Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-05
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removed to the Whitney, Chicago. The
comedy has a. its central figure a busi-
ness man, who, having reached the
thirties, thinks himself bachelor of
the "old" type, and believes himself
immune from marital entanglements
In his office he has as stenographer
bright young girl (played by Ruth
Maycliffe), pretty, witty and winsome
She falls in love with him, and uses
her charms to bring him to propose
He is blind to his own affection for her
and excuses his fondness for having
her near him on the ground of his
friendly interest and his appreciation of
her capabilities. He is brought to
proposal, however, rather against his
will. She accepts, then comes to doubt
the motive which prompted his pro-
posal, and refuses to remain engaged.
He aWakens TO the realization that he
loves her and must have her with hlm'
The wooing and winning of her forms
the closing scene in the comedy. Mr..
Cherry as the bachelor has the manly,
healthy bachelor hero as his role. Aside
from Mr.. Cherry and Miss Maycliffe
there are in the cast Lillian Paige,
Alice Riker, f. Percival Stevens,
Charles Lathe, Ralph Morgan and 9TH
er well known players. Clyde Fitch,
the brilliant author, died a few weeks
ago in Paris. He had finished THE
City" when the end came.
MAsON-Fritzi Scheff, she of the
velvet voice and piquant personality,
comes to the Mason tomorrow night for
a weeks engagegent in her latest We
hicle, 'The Prlma Donna written for
her by Henry Blossom and Victor Her
bert, who were also responsible for
Mile. Modisle" and THE Red Mill"
The piece was seen at the Knicker-
booker theater, New York, where Nine. /
Scheff enjoyed a popular season. THE |
Prima Donna" is described as "a COM |
ic opera with real plot" Henry Bios |
SONS wit is said TO be sparkling as
ever. The fact that Victor Herbert /
wrote the music is a recommendation. /
Mime. Scheff enacts the role of Mile. /
Athenee, the reigning prima donna of
the Opera Comique, Paris An accident /
to her automobile causes her to take /
temporary shelter in a little cafe cham /
tant on the outskirts of Paris, where /
she hears the musical conductor up /
braiding a singer for not being able to
appear, and she impulsively offers TO
sing in place of the unfortunate. She
takes a false name and sings before
the soldiers of the neighboring bar
racks. A young lieutenant falls in love /
with her, and she is insulted by his /
captain. This forms the basis for the |
plot. Instead of the finale OF the first
act being a big ensemble, as is usual, /
it is dramatic, being worked up to
legitimate climax, The piece gives
Nine. Scheff an opportunity to demon
strate emotional powers as an actress.
Charles Dillingham's production is said
to be lavish. There are two acts, the
first being laid in the cafe chantant.
The company with which Mr.. Dilling-
ham has surrounded Nine Schef in
cludes John +. Hazard, Vernon Da-
wilson, William X. Harcourt, Martin
Hayden, Anna Pelham, Tillie Salinger,
Grace Delmar, Helen Wilton, Maxine
Verande, La Noyeta, Katherine Stew
art and others. The orchestra win be
largely augmented for the engagement
here. There will be the usual Saturday
matinee.
BURBANK-The stock company, be-
ginning this afternoon, viii present for
the first time in the west st. Elmo
dramatized version of Augusta J.
Evans popular novel Twenty east
ern stock companies offered "St. Elmo"
TO their patrons in one week recently.
The right to produce the play was
made the subject Of litigation in the
United States court at Chicago, where
Judge Lands last month issued an
injunction confirming Willard Holcomb
TO the piece and forbidding its pre-
sentation in America save with the
Holcomb-GlaZer permission. Mrs.
Evans herself selected the Holcomb
version that Manager Mor0sco has Sc
cured. He holds also power of attorney
from the owners to protect their rights,
Thousands have read Mrs. Evans de-
lightful story and know without the
telling of its dramatic moments. In
fact, the dramatist has had little to
do beyond arranging his scenes and
bringing the story within the space Of
time ordinarily allotted a stage per
formance. Much of the book dialogue
has been retained just as Mrs Evans
wrote it and her characters remain
unchanged The play presents the
story of the struggles of a strong man
whose early life is embittered by an
unworthy love and who later is glad
dened by an affection for a young girl
whose innate purity and sweetness
uplift and brighten his life. The first
act takes place at Aaron Hunts
smithy, where ST. Elmo fights a duel
with Murray Hammond and kills him.
and where Edna Earl, tnen little more
than a child. meets for the first time
the man whose life she is destined to
mold Later acts show the audience
st. Elmo In his own home, where Edna
comes as his mothers ward; the par
sonage of Rev. John Hammond, and at
the last the smithy again. The strong
religious motif of the book is retained
in the play. A. Byron Beasley will
play the name part of ST. Elmo; David
Landau will play the blacksmith
Aaron Hunt; Blanche Hall win be
seen as Edna Earl; Lowell Alice Taylor
as Agnes Powell, and Louise Royce as
ST. Elmo's mother. Others in the cast
are Henry Stockbridge, Harry Me-
slayer, Frederick Gilbert, Willis Marks,
John w. Burton Gavin Young. Nor
man eHap, Florence Oberle and Margo
buffet.
BELASCO-Lewis S. Stone and the
stock company this week viii present
Dumas world famous romantic play,
Monte Cristo." In Tevertiug to this
standard classic of the drama the
management has listened to many re-
quests made during the past few
months to give Mr.. Stone a chance to
appear in the role of Edmond Dantes.
q part that he played in the east sew
eral years ago with success. 1t is
hoped by his local admirers that Mr..
stones impersonation of young Dantes,
who later is known as the fabulouslv
wealthy Count of Monte Cristo will
take rank with his portrayal of Sidney
Carton in 1.-THE Only Way" which has
been generally regarded locally as Mr.
Stones finest stage portraiture The
production of Monte Cristo will enlist
the services Of the entire Belasco or
ganization, and the assignment Of
characters will find Mr. Camp as
Nortier, Mr.. Yerance as Danglers, Mr.
Scott as Villefort, a part that this
popular actor played in the east in
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