The gold leaf., 1909-10-07
"THE LION AND THE MOUSE u

Charles Klein S Great Drama Improves
With Age-Miss Elberts Delights
All-fier Interpretation of Part of
Shirley Rossmore a Revelation
Walter Edwards Likewise Makes
Big Hit-Superb Company and Pro-
duction.
The Marion, Ohio, Star, where the
"Lion and the Mouse" recently played
its third engagement to packed
houses that showed unabated inter-
est and delight in the powerful pro-
ductiOn, says this:
Although this is the third successive
season that Charles Klein's stirring dra-
ma of American life, "The Lion and the
Mouse" has been presented the interest
of the local theatergoing public in it
grows instead OF lessons, as was evil
denced by the patronage extended the
production at the Academy yesterday at
matinee and night performances, both Of
which were largely attended.
1.-The Lion and the Mouse" is poten-
tial drama in all that the term implies
and has won the heart of the great Amer
lean public as no play OF recent years. 1t
goes to the very root OF things and han
dies certain phases of contemporaneous
life with knowledge and deftness as
surprising as it is convincing.
From having been seen here twice be-
fore the,story of the play is familiar to
a majority of our readers, so it is not
necessary to go into details in this re-
spect. The title, suggested by one of
Aesop's fables, is apt to a degree, for the
play treats OF the struggle between a
strong man-the king of the financial
| world-and the daughter of the man he
has wronged, Vigorously, powerfully,
brilliantly it deals with one of the most
discussed problems of the day - the
mighty and corrupting influence exercis-
ed by wealth in American politics.
"MOUSE" DEFEATS "LION."
In the battle of wits between the ''lion'
| and the mouse" the "mouse" OF course,
! triumphs and with her victorycomes the
| realization of her love dream. the com
plete vindication OF her uniustly accused
father and the joyous subjugation OF ty-
rannical financial king.
Never has 1.-The Lion and the Mouse
been presented here by a more thorough
, ly capable company than the one in this
| instance, headed by the charming, tai
actor, Walter Edwards Miss Elberts
| was seen in the part of Shirley RossElore
aud her Interpretation of the lines was
| the essence of artistry. She possesses a
sweet, sympathetic voice, an irrestible
fascination of manner and she iimns the
character of the lovable Shirley against
the rugged background OF greed and in
humanity until it stands out as beauti
fully and delicately as a cameo on a field
of velvet She embodies the idea of re-
serve force, but showed, on occasion, that
she could rise to fine heights.
Fully on par with Miss Elberts' act
ing was that of Mr.. Edwards. In every
way fitted for an impressive portrayal
| of the part of Ready Money" Ryder he
acquitted himself in a manner that won
the unstinted appreciation of both audi
ences. Physically he is the embodiment
of strength and power and with forceful,
telling lines to bring out the full meaning
of the characterization he scored a posi-
tive triumph in it. As a whole the sup
port was most worthy, being made up
both of veterans in the play and probes
sion.
Henry B. Harris, who is presenting
''The Lion aud the Mouse, has furnished
it with q complete equipment in every
particular, as applies to costumes, seen
cry and general effects.