stirring incident of the wheat pit. Mr..
Stone has a fine knack of playing melo-
drama sanely. He Is never boisterous,
whatever the temptation. His acting
in this play Is forceful, dignitied and
compelling. He fits himself into the
role with q nicely that bespeaks a
complete understanding and apprecia-
tion of the character.
Miss OalSlay, somewhat more mature
in appearance and department than
she was as the college widow, but not
a whit less fascinating, plays the girl
of the opening acts with perhaps a
trife too much sophistication. In the
third act, however, she rose to her op-
portunities, and her playing gave some-
thing more than hint of what may be
expected of her later on, when once
she is cast in a strong emotional role.
Howard Scott acquits himself famil-
iarly and effectively in the part of the
artist who comes from Tuscany. The
other assignments are of so trivial a
character that comment Is superfiuous.
The play is excellently staged, both
In point of scenery and in the manner
of its groupings In those scenes where
a considerable number of extra players
are employed. The device of the Aux
epophone in act one works admirably,
though 1t was somewhat confusing to
listen to the Rigoletto quartet and then
have persons on the stage talk of the
superb performance of Faust they
had just witnessed.
"The Pit" continues at the Audito-
rum through the week. 1t is a fairly
good evening-cIothes melodrama, with
stirring incident, enlivened by an In
teresting love story. Next week the
company will present Soldiers of For
tune" There win be no second week
Of 1.-THE Pit" consequently, of you
want to see it, it behooves you to do so
before Sunday.
Bennett Southland was out Of the cast
OF "The Pit" at the Auditorium last
night and his part was read on short
notice by Edwin August Mr.. South
ard was injured in an accident Sunday
and though he played Monday night
his physicians yesterday ordered him to
remain quiet for few days. His hurt,
however. is not serious.
Owing to the fact that Victor Schert-
Finger, the leader of the orchestra at
the Belasco, is going on the road with
COnC0TL company, a new OrCneSCra
will be installed at the theater next
week with j. N. Laraia as the new di-
rector. Mr.. Laraia has played at the
Belasco before and is we'll known to
the regular patrons OF that theater as
a clever musician and director.
Philip White, who has been assistant
treasurer of the Belasco for some
years, has resigned and is succeeded
by Ira Joseph of Mr.. Belasco's San
Francisco staff. Mr.. White has other
things in view in a business line, but
temporarily has adopted the stage as
profession. He will take part in
"Strongheart" next week, and has a
pretentious part of about ten sides. He
is a good looking chap, and If he makes
good may stay on the stage.
"The Man of the Hour" which is
next weeks offering at the Mason
opera house, was acted without inter-
ruption from December 6, 1906, until
December 81, 1907 in the Savoy the
ater, New York city, being the only
serious play yet produced that has run
through the summer months in the
metropolis. 1t had q sixteen weeks
summer run in Chicago, with no other
| dramatic composition to divide inter
est, all the other theaters being filled
with musical pieces. 1t ran an even
six months In the fremont theater,
Boston.