The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-02-23
Alwyn Bennett at the Newark
Would Never Tell a Lie,
No Indeed.
--~----
Beset by Tempters. He Sees His
Duty, and Does He Do
II? He Does.
Lyric and Proctor's Haxe Ex-
CelIent Vaudeville Bills
for This Week.
Bnrlesqnes and MelOdramatic
Offerings Are Up to the
Standard.
~ IRsr of all. The Man or Tho

- IRST Of all. The Man of the
Hour is a ta.ky play. The
characters enter. take their
places, talk, criss-cross. talk sonle more
and walk out. This is particularly
true of the third act. the scene of
which is laid in an apartment adjoin =
ing a hotel balhoor4. There is A door
at the back and one on either side
and through these the characters. come
IN ones n twos. approach the cen
ire, get through their dialogues and
make room for the next pair. It's
marvellous. the way they always man
8 to make their exits just as the
'disagreeab!e parties approach.
It's a talky play, if repetition may
he forgiven, but for the most part the
talk is decidedly interesting. even to
those anti-suffragettes who have no
more idea of politics than a young
puppy has of danger in a sleeping
Swapping turtle. Bossisln-the influence
Of the bully over the weakling-is the
theme round which the plot winds
itself.
The city boss and the millionaire
who owns the city's principal street
car lines have framed a bill which
they are particularly anxious TO have
passed. They decide upon a course of
action. bring a young man in from a
tennis court and promise him the NOM
ination for mayor.
The young man, racquet in hand, de-
cidedly non plussed. thanks them for
the honor. and declares tina whatever
comes he'll keep his oath of office.
to which they smoothly agree, Of
course-the designing villains.
Second act-the young mans in Of
fee, a regular mayor, and working at
1t. The bill comes up, but he sees
through its catch phrases. with the as
sistance of Alderman Phelan, who sup
plies the plays comedy when he's not
leading the mayor in the way he should
so. The young mayor-they call him
Aiwyn-Alwyn Bennett-decided to veto
II, and sticks to 1t, even when he hears
that the fortune of the girl he loves
will be swallowed up on account of his
artion.
After ~endeavoring to bride the alder
men (Which is never lone outside of
nlays), and trying various other ways to
'thwart" him. the villains, represented
nv Horrigsn. political boss and biggest
of DULLES. let him know that it is in
lIlttI power 10 ulSSIdff tiC dtcih III
er's name. The mayor almost waivers
was ever an innocent young man so set
upon2-but gets right side up in time.
Right Is right says mother, her
white head burrowing between his coat
collar and his cravat. and right Is
right echoes son, tr~emblingly. pstting
her gently between the shoulder blades.
What's the use of being a villain these
davs? You can't get ahead of that hero
chap, nohow.
All this Ia to show tina though the
play is talky, the talk is well worth
while. There are few moments when
your interest is not on the alert. The
characters arc well drawn. and one OF
the best is that of H~orrlgan, the boss,
played by Rapley Holmes. Horrigan Is
:. consistent bully to the end, who walks
out of the play as he walked into IT,
shoulders back and chin out, defeated
but u-nconquered.
Cyril Scott makes the best of AlWyn
Bennett. whose honesty at times would
have made George Washington ask,
..What the use?" His heavy scenes are
carried with a skill and self-confdence
that speak well for his future success.
Alderman James Pl1elan Ia q most
lovable Irishman, as portrayed by
Harry Harwood. His brogue Is rich
and his facial expression is excellent.
Last night he made a decided hit with
the big holiday audience. James T.
Wilson makes an impressive Mr.. Vain
wright, millionaire and assistant villain,
and William J. Deming, as his son. sup
plies more than one chuckle.
Miss Alma Powell is acceptable IN
the role of Dallas Wainwright. heroine.
The other characters come we'll up to
their requirements Albert Parker, as
Henry Thompson. the son of the mar
long ago driven to suicide by Vain
wright, gave a forceful bit of acting in
the last act, when with vengeance in
his hand, neatly wrapped and ready to
explode, he denounced Wainwright. and
told of his nine-year wait for ven
geance.
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.