Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-09

MIR. Parker Jennings 49,. - f. S"iue" ". -,
VINCENT his son. ....... Edward Nlcanuei
Rev Lewis Abbott waiter Souerins
Mrs Parker Jennings. .-,.... Kose oogi 'il
Ethel, her daughter. ...'..'.' MARY D nn.n.
Lady Wanley. .......... aueie IN,
Rosie Abbott. ......... fAeieh se
Nrs Withers ........ Grace Hendersoi
FIossie Squaretoes, Isabel Ell
Head waiter .......'.''' James n'ssS,' Cran,
Servant ........,...''.', 'e"eisOA
ny w. HERBERT BLAKE
ITS such a shock to see John Ore"
dressed like wretched waiter sigheo
nrettv auditor near me, as the cur
tain went M on Jack Straw" at the
Mason last night. 1t was shock pu,
7 wondered if perhaps the scandallzeo
one might not find in w. Somerse'
IMMIGRANTS lightsome comedy of socla
shams and confusions needed per
sonal lesson. Or was she IKE NJ l -
Parker Jennings of the play, alert only
to the snobbishness of her helsiiooi .
stone blind to her own
Rut the newly rich Jenningses-s
thew would have pronounced it-were
soundly punished for their slns-puI
ished until we pitied them with all oui
hearts, fairly as they deserved II. be
cause they cannot know that gen.
tleman is one who is thorougnly d,
home in any society he finds hlmsell
H..
grace a grand dukes holiday, ana &c
embellish a Vaughan comedy:
| We meet this painful household III
Tondon hotel at which Jack Straw, q
Pomeranian grand duke en- masque ana
in exile after the unsuccessful pursuit
of a high kicking actress, has taken a
iob as waiter in his Al Raschld char-
oocter while the waiter" is benevo-
lentJv nodding in the best Drew manner
as each order is given, we observe a
quite gratuitous insult by Mrs. Jennings
To wears wife Ethel, her daughter,
protests at the snub, and we note with
pleasure the delicacy and sweetness
with which Miss Mary Boland enriches
this mart. To teach the social intruder
a lesson. her enemies then concoct the
plan of introducing the supposed waiter
in the character of the archduke tthat
is, himself)
The mine of comedy explodes without
delay. Jack Straw" accepts the pose
for the chance of meeting Ethel on a
plane of equality. The Jennings nus
hand. wife and caddish son. who nave
| inst insulted him as servant hail the
beardless and metamorphosed waiter
unsuspectingly as "your highness.
The role being natural he plays it per-
fectly. The three snQbs grovel, the
husband in fluttering obsequiousnesS,
the wife like a sleek and satisfied pussy
cat. we eaten IOr an Instant tiiC 9'S'
suave Drew smile at the impending
farce. and the curtain goes down as
that smile swiftly changes to respect
while Miss Ethel curtseys to him.
In the second act the Parker Jen-
nings are entertaining their titled
/ guest Ethel begs him to go away, IN
shame at her mothers matrimonial
trap. His friends beg him to end the
masquerade, knowing him only as the
wanderer. Jack Straw. The Jennings
enter. discover, as they suppose, that
they are duped and each in his own eX-
pressive way voices his chargin at the
penalty of their boorishness. The hu-
NOR is brisk and deft as the "un-
masked" archduke smilingly defies
them to court disgrace by calling the
police. A Pomeranian count entering
| recognizes his fellow noble, still fur
Their complicating the situation.
In act three we see the Jennings still
in bondage, vainly trying to rid them
selves of their waiter duke
They offer him money to CO. and he
retorts by compelling themt to serve
him still as their guest. In delicate
raillery that still cuts with savage
scorn, he unrolls before them the piano.
rama of their ambition, their gilded
boorishness, their complete humiliation.
Miss Coghlan as the wife, runs the
gamut of facial wrath and misery. We
when the return of the Pomeranian
count reveals his sovereign's approval
of the archduke's suit for Ethel Jen-
nings hand makes plain the identity
of the duke to this thrice amazed
social community and consummates the
disgrace of the Jennings as the wife
needlessly questions the accuracy of
the counts Identification by repeating
the tale of her own deception. Too
late when she learns the truth, she
cries. you can't deceive a mother.
knew it all the time" And we admire
her pluck.
To see John Drew in a Vaughan
comedy is a liberal education in those
finer dramatic qualities which invest
his art, coloring the fragile fabric of
lines and situations with pervadins
warmth and charm. In the snob bait
ing scene of the third act the dramatiSt
comes very near to costing his lron1c
: archduke our admiration. There is a
limit to the badgering which royalty
) may infict on even snob, if the snoh
be q woman. Mr. Drew did some agile
lodging to avoid this peril, and gener-
ally succeeded. We were heartily glad
however, that the archduke gained a
mother-in-law as well as bride. 1t
was poetic Justice to all concerned.
AS the sartoriaI bird of paradise
whose discontinue moves this pity in
lis. Miss Coghlan held our attention
consistently. She was very human,
when most snobbish which helped to
make the tremendous caricature vital.
Miss Bolands pale beauty graced the
part of Ethel Jennings, though one
must be so unkind as to wish to have
seen how Miss Freeman carried off the
role
was afraid of Mr.. Lounsburys
head waiter, and it was relief when
his awful social eminence disappeared
J after the first act To have offered
him a tip would have been sheer
temerity.
One wishes all the people-poor as
well as rich-who need the wholesome
lesson of Jack Straw could see the
play. And our earnest gratitude is
due the excellent supporting company
which made so finished performance
possible.
What squash pie is to a six-course
dinner the Russell brothers are to the
Orpheum bill this week. 1t isn't ex-
actly appropriate, but the ordinary
hungry man is bound to bolt it, If the
waiter only looks the other way. AND
If he really likes squash pie, that same
ordinary man isn't much concerned
whether the select few dub his inter
J polated side dish de trop-or merely
) vulgar.
: / wasn't prepared to shed grin al
the Russell brothers yesterday after