Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-10
FRIGHT OF WAY" is
MASTERFUL DRAMA
MASON PRODUCTION IN HANDS
OF GOOD COMPANY
Both Acting and Staging Are charae.
terized by Faithful Adherenee to
Detail in Pictures of Cana
dian Wilderness
ny LEMuEL PARTON

There is fable of an old book be-
longing to Iiindoo priest wnlcn re-
vealed to the man who read II only
that which he sought to lind lie OIL
the frivolous mind found entertaining
tales; viewed by the sage, the pages
flashed forth wisdom: the philosopher
found deep truths, the poet enchant-
ing rhymes, but the fool saw only
blank pages. 1.-THE Right of Way,
Eugene Presbrey's dramatization OF
Sir Gilbert Parkers novel is as diversi-
fed in its appeal as the magic book.
Lurid melodrama flashes out against
a background of inscrutable mystery.
the awesome mystery of life; chlldllke
love and innocence are interviewer with
the darker design of hate and murder;
there is the inevitableness of destiny
and the fortuity of human things; the
compelling intensity of human will and
the elusive subtlety of the absolute,
voiced by a man who questions life,
death and love, and reads the answer
in the eye of a good woman.
The story is known, but your appre-
citation of the play will be none the
less on account of your having read the
book. Guy Standing and Theodore
Roberts as Steele. the dissolute lawyer,
and Portugais, the French Canadian
habitant, give two stage characterize
tions not often excelled. Mr.. Roberts
was ill lat night, and his place was
taken by his understudy, Mr.. Alphonse
Either. Mr. Either gives a splendid por-
trayal of the role. So admirable was
his performance last night that few in
the audience knew that 1t was not Mr..
Roberts In Steele, Sir Gilbert Parker
has created a tremendous character.
recurring a wide range of histrionic
power. Mr.. Standings conception of
the past shows rare intelligence and
understanding. The character STANDS
out wildly and clearly drawn. There
are three distinct personalities in the
man, all of which are faithfully and
convincingly portrayed.
Miss Evelyn Walls gives decidedly
the strongest characterization in the
women's roles. She appears as Paul
cite Du Bots, "the red woman" for
whom Portugais commits the murder.
In her scene with Portugais. in the
footlights with some really excellent
acting The cast is a large one and
every part is admirably done.
The performance is notable in its
faithful pictures of the French Cana
dian Wilderness. There were many
among the audience last night VINO
were familiar with the locale of the
story, and all agreed that the stage
pictures are accurate copies OF the
In its entirety, both in the dramatic
content of the piece, in the acting and
the staging, THE Right of Way" is
one of the strongest dramas of the
local season.
Florence Leslie. the well-known in
structor of dancing and the ballet OF
the Auditorium. will sever her con-
nection with the theater at the closing
of Uncle Toms Cabin" taking a
much needed rest. prior to her opening
in a similar capacity under the man
agement of John H. Blackwood. Pat
rons of the Auditorium will, no doubt
miss the beautiful stage pictures AND
dancing, as we'll as other work of Miss
Leslie's.
The Empire theater opened Monday
night with a high class show.
Fay Carranza, operate vocalist
scored a hit and responded to severa
encores Miss Carranza Is a native
daughter and, since returning from a
tour of the larger eastern theaters, IL
meeting many of her former California
friends. Miss Carranza was one of the
features of the James Jeffries show
which toured California prior to JEFF
fries departure for New York.
Renfrow & Jansen are a clever team
of entertainers, and created much
laughter with their original comedy
1.-THE Second Mr.. Fiddle
Walter Perry, monologist, drew many
laughs.
"Solomon's Finish" by Will NJ. Hall
was played by the Empire Stock com
pany.