Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-28
THE CAST

Jos. Whitaker ........... .Geraid harcourt
Cal. Barcus ...........'.'' :. 'OaNin noung
"Chub" Toliiver. ............C Chnndos Marks
Henry .........Ge George Blondeil
Clahe Oyertou .......... Arthur Archer
Amos whitney ...... George Ii. Field
naaaou Montgomery Hale Studebaker
Tucv Rigby y............... Blanche Hall
Mrs Elias Rigby. Louise hoyce
Mrs. jefferson BriscOe. .Carroi Marshail
Lorena watkins. .......... Elsie Esmonu
"Chick" Elzey ...............:fay SANS. amer
lilly .......s..'.'' '''.'' ''''' '"AO ~
Miss Fay Banter very nearly stole
the honors of the day at the Burbank
theater yesterday afternoon. but no
actress could be clever enough to take
the plaudits of the house away from
William Desmond when he was cast
in so appealing a role as that OF the
poor but honest politician.
Miss BANTER has appeared in small
roles once or twice recently at the Bur-
bank and always with distinction, but
as Chick Elzey, the orphan, in George
Ade's play, "The County Chairman,
she presented an ingenious, girlish
picture which found instant favor with
her audience.
The play served to introduce to local
theatergoers Edwin Vivian, who made
much of the part given him and made
the country editor a shade more hu-
man than was quite In accordance
with stage traditions.
The play, which has been seen here
at other theaters, is presented by Mr..
Morosco's players for the first time
here in stock, and is given an elabo-
rate staging with a large crowd OF
extra people. They hurrahed vocifer-
ously at the proper time and Tor the
rest took a villagers interest in all the
village love affairs. Beside real po.
litical plot, 1.-THE County Chairman
has three separate and distinct love
affairs running through the excitement
Of political campaign.
The cast is long one, with many
speaking parts. Louise Royce mas one
of the best parts which has fallen to
her in many weeks, and displayed an
emotional power quite unsuspected Dy
those OF her listeners who had seen
her only in the comedy character work
which is SO frequently her role.
William Desmond in the title role,
disappointed lover and friend OF the
orphan and the suppliant, read much
romance into his part. Beside being
country politician, Jim Hacker is
lawyer and a student and he mis-
quotes alike from Shakespeare and
Riley with most convincing logic.
Henry Stockbridge has returned
from his vacation and is customar1ly
effective as Jupiter Pathway of the
fife and drum corps.
Elsie Esmond, as a country milliner,
with her wide acquaintance with SO
many ''traveling gentlemen" and her
own country ideas Of 'style," was one
of the hits of the performance, both
in acting and costuming. Blanche
Hall, as the judges daughter, played
the part of the country school teacher
in quiet good taste. while Harry Mes
A.. \ kAss dn Vnof t7oy-
unimpassioned love to her.
The production is most amusing,
clean and an excellent example Of its
kind, and will bring plenty of laughter
and only a few tears to the sympa-
thttic spectator.
"The Girl from over Yonder'' at the
Grand is in many ways the best offer
ing the Gayety company has made
since its season opened. While there
is no great brilliancy or originality In
the lines or situations, it is amusing,
provides for the Interpolation of
generous musical menu and presents
many picturesquely costumed ensem-
bles. Some beautiful lighting effects
illumine the first act, and Director r..
T. Kirkpatrick has provided some
really excellent incidental music for
the play.
We have had people married by wire
and by proxy before, and new Nevada
seems to allow divorces In the same
convenient way, but Miss Libby Blon-
dell is probably the first prima donna
to sing her songs by proxy. severe
cold has absolutely put this young wo-
mans voice out of commission and
her songs yesterday were sung for
her by Messrs. Carr and Giblyn, Miss
Blondell merely gracing the scene by
her presence and acting. The idea,
a. ~
the substitutes earning for their prin-
cipal repeated encores. Mr.. Carr sang
"I Want What Want When I Want
It." from 1.-The Little Milliner," and
when Girl Leads the Band"; Elise
Schuyler, II Got to Get Myself Man"
and ''There's Always Something
Wrong; Charles Giblyn, when
Tommy Atkins Marries Dolly Gray;
Harry Wardell, by the Side of the
Zuyder Zee" and parodies, and Miss
Helen Golf, you're in Love-" and a
duet with Mr.. Carr, you'll Be Sorry"
For the finale Miss Blondell, in a
drum majors regalia, appeared in the
orchestra pit to lead the when a Girl
Leads the Band" and, as surprise
party, the entire chorus, outfitted as a
drum corps, marched down the aisles
from the back of the house and over
an improvised bridge to the stage.
It's distinctly girl show through
out, but there are some good bits of
character acting incidentally, notably
the scotch Highbalr of Charles
Giblyn, and the Martha Washington
Of Miss Schuyler.
Owing to a combination of circum-
stances depriving the company of it's
leading man through illness, and it's
soubrette, who is suffering from a
sprained ankle, '"rhe Troupers,'' billed
for the current week at the Peoples
was obliged yesterday to cancel it's
engagement, leaving the house dark
for the present.
"The Squaw Man." with Dustin Far
mum in the title role, will open at the
Mason tonight for the week. '"The
Test" Jules Eckert Goodman's new
play, will have it's premier at the hands
of the Lewis S. Stone company at the
Auditorium, while at the Belasco the
bill will be 1.-THE Love Route" There
will be the usual changes of bill at the
Orpheum, Los Angeles, Fischers,
Unique and Empire.
Fritz Fields, one of the comedians
with the Temple Opera company dur
ing it's brief season at the Auditorium
and later with Fred Eustis In 1.-THE
Campaigners." is organizing musical
comedy company for tour of the
northern circuits. He will begin re-
hearsals in Los Angeles today and ex-
pects to open In fortnight