Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-08

"THE DEVIL" an anonymous dudptdLioh
in three acts OF Ferenc Molnars play, pre-
sented last night upon the stage OF the be-
lasco theater with Harry Glazier In the title
role.
THE CAST
Tho Devil .................. Harry Glazler
Sander Tatray. ............ .hicnaru Nisi"n
Laszlo Voross. ss.................B Ben Granam
Andre .....................D David EDWIN
Servant for Voross. ........ .Charles buck
Leo Morgan. n..................J JACK beiErave
Wilma ..............M Miss Florence Smythe
Fanny ............M Miss Dorothy Bernard
other parts by:
Miss Evelyn Baird, Miss Rachel Clarke.
Miss Virginia Grose, Miss Leonora Meiius'
Mr.. Leo PiersOn, Robert Austin.
Mr.. Raymond Freeman, Charles English
BY SIDLE LAWKENCE
WI ITH two devils on Main street
w and another threatened on
W Broadway, Los Angeles theater-
goers would seem to have fallen upon
evil days. The second devil arrived
at the Belasco theater yesterday
afternoon, just twenty-four hours later
than his rival down the street. Having
seen, first the Burbank version ana
then the Belasco version, and pelng
informed also that the Savage version,
which we are to see later, is nellneL
of these, / am at loss to understand
Just how many plays Ferenc Molnar
has written under the one title. Inc
two versions already played here'
while representing identical stories, eX-
hibit marked difference in character
ization and dialogue. They are so diI-
ferent, indeed, that the playgoer who
finds one of them interesting, doubtless
will want to see the other as well.
There are points in which each excel.
At the Belasco, for instance, there is
delightful little scene between the
model and the girl the artist is TO
marry, which is charmingly played py
Miss Dorothy Bernard and Miss Flo
renee Smythe, and which Is wholly diff
ferent in dialogue from that presented
at the Burbank. Here the Belasco Ver-
sion is the more daring and the more
effective. On the other hand, the Bur,
bank version excels, as a general
proposition, in crispness of dialogue
and in celerity. Neither has any ac-
ton to speak OF.
Points of Difference
At the Burbank the play is, frankly,
comedy; satirical, to be sure, put
comedy element has been subdued ana
the tragic heightened. The devil NM
less is less a Merry Andrew and more
n schemer. which would seem to be IN
keeping with the generally accepted
character of this parsonage. Again;
the Burbank devil exhibits a social
polish that is not attained by his Be
iasco rival. The difference is that be-
tween the man who knows that II Is
nermissible for him to raise his boull-
ION cup to his lips and the man VINO
fears that it is not.
However, l have no intention or as
suming to say which of these versions
is the better. The respective adapters
have strayed far, thus illustrating the
Importance of their work, something
that is, perhaps, not generally appre-
ciated.
At the Belasco last night the honors
of the production were carried OH py
Harry Glazier as the devil; Rlcnara
Vivian as the artist lover and Dorotny
Bernard as the model. Midway in the
third act Miss Bernard was PAID an
unusual compliment by the audience.
She had left the stage after some
what protracted scene with MISS FLOR
ence Smythe which had been handled
with such genuine feeling that the
house insisted upon her return 10 DOW
her thanks for the applause granted.
Seldom is such a tribute palo lhe pi@Soi
of d minor role.
Glaciers Interesting Work
Mr.. Glazier, as was expected, gives
an interesting portrayal of this modern
dav Beelzebub. He is crafty, 1nsinuat-
ing. sardonic. He uses no red-lined
cloak to reveal his identity, nor is ne
quite so uncanny an individual as ms
friend, the devil of Sixth street. Inc
little tricks which Mr.. Beasley assumes
in the character are not emPIoyeu pS
Mr. Glazier In stage parlance, ne
plays the part straight. Both metnoos
have their advantages, and each is que
quite as much to the different play YER
sjons. as to the choice OF the actor Mr'
Glazier at no time raises MS VOICE
above the ordinary conversational TONE
His acting is quiet, forceful' Impressive.
His characterization lacks the piLart1 an
touches which makes the Beasiey oeVli
notable, but it gains by so much IN Dig
nifty. ,, , r,,,,,-
nathetic portrayal of the young artist
Who. with another mans wife, Is the
victim of the devils plotting. MISS
Jane Grey plays the wife withone o,.o
marked distinction ana . costuihes is t,fe afs
1ole very badly. Miss SmyIhe Is eiz a.
fectiye as Wilma, and Ben Graham Is
good in the bit of the husband.
At least two of the acts of the Or
pheum this week are of more tnan US
ual merit. These are presented Wy
Franklin Underwood ana company;
and by Bernard anu 0eeieS'
comedians. -,
Mr.. Underwood offers sketch Whlch
| concerns the domestic dilemmas of MI.
| Dobbs. He plays the part of clever
| but unconvincing liar, while George
Bloomuuist is equally mendacious put
more fortunate in making his preVari-
cations plausible. Miss Slosson plays
the suspicious wife. The entlre act Is
quick, bright and witty.
Bernard and Seeley are amusing mu-
| sicians, the man an accomplished pl-
anist whose rendition of popular ana
rag-tine selections Is clean cut and full
| of zest and the woman pretty young
| singer with most attractive garb, Whlch
| serves to suggest and reveal the de-
| lightful curves of a very graceful tg-
| ure.
Will Campbell and the Misses May
and Alma Stock appear in a fairly IN
| teresting act with remarkably PIC
turesque setting. The Misses Stock ap-
pear in costume with elaborate and ef-
| fectiye coiffure Mr.. Campbell does
some daring balancing feats which are
not generally familiar, and the entire
act made decided hit with Monday
audiences.
Dolesch and Zillbauer, street musi-
clans from Vienna, complete this
weeks list of newcomers, with operate
selections upon accordians. They ap-
pear in the picturesque garb Whlch
they wore when first taken into captiV-
ity, and their musical efforts were ac-
| corded much praise upon their DEBUT
here yesterday afternoon.
! The Mitchells, eccentric dancers, re-
main from last week, as do the four
Rianos in their novel acrobatic act.
Wanrell and Carranza, the singers,
| have added new songs to their artistic
program, and 1.-THE girl with the baton"
directs the Military Octet through the