Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-18
&c The Theaters e
LIFE INSURANCE IS
EXPOSED AT BELASCO

'MUTTSBURG LIFE INSURANCE" or
GALL IN THE FAMILY" a farce in three
acts by James Crawford, produced at the
Belasco theater under the stage direction
of Hobart Bosworth.
THE CAST
Gregory Coop, president of the Nuts
burg Mutual Life Insurance COM
pany .,............. jacques hruSei
JAY Smith, a reporter who practices
self-cOnversion ........ Richard vivian
vidOcq slinque, alias Cliquot,. an inn
ported sieuth ...... William Herance
Sharp Blight, an expert accountant.
........................ Harry GIazier
Horace Coop, distantly related to the
president ............ Charles Ruggles
Bafflin Blockem, an attorney for the
great .................. .HOWaru 7co''
ROundsman Ryan, an incOrruptible.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Harry spear
Miss Minerva Coop, secretary of the
Muttsburg Mutual and first cousin
to the president. Miss Florence Smythe
Dr. Samantha Coop, chief physician OF
the Muttsburg Mutual and sister-in"
law of the president. 80. .......
.................. Miss Eleanor Carey
Miss Portia Coop, chief attorney of the
Muttsburg Mutual and niece Of the
president ...... Miss Dorothy Bernard
Miss Gladys Coop, daughter Of the
president .".:.....;.. Miss % Jane Grey
Mrs. Anastatia Coop, from Alabama,
who speaks for herself. ...........
............... Miss Marie Benninger
Relatives of the president-Miss Virginia
Crosse, Miss Rose Lambert, Miss L1lllas
Piper, Miss Evelyn Baird, Miss Edna MENUS
Miss Lucille MeIIus, Miss Dorothy Philippi.
BY ARTHUR WELSHANs
IN HE life insurance game, after hav-
ing been fairly well exposed by
II such agencies as the newspapers
and courts, made a further bid for no.
toriety by breaking into the limelight
10 -. 10, 1aGf
The exposure Is disguised under the
title, "Muttsburg Life Insurance: or,
All in the Family" 1t Is presented this
week in appropriate consideration for
the underwriters association which is
in session here at this time.
The insurance men were there last
night in force and saw themselves as
others see them. The farce was dec
GRATED for the occasion with local allu-
sions and personal hits that made the
hearers with the yellow badges give
way to great enthusiasm. For the most
part they found many chances TO ap-
plaud. Even one of those policies done
in Spencerian writing, sealed with q
yellow seal and ready for the victim
to frame was recognized as an olo
friend and given a hearty welcome
Now and then James Crawford, the
author, was perhaps more frank than
the circumstances might seem to allow.
Once in a while the insurance men
were given full front and profile views
of some of their family skeletons and
a chill seized their laughs like an early
frost on the peach crop. But these
were occasions where the general pup
lie had especial occasions for mirtn.
1t was a case of somebody Laughing all
the time, and everybody laughing most
of the time.
The "Muttsburg Life Insurance" is
surprising for bright lines and hilari-
Gus ideas. Crawford has found Ter
tile field in the life insurance business
according to the impression generally
furnished by the graft exposures. The
author was willing to abide by the es-
tablished rule for farces IN not pur-
dening It with any distinguishing plot.
Even the love element contents itself
with a small corner "up stage" The
| center of the spot light is strictly a
place for the characters to gather
singly and in groups and take raps at
the business of those who are out
gathering premiums.
None Of the distinctive features as
shown in the courts have been omitted
from the play. The president Of the
Muttsburg Mutual has his family tree
standing in one corner of the office
with the names of his relatives, who
are also office holders, hanging there
from on tags. Whenever a relative
loses her station and position by d.
vorce the name is pulled off. The In
vestigating of the books Is another
foundation stone. The election by the
stockholders is displayed in humorous
aspects. The efforts of the president
to abscond and the fears that he Will
abscond and the general knowledge
that he ought to abscond and the fears
that he won't abscond are made avail
able by the Crawford hit.
The first night of a new farce IS
certain to have it's moments when the
high speed clutch refuses to eaten.
Some slow moments were evident
There are no chances for the Belasco
genius for scenic effects. But the play
is honestly funny, genuinely clever and
founded on an idea that surely should
lend itself to laugh making. There Is
every reason why the piece will be
given a few coats of varnish and sent
forth into the amusement world as a
permanent feature.
Brilliant acting Is not required in
farce any more than a plot. But the
Belasco players went bravely through
the first nights struggle for lines and
made a commendable effort to throw
life into the farce where action was
lacking.
Empire