Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-25

irons, and it is announced that this
weeks production will. be a vast i'm
proyement on that of last week, with
several new musical num- ers, better
stage business and dancing.
Conventional morality seems to be of
very thin woven substance when it
meets the thrust of romantic villainy.
"Raffles,'' this weeks Offering of the
Burbank company, raises a number of
questions interesting to a person of an
analytical turn of mind. But who cares
curse about analysis when RaffleS,
Fascinating, daredevil Raffles, is COR
nered and Bedford is placidly stroking
his muStache and waiting to take him
to the station? The only thing you
have in mind is the question of how
he is going to get away and why don't
he hurry up and do it. But still a few
polite observances for the sake of the
proprieties always are wholesome. 1t
would be pleasant reversal of form,
for instance, if CraWShay, the burglar,
could be given an opportunity to make
a little play for sympathy. Suppose he
should tell Raffles in the scene in the
latter's chambers, to the accompani-
ment of low, driven from home music,
of his boyhood in Wretched London
slum, Of the miseries of poverty and
the faint of evil associations, of his
finding a means of earning an honest
living barred and of his being bounded
by the police and driven to theft to
escape starvation. Would he get the
sympathy? Probably not. His story
is too ordinary. 1t is too much like
real life. Contrasted to this you would
have Rafles' touching appeal, based
upon his congenital weakness, coupled
with his love of sport, with his one
tifcation-"Society is based upon
theft" This sentiment seems to find
a response, but unfortunately it seems
to justify only the gentlemanly Raffles
and not this altogether impossible bur-
glar. On basis of rule of thumb mo-
rallty the burglar seems to have Raj
f1es beaten several ways from the jack.
He is burgling because he is hungry.
RaffleS is a gentleman, has had a good
home and a good education and be-
comes a thief because he likes the
sport Hence a nice gentlemanly dis
position and a dress suit seems to be
all that is required to turn this gar
ment of morality inside out.
William Desmond is a very fetching
Raffles, but there is one criticism on
his Interpretation of the role, if we may
venture it without being accused of
lese majestic. He makes Raffles' char
acter as a craftsman stand out in a
most determined way instead Of subtly
suggesting II, as was so of0ct1V6ly done
by Kyrle Bellew. Mr.. Desmond S. Raj
fles has so much Haunting assurance
that Bedford must be stupid indeed not
to apprehend him at once. Which Bed
ford is not-he is really quite an astute
detective, although, very properly, OUT
Witted at the last.
A. Byron Beasley's Capt Bedford is
one Of Mr.. Beasley's best roles. Every
touch in the portrayal of the reserve
and apparent stupidity, yelling consid-
cradle real acumen, the typically Eng
fish characteristics, is splendidly done.
The part of Gwendolyn Conron, taken
by Miss Mary Hall, is colorless and
Miss Hall accomplisheS much in in
vesting it with considerable emotional
meaning. Miss Lowell Alice Taylor
seemed to be inaptly placed in the
character of Mrs. Vidal, the vindictiVe
woman who betrayed Raffles. The bes.
of Miss TaylOrs roles at the Burbank
so far seems to have been the girl from
Butte in THE Stubbornness of Gerald
inc" The charm and vivacity of the
part seemed to fit her admirably, and
yet since then she has appeared in un-
grateful heavy" roles which seem
least of all adapted to her.
David Edwin appears to advantage.
and of course Harry Mestayer and
Henry Stockbridge slip neatly into their
parts-thOse of Bunny and Lord Cow
ley. The piece is excellently staged
and decidedly well acted in every line