Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-15

Herald wishes to be responsible for every
thing printed on these pages; he does not
wish to publish premature eulogy of "A
play he has not seen, except as he knows Its
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w. II. b.
MASON-Joseph M. Weber presents
the comedy drama THE Climax" by
Edward Locke, for two weeks, begin
ming tomorrow night. THE ClinaX
comes highly indorsed by the critics OF
New York and other eastern cities. Inc
play has achieved a brilliant triumph
at Weber's theater, New York, where
it attracted large and delighted crowds.
1t is a drama which makes partcu-
larry strong appeal to lovers OF music
because of the peculiar nature OF It's
theme. Only four characters figure IN
the cast and three of that number are
professional musicians.
The story is that Of young girl,
fresh from the country, who has a
splendid voice and operate aspirations.
She has a distant relative in New YORK
with whom she goes to live, and be-
comes his pupil. The relative has n
son who is a composer and pianist.
He falls desperately in love with the
girl. A young doctor from the girls
home, who is also in love with her
tries to persuade her to abandon her
musical career to marry him, but she
refuses to give up her stage ambitions.
She has a slight operation performed
upon her throat, and the young doctor
uses the power of mental suggestion so
effectively that the girl imagines that
she has lost her voice; but she regains
1t again and everything ends happily
An added feature of the play is the
incidental music which really is the
canvas upon which the striking picture
has been painted Joseph Carl Breil.
the composer, has contributed to the
musical world one number which has
aroused much favorable comment. 1t
is THE Song of the Soul" Ruby
Bridges will play the role of Adelina
Won Hagen, Albert Latsha will be seen
as Pietro Golfanti, Edwin August viii
assume the part of John Raymond and
Walter Wilson will play the role or
Luigi Golfanti. This cast comes direct
from Weber's theater. New York. The
drama is in three acts, and the scenes
are laid in New York.
BURBANK-A. Byron Beasley, who
has been away on a six weeks vaca-
tion, ', III return this afternoon as the
central figure in w. Somerset Maug-
hams sprightly comedy of Jack
Straw" which John Drew played In
Los Angeles only few weeks ago and
W
season in New York city next month.
Jack Straw will be Mr.. Beasley's first
role as Burbank leading man, and he
will be the second actor in America
to portray its name part. With him,
in addition to all the Burbank favor
ties, will appear Miss Maude Beatty
and Miss Lillian Hayward. both we'll
known to local audiences.
In Jack Straw" Mr.. Maugham
proves himself a keen satlrist of human
foibles. The snob who does not learn
a lesson from the play must indeed be
dull of comprehension. The hero is
Pomeranian archduke with a taste for
adventure incognito. He has wan
dered all over the world and has been
everything from a sailor before the
mast to a player of small parts in an
American repertoire company When
the play opens he is employed as
waiter in a fashionable London hotel.
One of the guests, Mrs. Parker Jen-
nings, has given offense by her cruel
treatment of a modest little woman
from the country, whose friends deter
mine to punish her as she richly de-
serves. Their plan is to introduce Jack
Straw, whose real identity they do not
suspect, to Mrs. Jennings as person
of title, and then after she has fawned
upon him expose him in what they sup
pose to be his true character of
waiter, enjoying her discontinue at the
revelation. Jack Straw agrees to the
plot, asking only that he be introduced
as the Archduke Sebastian of Pome-
rnia, his own name and rank though
the schemers do not know it. The joke
succeeds, but before the time comes
for the exposure Sebastian falls in love
with Ethel Jennings. and in the end
carries off the girl, after revealing the
truth.
Miss Hall will be the young girl with
whom the archduke fails in love; Miss
Beatty, the vulgar Mrs. Jennings, the
character played in the Drew company
by Rose Coghlan, and Messrs. Harry
Mestayer, Henry Stockbridge William
Yerance, H. S. Duffield,' Willis Marks,
Frederick Gilbert Lowell Alice Taylor,
Margo buffet and Lillian Hayward. the
other characters.
The comedy will run through the
week, with matinees today and Satur-
day.
BELACSO-Next weeks Offering, "a
Royal Family" is a romantic comedy,
affording opportunities for sumptuous
stage pictures and giving the Belasco
scenic and mechanical departments
capital chances to distinguish them
selves.
"A Royal Family" concerns a young
princess, who refuses to fall in with
her kingly parents idea that she shall
marry a neighboring prince. for reasons
of state. The girl is placed in charge
of a cunning cardinal, who brings the
, prince, incognito, to court and intro
Nduces him to the young princess. She
falls in love with the young chap and
tells him of her fathers scheme for
her to marry. The young chap advises
her to accede to paters' wishes. She
does so wonderingly, and does not
realize the deception that has been
practiced by the cardinal until she
is brought face to face with the prince
at the betrothal ceremony. The story
is pretty one and as a dramatic COM
position the play is said to be strong.
Miss Helen Holmes will have the
role of the princess, originally played
by Miss Annie Russell. The prince will
be portrayed by Richard Bennett, while
David Hartford will be seen as the
king and pSheldon Lewis will have the
part of the cunning old cardinal, a
part that should give Mr.. Lewis excel
lent opportunities. In addition to the
regular forces of the Belasco COM
pany, there will be several specially
engaged actors and actresses.
ORPHEUM-Head this weeks
bill comes one of the most popular
condolences of the English music
halls, Lily Lena, now on her first tour
of America, and a special Orpheum i'm
portation, playing no other houses.
Miss Lena is a clever exploiter of the
story-song, now the great rage abroad
with each she wears fitting costume,
changing between each number. Typ
ically English, she yet has appealed
most strongly to the nimble-witte1
American audiences and has won