Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-04
CURRENT BILLS AT
LOCAL PLAYHOUSES

MASON-Miss Lillian Russell returns
to Los Angeles for a weeks engage
ment in her new racing play, wild
fire." at the Mason opera houseA be-
ginning today, with special matinees
Wednesday and Saturday. "Wildfire.'
as is well known of course, is that COM
edy-drama written by George Broad
hurst and George V. Hobart, with the
plot and action centering around the
excitement and tension of metro
politan race track, and it is said to be
quite the best thing in its line that
the American stage has ever seen.
Miss Russell, who is seen as Mrs.
Barringon, a young widow, in wild
fire." is said to be at her best in that
role. which is especially suited to her
charming personality. In the play the
star has many good lines, and the en-
thusiasm and earnestness with which
she acts out her part has been no
small factor in it's success. Inc play
is all about Wildfire, racing morse
owned by Mrs. Darlington. She had to
be, for Wildfire' was all her husband
had to leave her when he died. There
Is big race on, and the widow Is
clandestinely having the mare trained
to win it.. She keeps her plans secret,
which affords much of the comedy and
ends by making a win and fortune.
"Wildfre" is not musical piece, ana
Miss Russell does not sing note III
it. 1t is a farcical play, with just
dash of melodrama and a great zeal
about race tracks.
Miss RusselPs good taste in dressing
is well known, and when she appears
here i'm "Wildfire'' she will wear some
stunning new directoire gowns.
The supporting company and scenic
equipment of "Wildfire" are said to be
exceptionally good. Many notable
names are to be seen on the cast Oh
characters. Frank Sheridan VIII ap-
near as the trainer, Donovan; VIII Ar
chic as Budd the stable boy; Ernest
Treux as a colored jockey. Annie
Buckley, Franklyn Roberts, Gilbert
Douglas, Adolphe Lestina, Thuftson
Hall. Ellen Mortimer, Mary E. Forbes,
Joseph Tushy, sydney Booth and L.
Hayes Hunter round out the cast.
Observation-Disclosures play, The
Dollar Mark" is SCATTERING all box
office records at the Belasco theater,
and the play gives every evidence or
euulating the brook made famous by
Mr.. Tennyson.
So MANY theatergoers have been UNI
able to get seats for the Broadhurse
play that as a simple business propo-
sition the Belasco management is COM
neIIed To postpone for one week the
first appearance of Florence Reed, the
new leading woman in Jerome x. Je-
rome's comedy, Miss Hobbs" and con-
tinue ''The Dollar Mark" for another
weeks performance.
The recital of the experiences of the
young mining engineer, James Gresh-
am, who became the president of a
New York bank in his hight with the
Consolidated-which is very obviously
the Standard Oil crowds melodra-
matte in the extreme at times, while
the story is always consistent and log
ical and is relieved by ftasnes OF de-
Iightful comedy that appeals to the
American people.
Mr.. Broadhurst is always at his best
when he is writing such potent mat
ters as politics or finances, and his
comedy is Invariably OF the sort that
compels laughter.
Lewis S. Stone has never given
more finished and artistic performance
during his entire career in this city
than he exhibits in the role of James
Gresham in 1.-The Dollar Mark" He is
ably seconded by such skilled actors as
David M. Hartford. Dewitt G. Jen-
nings, Richard vivian, Howard scott,
Charles Ruggles, Adele Harrington, Ora
Gardner, Beatrice Noyes and the 9TH
ers of the Belasco organization.
While the fifth week of "The Dollar
Mark'' was only announced Thursday
night reports from the Belasco box
office are to the effect that already
there is an enormous demand for seats
for the fifth week OF this big play, that
another week of crowded houses is GER
tain.
Mr. Broadhurst, who has been in Los