Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-04
UNSUPPORTED COMEDY
IN "BABES IN THE WOOD"
Billy onsIow Springs Surprise In
Some Really Funny Buffoonery
In Auditorium Pantomime
BY LEMUEL PARTON

Like a form taking shape in fog,
the spectacular productions at the Au-
ditorium theater are steadily evolving
into a clearly defined likeness OF the
English creations after which they are
modelled. "Babes in the Wood" this
weeks offering, is British both in its
spectacular and musical effects, but
seems none the less suited to an Ameri-
can audience, and Is without doubt the
best of the present series OF fairy ran
tastes. The flying ballet is used for the
first time, and the difficult soaring bust
ness is accomplished without hitch.
In the numerous gorgeous stage set
tings with the Kaleidoscope flower bal
let at the close it may be said without
reservation that Manager Crawford has
produced one of the most beautiful and
artistically finished affairs of this kind
ever given on the coast. With the ex-
cellent musical accomplishments these
productions take high rating among
the best of such performances.
There are several clever principals In
the company. Mr.. Billy Onslow In
"Babes In the Wood" be 1t said with
all seriousness, is actually funny. In
these days of overwofked and outworn
comedy business this is a bold asser-
ton to make about any man, but when
Mr. Onslow appears with that express
sion of a lonesome shad stranded at
stirring away down in the cavernous
depths of your being. He reaches your
remotest risibilities, although his COM
edy lines are Drury Lane at It's worst.
Miss Olga Stech is charmigly insou-
Giant as one of the bahes-the boy
and gives a pretty idyllic child touch
to the pantomime. Miss Stech can sing,
but her work at present is marred by a
serious defect. Every inspiration is
distinctly audible. 1t is failing which
should be easily remedied. Miss Olive
Dumond is given her first opportunity
with a part, as Evelyn, the other babe.
She won decided favor last evening.
There are twenty songs and chorus
numbers in the piece, and eight scenes,
all good. The two summer and winter
scenes, when the babes are lost, have
seldom or never been exoelled in Los
Angeles. If Mr.. Crawford continues to
improve his productions at the present
rate he will realize the most euphemis-
tic predictions Of his press agent.
"Quien sabe?"
The eternal question of the Mexican
priest has it's place in history with
that still more famous question or the
Roman governor of Judea two thousand
years ago. And before that, men were
asking. and they have been asking 1t
ever since.
man but has asked himself that ques-
ton more than once. How many have
found the answer?
All men are seekers the eternal ques-
ton fiaunts itself in the face of hui
mainly. 1t enthralls and fascinates
every one of us; and some 1t fortunes,
even as 1t tortured Charley Steele in
Sir Gilbert Parker's intensely interest
ing story of 1.-THE Right of Way"
which will be presented next week at
the Mason opera house.
The two great scenes in the play. are
the interior of the Cafe Dorion, on the
banks of the st. Lawrence, and the in
terror of hut on the Vondome mount
aims. The company engaged includes
several we'll known players Among
the most prominent are Guy Standing
and Theodore Roberts especially fea-
tured by the management in the re-
spective parts Of Charley Steele and
Joe Portugais