Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-22
BY LEMUEL PARTON


tion yet seen at the Majestic, with
every charm accentuated by miracles
of millinery and well staged, though
rather worn, scenic background.
Richard Karl is unfortunate in fol-
lowing Eugene Cowles in the part of
Colonel Henry Culpepper. as Mr..
CowleS was the hit of the show and is
inimitable in the sub-cellar basso busi
ness required by the songs. But Mr..
Karl takes the part editably-very
creditably-and is not so fatally over
Shadowed by Mr.. CoWleS as he might
be. Harry B. Roche as Willie Drink
water husband No. g. contributes some
good comedy diversion, and all the
other parts are well taken care of.
Miss Gear is the only woman of note
in the play. While there are several
pretty girls in the chorus, most of
them seem to have been picked the
year the frost hit the peach crop.
- The play evolved by successive stages
from a vaudeville sketch, and still has
much of the vaudeville tang. It con-
Germs the adventures of the fascinating
Mary in choosing a fourth husband,
banal as such themes usually are, with
the curse lifted by Miss Gears very
winsome art. Altogether the show is
a winner and well worth seeing.
The advance sale for ''Girls," which
w IAl OPCI1 dI Il1C U1dSOII OpCAd A4OuSC AO-
night, has been large. Although the
name suggests musical comedy, Girls
is a real play, and a good one. 1t has
been we'll received throughout the
east, and the Mason management prom
ises one of the best of the seasons at
fractions.
In ga Chinese Honeymoon which is
the bill at the Grand opera house this
week, Ferris Hartman and company
have found a musical comedy which
tickles the midriffs of the patrons of
that theater to the uttermost. Despite
the unpleasant weather of yesterday
afternoon the largest matinee of the
Hartman season was reported by the
box office, and the resultant ''full
house" was like Queenie of the popu-
in a braid and with sufficient physi-
cal strength for abundant applause.
Mr.. Hartman frolics about the stage,
creating an excess of comedy, and
Christine Nielsen, though not afforded
an exceeding opportunity for good
work, does it anyway. Her duet with
Walter De Leon is a clever bit of ar
tistry, which is of unusual merit. Mug
gins Davies gave the audience many
laughs with her unusually good cock
ney in the character of Fi-Fi the wait
ress. The chOruses are all very will
picked and the cOStuming is beautiful,
the bridesmaids chorus being particu-
larly good. The play will be given more
extended space in a later issue.
Charles Hoyt's famous comedy, ga
Texas Steer" will open at the Be
lasco theater with a special matinee
this afternoon. The. late Hoyt has
written many funny plays, but this
is one of his crowning efforts. 1t is a
comedy dealing with Washington polit-
icaI life and will give Lewis Stone, as
Maverick Brander, every opportunity
for good, wholesome making, while
Florence Oakley is admirably fitted to
play the part of his lively daughter
Bossy. The part Of Fishback, the coll
ored politician, is an excellent role
for James K. Applebee- to show his
ability as a character man. Scenic Ar
tist Brunton promises some good effects
for the production.
Hypocrisy, clerical and otherwise, gets
a joyful lambasting at the Burbank
theater this week in Charles Hoyt's de-
lightfully human comedy, "a Temper
ance Town." The play has been given
before in Los Angeles, but its recep-
ton yesterday was even more enthuSi-
astic than that of the first production
at the Burbank two years ago. 1t is
more than a comedy, in it's decidedly
polemic theme, and is a most effective
stage exposition Of the scripturaI pro-
nouncement that "the children of dark
ness are wiser in their generation than
the children of light"
The striking thing about yesterdays S
performance was that Chester Giblyn,
as far as his local standing is con-
cerned, has arrived. He landed yester-
day, in the role of Kneeland Pray, the
mir Il r1e.t LII
cature of the small town hypocrite who
opposes saloons because they interfere
with the business of his own little grog-
gerry in the rear of his dope shop. Mr..
Giblyns delineation of the character is
skillful and intelligent. The vilIainy
of the part makes it an ungrateful one
but it offers rare opportunities for &C.
centric character acting. 1t is difficult
to see how Mr.. Giblyn could have made
more of the chance.
The story of the play has become so
we'll known that the work of the MEM
bers of the Burbank cast is of more in
tereSt than an account of the drama it.
self-for it is a dream, in spite of its
being labeled comedy. Miss Lowell
Alice Taylor is better than in any part
in which she has appeared since join
ing the Burbank company. She takes
the role Of Ruth, the clergyman's
daughter not an especially strong
characterization in the lines, but made
decidedly effective by Miss Taylors by
no means negligible personal charms.
Miss Taylor seems to be making a de-
cided improvement in her acting She
is eliminating a slight nervous uncer-
tainty in the placing of her voice, and
the throaty tones which so marred her
work in 'Zira'' seem entirely to have
disappeared.
William Desmond finds no very try
ing demands in his suave role of Gen
tleman Jack Worth, but he gives a
very pleasing and satisfying portrayal
of the character, with the inevitable
touch of Desmond savoir faire. Willis
Marks is excellent as Uncle Joe Vail,
'the oldest man in town. as is William
Yerance, who appears as a Small town
lawyer" In the trial scene Mr.. Yer
ance gives a delightfully."- true and con-
vincing picture of the cross roads ad-
vocate in his impassioned address to
the jury. One of the best comedy parts
is that of "Bingo'' Jones, admirably
sketched by Henry Stockbridge. John
w. Burton is equally effective as
Launcelot Jones, erstwhile mink" the
town drunkard. Mr.. Beasley steps out
Of the part of Mephisto into that of a