Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
The CAST
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE


BY SIDLE LAWRENCE
<<nAvID HARUM' is comedy of
ID longevity. The homely philoso-
~ ply, the droll wit and the
abundant kindness of this country
banker, whose shrewdness in a horse
trade is his gravest peccadillo, have
made the character worthy to be
classed alongside of Rip Van Wrinkle
as one of the semi-classic figures of
the American stage.
The proof of a play is in the box office.
A bad play may win monetary success
for a time, either because 1t is unusu-
ally well acted, because 1t contains
some sensational incident that has been
given wide publicity, or because 1t
deals with topic of primal contem-
porary interest, but when a play con-
tinues year after year to make money
for managers 1t must have merit, and,
as a usual proposition, Its characters
must be agreeable folk to meet.
The pleasant play Is the play that
lives. The unpleasant play may Gre
ate an ephemeral furore. but its early
demise can be predicted with absolute
certainty, even in the height OF its
popularity
Dave Harum is gifted with an un-
failing good humor that is infectious.
He has the optimism of youth tempered
by the wisdom of experience, the char
ity of middle age, Joined to the tolera-
ton begot of kindly contact with the
world. He is big man, is Dave Har-
UNI big In his heart and big In his
mind--and he is human. So far as
Harum's part in the comedy Is con-
cerned, 1t is his duty merely to smoothe
the pathway of the customary pair OF
young lovers. Yet, as a matter OF fact,
he is the play. Without him 1t would
be pretty poor stun.
The day may come when the horse
shall be driven to extinction by the
automobile or, perhaps, by some new
tangled flying machine. Until then.
however, David Harum's horse lore, his
keen appreciation of successful horse
trade and his ever evident admiration
for thoroughbred will establish his
comradeship with every man who
knows q good horse when he sees one.
The comedy is well played in the
Burbank revival. David Harum" is
just the sort Of play the Burbank COM
pany does best. In the title role John
w. Burton gives the same effective per-
Torrance he accorded the same part
when the play was last presented al
that time. by the way, 1t was found
necessary to keep the piece on for two
weeks in order to accommodate the
people who wanted to see 1t. William
Desmond and Blanche Hall are the
conventional young lovers. H. j. Ginr
is the deacon who is caught in the rain
with a balky horse which Dave has
sold him. Louise Royce is excellent as
Aunt Polly. and clever character de-
lineations are contributed by Henry
Stockbridge, Willis Marks and Harry
Mestayer.
David Harum" is announced for one
week only. with Mistress Nelr' to fol-
low 1t.
Miss Alice Treat Hunt, leading wo-
man of the Belasco stock company, who
is seriously i'll at her home with pneu-
monia, was reported at midnight to be
somewhat improved. She is under the
care of trained nurse and physician
was at her bedside almost constantly
during the afternoon and evening.
Katherine Grey and her associated
players open a three nights engage
ment at the Mason tonight, coming here
direct from two weeks in San Fran
CISCO 1.-THE Truth" which she will
present during her short stay in Los
the Fitch plays. A special 'Wednes-
day matinee will be given.
Dick Ferris opened his summer sea-
son in ST. Paul last night, presenting
1.-THE Lightning Conductor" which he
played here a few months ago at the
Auditorium. Thursday the Ferris COM
pany will move to Minneapolis Harry
Won Meter left Los Angeles yesterday
to join the organization for the Min
neapolis opening.
Mr. Ferris plans to give Flour City
theater-goers a somewhat better list OF
plays than he offered here, the an
nounced list including 1.-THE Girl of the
Golden West" "Salomy Jane" "Raf-
fies," Dorothy Vernon of Haddon
Hail." "Zira," 1.-THE Adventures of Lady
Ursula" 1.-The Love Route" 1.-The Three
of U.s. and "A Mill. White Flag"
The American company which re-
Gently took 1.-THE College Widow" to
London has suddenly closed it's engage
ment. Considered analytically the
venture seems to have been like taking
a very wild gamblers chance. "The
College Widow" in England, deprived
of it's sustaining element--the Amer
lean Point of view and relish for slang
was almost certain to fall. The
Britons like solid dramatic meat, and
in that quality 1.-THE College Widow" is
lacking. The idea of seducing an ath-
lete away from rival school must
have seemed trivial and unsportsman-
like to the Londoners and the excite
ment of the football game in the third
act must have missed fire, requiring, as
It does a special insight into American
gridiron technique. The play was
given a splendid production and a
strong performance by the best COM
pany that Mr.. Savage could assemble.
The big feature of the program which
Dockstader's minstrels will present at
the Mason the latter half of the week
has been called "a Dull Day at the
White House." in which Dockstader, by
special permission of the president
runs the government for day. Dock
stader takes advantage of his oppor-
tunity to talk politics. and the phone is
kept busy while he discusses the local
political situation. In the opening part
Dockstader has a new song called
"When the Hammer on the Anvil
Rings" Neil O'Brien sings a funny
ditty called Brother Nothin' " and dis
cusses the Panama canal. There are
MANY musical numbers, notably THE
Land of Nicotine" and "The Pipe of
Peace." "Reveille at West Point" is a
drill and dancing act. The entertain
ment comes to an end with sketch
called "A Quick Lunch.
A company is being organized in Los
Angeles 20 pla- East Lynn in the
smaller cities OF the state. Miss Lillian