Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-26
RY NJ. n. F. BRIDGHAM

successful, rural, COMEDY uIdIhd' 10
the descriptive line running under the
words. THE County Chairman" on the
nropram at the Belasco this week, and
one comes away from the presentation
given by Lewis Stone and his asso-
eiates cordially indorsing the little bull
letin.
The play is as full of laughs as a
Cane Cod swamp is of blueberries In
August. the humor being the genuine
Ade brand-compelling and wholesome
The sunny comedy is drawn with
broad. firm stroke, while there Is Just
enough shade to give full value to the
bright colors and high lights.
No one will deny that the atInos-
phere is rural, and of the sort famlllar
as a childhood memory TO many
listener last night whose hair Is more
or less sprinkled with silver. Eastern
ers recalled the "town meeting" of their
youth. the village store which was also
the postoffice, and was frequented py
all the loafers, the town jokester ana
the excitement of the day-going to
meet the $50 afternoon train. And the
politics-well George Ade must nave
Learned his political methods way back
in the fifties."
Lewis stone was at his best laS
night as 1.-The Honorable Jim Hack
ler." the county chairman, giving a
characterization that was clear cut
and thoroughly artistic. His dry, caus-
tic humor was reminiscent of the style
of Abe Lincoln, and as the grabbed, big
hearted lawyer, who was not ohly
good friend but was also an lmplae-
able enemy, Stone presented re-
markably fine and satisfactory portrait.
Tbais Magrane, as Lucy Rigby,
daughter of the defeated candidate,
made the most of the few real oppoT-
tunities afforded her, and incidentally
made a most charming picture in her
old-time attire.
OF Richard Vivian and his Jupiter
Pettaway there seems TO be nothlng
new to say, all the vocabulary OF the
critics having been turned, ike the
minister's barrel, many time and OFT
in nraise of his fine characteriZations.
Howard Scott's ''touch of local color
was one of the hits of the play and won
him the hand again and again.
Dainty Beth Taylor as Chick Elzey-
by the way, have you heard Beth Tay-
lor's laugh? 1t fairly bubbles with al
Turing girlishness, and she plays the
part of an unsophisticated country lass
travail of Mrs. Rigby was sweet and
motherly, and Adele harrington ar
forded many a laugh as Lorena Wat
kins, the village milliner.
The part of Joseph Whitaker, the
windmill agent, in the hands of Charles
Ruggles stood out as a fine piece of
work, and Giblyn's Jefferson Briscoe
was true to life.
! James Guy Usher was quite forceful
in the character of the young lawyer
the opposition candidate.
The large staff of stage carpenters
and electricians at the Grand opera
house has begun building the MAN
moth eighteen-foot illuminated moor
| to be used in the reduction of "The
Blue Moon" next Sunday. When the
play was given in San Francisco a few
4 Weeks ago Miss "Muggins" Davies
was slightly injured by accidentally
slipping of the moon in the very mid.
die of her song with Comedian
| Hartman.
"The Regeneration" which will fol
low this weeks production of 1.-THE
! County Chairman" at the Belasco
bears a certain resemblance in theme
to salvation Nell" the recent star
ring vehicle of Mrs. Fiske.