Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-01
"PETER PAN" IS
ON AT BURBANK
ADMIRABLE PRODUCTION OF
RARRIE'S PLAY
FIRST AUDIENCE HIGHLY APPRE.
GATES FAIRY FANTASY
Performance is Given with Perfection
Of Detail and Elaborateness of
Staging Equal to That Of
Original Production
BY LEMUEL PARTON

BY LEMUEL PARTON
| "From ghouies and ghosties, long
! leggety beasties and things that go
bump in the night-good Lord deliver
| us' runs a quaint old litany, echoing
the beliefs of another day, when sprites
and nymphs and elves were about us
and
Magic easements opened on the foam
| OF Perilous seas in faery lands forelorn.
| The "ghoulies' and ghosties" have
gone, God give them speed, but Peter
beasties, and yesterday Los Angeles
| slipped out through the easement with
Peter to the Never Never, Never
| land" in Barrie's whimsical and de-
| lightful play.
| The Burbank was crowded at the
| two opening performances of Oliver
| Morosco's splendid stock production of
Peter Pan" Miss Blanche Hall, a
| former local favorite, returns in the
| play to the Burbank company as Peter,
and was given a rousing reception.
With her was Jessie Mae Hall, in the
| part of Wendy.
In the staging of the play Mr.. Mo-
rosco has, achieved one of the most
notable feats in the history of stock
| productions. In two weeks he has
| worked out the miracles of stagecraft
which required six months for the
| original production, and he offers a
| performance, declared by many who
| saw 1t yesterday, to be superior to the
original production. Costuming, stage
| setting, the management of the diff
cult flying apparatus-all were admir-
| ably done, and Mr.. Morosco and his
staff are congratulating themselves to-
| day on the banner achievement of the
| Burbank organization.
Peter Pam is a play which must be
| played by intelligent, adaptable players
! It's subtle, delicate humor will not
stand rough handling, and in hands of
any but the most capable artists would
| be lost. The Burbank cast meets all
| the requirements of the piece. Miss
| Hall makes Peter the same idyllic
child creature which Miss Adams so
charmingly portrayed; Miss Jessie Mae
Halls Wendy is a delightfully."- refresh
ing and lovable creation of the little
girl mother who cared for the fairy
children. Especially worthy of COM
mendation is A. Byron Beasleys Cap
tain Hook. 1t may be said without
| reservation that Mr.. Beasley's charac-
terization is the best yet given of the
pirate captain who made so much
trouble for Peter and his charges. Mr..
Beasley gives his conception the nur-
sery lore coloring, just the sort of a
pirate you dreamed of when pirates
and fairies and COLLINS were real. In
itself Mr.. Beasleys creation is highly
artistic and makes admirable use of
the grotesque and whimsical touches
which Barrie gave the part. 1t is the
only notable mans part in the play,
although John w. Burton is given a
chance for some good caricature as
Smee one of the captains pirate band
Miss Allie Walter and Miss Florence
Walter, the two tots vino take the parts
of the two Darling children who fly
away with Peter, show astonishing
precocity, acting the roles with the
finish of experienced players.
The excellencies of the staging are
almost too numerous to mention. The
scene In the woods, showing Peter in
his house, with the lost children, who
have been cared for by the fairies. and
the scene on the pirate ship probably
are the best of the stage achievements
The latter is especially good in the cy-
clorama background and the attention
to small detail in the properties on the
deck.
Peter Pan" is play which those
who carp about the decadence of the
modern theater would do well to see
No play Astounding more in sweetness
and light" has been produced in re-
cent years, and the piece is not only
delightfully."- wholesome and elevating
in it's dramatic content, but in it's lit
erary workmanship as WELL 1t is Bar
RE at his best, and If the man who sits
next you Is not affected when Tinker
drinks the poison, put your hand on
your pocketbook. There's something
wrong with him. If you want to lift
yourself out of the rut of living, to
slough a Few years in few hours. see
Peter Pan" 1t is cleansing, inspirit-
ing and rejuvenating.
John Phillip Sousas comic opera, Eel
Captain opens at the Grand opera
house tonight. Ferris Hartman will be
seen in the role made famous by De
Wolfe Hopper, and considers 1t one of
his best pieces of work, having played
| the part several times before. Christine
| Nelson will have ample opportunity for
| beautiful singing, as the opera is re-
plete with excellent songs. BY opening
tonight instead of yesterday afternoon
gives Mr.. Hartman more time in which
to prepare his company, and a good
first performance is promised.
Lewis S. Stone and the Belasco thea
ter company will open tonight in
Rachel Crothers comedy drama, 1.-THE
Three of U.s." The story of the play is
based on the sale of mine in Nevada,
giving it a most interesting atmosphere
and coloring. and is full of intense dra-
matte situations. Charles Ruggles will
play his former role, that of Glenn Nc
Chesney, in which he made his big hit
for character work when the play was
produced by the Belasco company last
year. Other members of the company
have been well cast.
Harry Beresford appeared in who's
Your Friend" at the Majestic last
night The play, which will be given a
weeks run, is said to be one of the
best of the recent Majestic offerings
and was played to a packed house last
evening. 1t will be reviewed in tomor-
rows Herald.