Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-04
AMATEUR ACTORS PUT
ON TAYLOR COMEDY
MISS LESLIE ST0SE GIVES
LIFE TO DULL ROLE
Burbank Pupils Present Conscientious
Performance of Play Which
Gives Few Chances for
Distinctive Work
BY w. HERBERT BLAKE

IAN UNEQUAL MATCH. comedy in
three acts, by Tom Taylor, presented Thurs
day matinee, June 3, in the Burbank thea
ter by students of the Burbank school of
dramatic arts
THE CAST
Harry Arncliffe. ........ Everett Lee Lyon
BlcnkinsOp ................ Werner COrbin
Sir sowerby Honeywood ...:....;;..
Bocrhcave BOtcherby. ..... Norman Heap
lofts .................... Lawrence La fon
GrazebrOOk .:....'.....''...' ava SmnurIs
Herr Drumkoff ........... Leonard Zellers
Hester GrazebrOOk. Miss Leslie stOse
Mrs. Topham MontressOr. .............
................ Miss Gladys Wheeler
Lady HoneywoOd. Mrs. w. II. Sheppard
Miss Leech ............... Miss Lindahl
Bessy Hebblethaite Miss Helen Eyraud
In the friendly atmosphere created by
an audience of relatives, friends and
well wishers, the pupils of the Burbank
dramatic school conscientiously strug-
gled with the roles of Tom Taylors
comedy of English life yesterday after
noon, and in several instances displayed
ability which took the performance out
of the graduating class and gave II
an interest even to the unsympathetic
outsider. The play itself rings rather
hollow more than once, and it is not
clear why a more ambitious cholce OIL
vehicle might not have been made
Certainly, it is much easier to portray
the characters in a masterpiece, who
are real, than vainly to attempt to fill
the shoes of English country types
which are as fiat and desiccated as so
many pages from an amateur cartoon
lists notebook.
It was a pleasure not often expert
enced in viewing the work of amateurs
to note the work of Miss Leslie Stose
in the most vital role in the produce
ton. Her acting was easily the most
natural of the cast, and she put real
life and feeling into somewhat slug
gish, commonplace lines.
Werner Corbin, as a "gentlemans
gentleman" showed evidence of careful
study Frederick Middleham animated
the caricature of a British baronet with
success. Norman Heap acted well and
will do better when he learns the knack
of distinct articulation. The other
parts showed careful training and an
earnest desire to be effective.
The scenery was appropriately de-
signed and effectively handled. An or
chestral medly of popular English airs
helped to create the needful atmos-
phere.
The fourth season of the Burbank
school will open September l, in charge
of Phosa McAllister Duffield, direct
ress.
Miss Rose Coghlan, supporting John
Drew in Jack Straw" will be seen
at the Mason opera house next week.
Miss Coghlan, although born in Eng
land, has passed most of her profess
sionaI life in America. She was the
leading woman of Lester Wallack's
stock company in New York city when
Mr. Drew was the leading man at
Augustin' Days theater In Jack
Straw she appears as a vulgar, snob-
bish woman of newly acquired wealth,
who drops her his, as she expresses it,
"because she can afford to do tia
sort of up-to-date Mrs Malaprop.
To follow 1.-THE Lion and the Mouse"
which opens June IA at the Belasco,
the stock company will revive 1.-THE
College Widow George AIDES famous
play of undergraduate life.
All but six of the theaters in the
Orpheum circuit have been closed for
the summer.