Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-21
MEPHISTo YIELDS MITE
TO oRPHEUM GOOD CHEER

The "unco guild" may call me shock
ing, but l agree with John B. Hymer
& Co. that even the devil should be
taken lightly at Christmas time. In a
skit entitled The Devil and Tom
Walker" which headlines the new Or
pheum bill, this seems to be the quite
medieval intention. 1t is hard for some
thoughtful folk. Whether or not you
believe in a supreme power of evil.
you are probably not accustomed to
laugh about it. The medieval mind
did just that. II believed in a per-
sonal Satan, but IT did not take him
half so seriously as did nineteenth CEN
tury folk, who wrote sober tones to
prove that he didn't exist.
The Mephisto who stalks through the
Orpheum skit has somewhat the same
prejudice against mirth. Wen have
no jokes in hell" he remarks, but he
failed to reckon with Tom Walker
Tom was a Tennessee negro, and on
one Of the frequent trips which the
devil made to the earth Tom took his
place in charge of the imps of ill.,
There is a touch of sobriety as we see
punishment meted out to the auto
flend and the sOulless society woman
and a rollicking scene in which Tom
permits a goodly number of inmates
to buy their freedom. A young woman
whose sole misstep has been that she
has loved too well is permitted to es-
cape with Tom Walker, on the return
Of the devil. The concluding tableau
shows them entering an airship for
the moon, which is as near to good old
earth as we get in this fantastic med
ley Of faith and frolic.
1t is an innocently diverting con-
ceit and notably free from any hint
of scorn or derision at religion as
such. The AUTHORS aver that at never
happened; 1t never will; but II may
amuse you" 1t did. II also set one
thinking how little difference, at
heart, there is between the wholesome
tastes of the modern vaudeville crowd
and their dim and shadowy ancestors
who watched the grotesque and hilari-
Gus plghts TO which Satan was hard
put in the old morality plays. The
scientific student of that rara avis
the gallery. will find "The Devil and
Tom Walker" we'll worth witnessing
Ben Wech is n Hebrew comedian
who understands Irish humor and es-
says Italian impersonation. His
Ghetto patter is always greeted with
cascades of merriment, and yesterday
was no exception. l cared less for his
Italian portrayal. which was wanting
in the suppleness of voice and plain
tive accent, which are the birthright
NOR IS broad. and in one or two in
stances offends good taste. The kind
of thing at which you feel ashamed.
even as you laugh, is not true wit,
hut a counterfeit. Otherwise this
monologue was the best in months at
the Orpheum and richly merited its
success.
Fraulein Katchen Loisset sings only
mildly well, though with good express
c,o,, ou1 aybiI,ffc bpr trained
This is but preparatory to our meeting
her bulldog, Honey who Waggishly
submits to being dressed up as a rak-
ish German student a tramp, an old
sea dog. Ii Hung Chang and a "mOth-
er-in-law." Honey" is a right good
sort Of brute, patient and gentle-a
true pantomimist. He is happiest
while he is licking the sugar off his
nose. and we are, too.
Vittoria an. Giorgetta balance on
their hands and box with their feet
Later still handing themselves around,
so % eTeak they do a clog dance with
their arms. They certainly come from
Topsy Turvy land, and We welcome
their visit.
Edwin stevens and Miss Tina Mar
shall present a pretty little play en-
titled "Guardy,' picturing the desul-
tory but at last successful COurtship
Of a dihident bachelor for his ward.
The acting is excellent, some of the
flavor of last weeks Dickens portray
ais inhering in the representations
other holdovers are HOward's dogs
and ponies, Milt Wood and the De
Haven sextet. with new motion pic
lures.
The seat sale for Miss Ogla Meth
ersoIe's engagement next week at the
Mason will open Thursday at a. m.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings and Saturday matinee "The