The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-12
THEATRICAL NOTES oF1NTEREsI

THEATRICAL NOTES OF INTEREST
 There is no truth whatever in the report that has been maliciously cir culated that Klaw & Erlanger and Joseph Brooks production of ''The Circus Man." with Maclyn Arbuckle in the role of Fighting Hime Look, was withdrawn from McVicker's Thea tre, Chicago, and 1.-The Barrier" sub stituted because The Circus Man played put it's allotted time of five weeks at McVicker's. This is three weeks longer than the usual engage ments at that house. The total re- ceipts were more than $40,000. 'The Circus Man. was sent on the road to play the time contracted for it before it's Chicago opening. The play will be- gin it's Boston engagement at the Bos- ton Theatre the middle of next month, and will be presented in New York at a Broadway theatre about the first of the year.
 'oTbe Barrier" a dramatization of Rex Reach's novel by Eugene Pres brey, is one of the big successes of Klaw & Erlanger and Joseph Brooks. The play made an emphatic hit at it's premiere in Rochester.
 MT. Presbrey tells the story in four acts. In the first he has MT. Beach's two virile men, John Gale the trader
 
 the gambler, CW. S. Hart) meet at the end of the frontier after eighteen years of flight and pursuit. The curtain falls with the young Kentucky soldier marriage to a helf-breed. Full real izaticn by his characters of the situa- ton develops in the second act. In the third primal emotions are per- mitted to sweep away the barriers of law and social conventionality. It is the best bit of writing of MT. Pres brey's career. His lines pulsate with emotion and the ringing conviction of the situations fast bound the audience. The falling action of the fourth act is the dark. With the light comes the girl. The meeting of the two young people, a line of confession and for giveness ends the play.
 I Theodore Roberts, whose last notable achievement was in ''The Right of Way" heads the cast and gives a 1 splendid impersonation of the old trader. He portrays with remarkable fidelity the various states of mind of the old man, old before his time, be- cause of the existence he has been forced to lead as a fugitive. His love for the little daughter of his old sweet heart is brought out beautifully and I there is a tenderness about him that harmonizes completely with the char acter. He plays throughout with dis tinction; his confession to the captain in the last act being especially well done.
 i w. s. Hart again proves his sterling worth in the difficult role of Stark. His work always carries conviction. He embodies all the elements of such a man as Stark-complete self control, nerves /; of steel, shrewd calculation, bitter hatred. fearing neither God nor the devil., Even in the final scene, when as he lies mortally hurt he ad- mits that Gale did not commit murder, there is no sign of weakening which would make it inconsistent in such a | chara cter.'
 Miss Florence Rockwell, as the girl | Necia, the supposed half-breed, has the best opportunity of her career. She reveals unexpected ability along emo | tional lines and deserves the approba- tion she has received. Alphonz Ethier gives a capital piece of character work | as "POleon" Doret, the devoted F'renchman, and Guinio Solola cleverly provides the relieving strain of f1u- nor as 'No Creek Lee.
 Mcintyre and Heath, in the John J. McNally musical comedy, "In Hayti,' D
 with music by Jerome and Schwartz will open their road tour in Philadel- phia Oct. 18th. Julian Rose. Marion Stanley and Carrie Reynolds are in
 the supporting company, which mum bers one hundred. ., Laura Nelson Hall and Charles
 Stevenson will be in the cast of
 Through a Window" which Klaw & 1 Erlanger and Joseph Brooks will pre-
 sent next month. Mary Bertrand, a player unknown in the East who has achieved distinction the Pacific
 Coast, fhas been engaged for one of
 the leading roles.
 Miss Fannie Ward will begin her
 tour this season ill a new play by
 Forrest Halsey and Lee Arthur. en-
 titled "Van Aliens Wife, in Koch
 ester, N. Y, in November. The com
 pany is now in rehearsal. Prominent in the cast are H. Reeves-Smith. John Dean. Henry Duggan, J. McKean. "
 Benoit, Erro1 Dunbar. Margaret Fuller , and Janet Slater.
 ) "Van Aliens Wife, is a drama of modern life. strongly knit in construc- \ tion, with situations of sufficient variety and tension as to offer Miss : Ward the best role of her successful
 career. At the end of her American season last spring Miss Ward played a long engagement in London. The English critics were unanimous ir , praise of her wor1z and histrionic de- veIopment The American writers were equally as cordial in their ap. proval of Miss Wards charm ant
 ability in the comedy in which she ap- l peared last season.
 The argument of the play tells the , story of .. lovable girl who seeks g
 home and Emptiness. Circumstance ?:
 have thrown her into a repulsive en-
 vironment. She rises above her sur
 roundings and has. achieved hel Jchearts desire. when o1lce more Fat ole drives her forth and she must begi1
 again her search for happiness. Tn,
 play will be well mounted and artisti
 cal1v cOStumed