The San Francisco call., 1909-04-13
CAST OF CHARACTERS
~
1.-The Honor of the Family"
By Walter Anthony

Otis SINNERS personation Of Colonel
Philippe Bridau in the Balzac story,
The Honor of the Family is one of
the most emphatically individual char
acterizations that has been given to
the American stage since Salvini the
younger came and gave US D'Artagnan
1t is boisterous and insolent, brave
and clustering. it is big of figure and
brutally frank His colonel is q dare
devil who fights with one hand and
picks his teeth with the other. He is
not afraid OF man. and, apparently not
afraid of the devil.
The play should be called The
Colonel" for that worthy is the whole
show. in spite of the fact that now
and then a charming leading woman
with a fine art and an old uncle show
themselves in vivid scenes. The first
act drags and talks II ii were not for
the skill of the company there would
be yawns fronting the players until in
comes the colonel. His high hat tilted
rakishly, his chest expanded vain
gloriously and his stride announcing
the unabashed, he enters the closing
scene and by a bit of character por-
trayal lasting only a few seconds pulls
that entire act out of the gloom;
~ interesting. He is the explanation
aud the answer. and the first act
closes, in spite of its undramatic
building, In triumph.
REsCUES MISERLY UNCLE
Colonel Bridau comes to rescue his
miserly uncle from the shame of his
life and from the hands of n gutter
girl now grown TO womanhood. who
seeks TO wrest the Rouget fortune from
the family and dispose of it in favor Of
a young French officer. in league with
her TO that end. The colonel takes hold
of the situation. tames the girl, kills
her lover incidentally, brings the old
libertine to his senses and finally re-
stores the honor OF the family He does
all this IN a spirit of nonchalance. blus-
tering bravery and quick witted keen
ness.
BaIzae's psychology, his searching
character analysts and his philosophy
are no part of the play. The drama is
full of laughs and thrills, and Colonel
Bridau. The struggle between the man.
Bridau, and the woman is splendidly
presented. but the comedy of the play
covers tie tragedy. The woman, who
from girlhood had been a member of
Rougets household. gets no sympathy
at all when she is thrust out of the
home after her lover is killed. Incident
ally, too you are not so much concerned
about the restoration of the famiIy's
honor as you are TO see the colonel.
who is as lovable as Cyrano de Bergerac,
win in his square fight.
PLAY BELONGS TO SKINNER.
The Honor of the Family" will new
err be played in stock. 1t belongs to
Skinner as though he had made it.
When he lays il aside. then let nobody
take it up. 1t was measured for Skin
ner, at least he has fitted himself into
1t, and there is not a crease nor a
wrinkle anywhere
Miss Persy Hasweil. who plays Flora.
the designing girl @ho seeks to rob
the uncle. Rouget is fit companion
in the piece TO the star. She plays an
unpleasant role splendidly. Her scene
in the third act. where she seeks to
save the life of her lover by caressing
the colonel who would kill him, was
a fine bit of acting and was accom-
plished without theatrical boldness or
offense
A G. Andrews plays the role Of the
ancient uncle who has fallen under the
spell of Flora. His makeup is marvel
of realism and his acting quite on
par. Only few roles as presented last
night call for criticism and they are
only noticeable because of the high
standard set by the principals. The
production demands only one set. but
it was in excellent taste, and,
ims gine. correct.
The presentation last night showed
us what we do not often get-a real
star heading a competent company in
a gripping bit of theatriealism.