Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-19
ACTING IN WAR
PLAY REVIEWED
BY w. HERBERT BLAKE

A second view of Invasion" at the
Burbank naturally discloses faults
in both play and acting which elude
the grasp of an observer at an en-
thuslastic premiere If the play goes
east, as Mr.. Johnson's friends cordially
hope it may, condensing of the first
two acts will probably be found ad-
visable. Much of the earlier action
impresses one as a series of dialogues
loosely strung together rather than as
a dramatic unity. Perhaps the first
act might we'll become a brief and
vivid prologue to the dream. The re-
vealed acquaintance between the Rus
sian spy and the Japanese servant sug-
/ gests a preparation for a later tragedy.
The impression is strong that the
woman is to kill Suski as a stroke of
vengeance. The murder by Kaneko
seems rather thrust in than logically
anticipated.
The author3 has created one strong,
subtle haracter-Kaneko. the Korean
conqueror. AS Mr.. Mestayer portrays
him, masking oriental cruelty under a
veneer of studied refinement, the fig
ure is a vivid and symbolic one. An
other picturesque character drawing Is
Miss Taylor's spy. A heightened re-
serve and hauteur in the opening
scenes would intensity its impression of
the battling Russon temperament.
Mr. Beasley rose to his big moment
at the climax Of the third act, but
his earlier work at moments lacked
earnestness, particularly when an
nouncing the imminent invasion. His
exit in the first act is a clumsy bit
Of construction which the playwright
could easily remedy.
Mr.. Hartford has q peculiarly con-
temptible and almost Incredible villain
to embody, and he struggles heroically
with his task. The man betrays his
country as readily as he snubs his
rival in love. and this not from any
observable motive except that he has
the opportunity. Mr. Hartford could
vary his ascent and expression at
times to advantage. It is about the
only grace that the role allows him.
Mr.. Burton restrains his comedy
aptitudes nobly but rather obviously,
in a serious role. Mr.. Stockbridge
fills a thin part with no little merri-
ment. Mr.. Marks makes a good char
acter study out of the faithful Jap
anese servant. other roles are accept
ably played by Miss Hall, Miss Duffet
and Miss Royce.
1t is to be regretted that "Invasion"
may not remain a second week at the
Burbank. With all defects debited It
speaks a cheerful message in an orig
inal and picturesque way. There are
better constructed plays for which one
cannot say as much. w. Fl. B.
Walter De Leon's latest song. MA
mie" will be introduced for the first
time Sunday afternoon when the Hart
man company opens in "A Chinese
Honeymoon" The song is written
about "Muggins" Davies, who in pri-
vate life Is Mrs. Walter De Leon.
David Landau. the new member OF
the Burbank stock company whom
Manager oliver Morosco has just en-
gagged in New York. is expected to
arrive in Los Angeles this morning.
Mr. Landau will not be in the cast OF
"The Dairy Farm" next week, but will
be seen for the first time locally the
week following in an important role
in SardOu's "DiVorcons" He is q
young man, but has been associated
with several important stars, among
them Keleey and Shannon, Eugenie
Blair and Annie Russell, his last en-
gagement having been in Miss Rus
sells company.
Miss Mildred Johnson, who appears
as Madge in I'm Old Kentucky" this
season, and who will be seen in that
role at the Majestic theater next week,
was for a short time a member of the
Burbank stock company Miss John
son came here from New York on
leave of absence from the manager to
whom she was under contract, follow
ing the retirement of Elsie Esmond
to play ingenue roles. She remained
lust three weeks, when she was sum-
moned back east, Margo Duffet sue
ceeding her in the Burbank organiza-
fiOn