Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-03
THE CAST

in Los Angeles.
THE CAST
Nine woodbury. ....... Isabelle Winloclke
Elaine .................... Eleanor Irving
Emile Sheldon ...... james Mccormick
Marceline ................ Eugene MOuian
Sir Anthony oliver. 49,. William Garrett
Muriel Oliver ....... Gertrude Hutcheson
Marco .................. james II. Brennan
Jonathan joy y.............. Bobby Barry
Tillie Day .................. Elsie Herbert
Adam .................... George Stevens
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE
EkA KNIGHT FOR A DAY" is in
"A town for a week. 1t was dis
IA closed at the Mason last night
in a blaze of electricity that illumined
each scene and that made Clarence
Brown, who is an old Pains fireworks
man. sit up and take notice. This same
feature of the show likewise made hit
with a capitalistic friend of mine-of
course he is, isn't this election day
who recently invested in stocks of the
electric company The display, he ad-
mitted, hurt his eyes, but he smiled
nevertheless and he led the applause
which kept the lights turned on an
extra three or four minutes at so much
per kilowatt hour whatever that is.
The comedy, however, would prove
diverting even without the illumina-
ton There's a story, which doesn't
concern anyone in the audience and
which l can't retell to you because l
didn't eavesdrop. Likewise, there are
few good jokes; numerous familiar
situations of the kind that always
make an audience good humored;
comedian and comedienne who know
their business; a picturesque prima
donna with a picturesque voice; two
or three good looking young men and
gayly exuberant chorus which wears
neither directoire nor sheath gowns.
How this happened I do not know, but
it's a fact. This chorus really merits
careful consideration. There are eight
''madcaps," 1 think they are called,
who here are announced as English
girls, but who, in New York, were la
be1ed MAID in Germany" Whatever
their nativity, they are sprightly young
persons who seemingly enjoy hard
work and who certainly make hard
work enjoyable to their audiences.
A Live Sparklet
There is an occasional sparkle in the
lines of this piece that rivals the Edf-
son product Are you married maj? p
asks someone; and Bobby Barry re-
plies: mo; I'm working for myself"
That's only one, but if 1t doesn't make
you laugh there's no use In my GRID
bing more of them.
~~%'~-~CN
successfully copyrighted. Consequently
we have seen several of the best things
from "a Knight for a Day. in other
pieces, where they didn't belong, but
where they made good, just as they
did at the Mason last night. The
elopement scene, for instance, was used
here, and not so very long ago, either.
So was the electrical see-saw stunt that
closes the first act.
ROhbU Ra arrV who DlaVS the bogus
knight in this comedy, is little chap,
but most of him is funny and all of
him is almost funny. l neither know
nor care whether he initiates his prede-
cessor in the role, any more than care
whether Elsie Herbert tries to act
like May Vokes. Both of 'em are kon-
ical kusses, as Artemus Ward once
remarked, and they get at our funny
bones in a way that makes them tingle.
If you can't laugh at "I'd Like An
other Situation Just Like That after
you hear Miss Herbert almost sing it;
and if you can't guffaw at Barry's
"Whistle When You Walk Out" his
foolery in the catchy Little Girl i'll
Blue" and the duet propelled over the
footlights by both of them, What
Fools We Mortals Be-" then musical
comedy is not for you and you need a
dose either Of Ibsen or liver regulator
Miss Gertrude Hutcheson was round
ly applauded last night for her singing
of the "Girl in Blue" number; Life
Is a See-Saw'' and Somebody Loves
You, Dear" The minor roles are well
sung and there is always the chorus.
Election returns will be read from
the stage tonight. If you are stanch
Republican the comedy, doubtless. will
make you forget all about them and
your other disappointments as well.
The Lewis S. Stone company has run
the gamut of drama from farce in The
Man on the Box" through comedy to
the more serious Leah Kleschna," dur
ing the several weeks of its engage
ment at the Auditorium. Last night
members of the company made their
appearance in comedy with music
"Forty-five Minutes from Broadway"
was the bill, and he must be carping
critic who would say that anything but
success attended the undertaking:
The comedy, which has already been
presented upon another local stage
more than once, is too familiar to need
any mention, but it's familiarity has
not bred contempt. On the contrary.
indeed, if the vast audience which filled
the Auditorium to overflowing is a
criterion.
The audience gave friendly greeting
to the favorite jokes as well as TO
the popular players VINO uttered IneIn'
The old songs, every one so well known
were received with instant approval,
and the pretty little love story which
is threaded throughout the maze of
the play was followed with sympathetic
understanding.
In the first act the company was ill
at ease and the verve requisite for
musical comedy was lacking. In the
second act this was overcome in a
large degree and the performance
moved with snap which Weakened the
enthusiasm of the audience, and kept
applauding throughout the act.
Musically, the work of the company
is a pleasant surprise. Miss Oakley's
songs and the graceful little dances
with which she accompanied them Will
add much to her already high reputa-
ton as a leading woman of ability.
Her Interpretation of the quiet drol
lines in her part was satisfactory
Mr.. Stone tried to prove that clothes
do not make the man, but was hardly
successful in that undertaking. His
first appearance was in striped sweater,
quite the bully which his slangy speech
denoted him. Later, however. he is
supposed to be wearing Tuxedo for
the first time his manner becomes in
sensibly subdued, he lost the bragga-
docia and swagger of the KID" and
took on, in spite of himself, the re-
serve and some faint reflection of his
usual dignified bearing. Mr.. Stone also
sang a song which the audience APP
proved. AS the bashful lover, afraid
to tell his story to Mary, he was at
~ fov afta,- oil King fS