Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-23

Benson as Loot, the clerk In fact,
every part is admirably played.
Florence Oakley, the leading woman
Of the Belasco theater company, will
sever her connection with that organ
ization four weeks hence Just who
will succeed Miss Oakley has not been
announced, although Manager Black
wood states he has three leading wOm-
en- in mind for the position. Miss Oak
ley came to Los Angeles when the
Lewis S. Stone company gave its first
performance at the Auditorium theater.
When the combination of the Auditori-
um and BelaSco forces was made she
was included among the players that
were transferred to the BelaSco.
Burke Clarke, another Belasco actor,
will conclude his engagement with that
company in three weeks.
Many of those who saw the opening
performance of "A Texas Steer at the
Belasco theater yesterday had seen the
play before, but its comedy does not
seem to have been impaired by it's years
on the boards, and it shows all the
staying qualities of the Hoyt produc-
tions. 1t is produced for the first time
in stock in Los Angeles at the Belasco,
and seems almost to have been written
for the Stone company, 50 neatly do the
members of the cast fit into the roles.
Lewis S. Stone achieves one of his
best characterizations in the role of
Maverick Brander the Texas cattle
king who is forced to go to congress by
his enthusiastic friends and who un-
dergoes social metamorphOsis at
Washington. Mr.. Stone has been criti-
cised for giving a metropolitan finish
to his western character, but his Bran
der is a real Texan, and he does not
make the change in the man so marked
as to appear impossible.
Miss Florence Oakley is equally con-
vincing as Bossy, Brander's daughter,
frankly a climber but dazzlingly sue
cessfuI in coaching her father and
mother and in her own mastery of the
new social world in which the family
finds itself in Washington.
James P. Appleby gives an excellent
stage picture of Fishback, the colored
politician who delivers the colored vote
to Brander on the promise of the office
of minister to Dahomey, to learn later
that no such office exists. His little
homily on office seeking in the third
act is one of the best bits of the play.
Howard ScOtt's characterization of Col
Brassy Gall, the Washington parasite
who lives on the guilelessness of unsO-
phisticated western congressman, is eX-
cellent
The play is full Of good epigrams and
bright lines, but Hoyt is decidedly at
his best in comedy. The sentiment of
his pieces always seems a bit strained,
and the rule applies to ga Texas Steer"
Much exaggeration is necessary in the
fun-making business. but it is not eX-
aggerration of the vicious sort and the
comedy is decidedly wholesome. There
is much clever satire of the shams of
Washington life.
Scenic Artist Brunton and Producer
Hartford are both to be glad-handed
for the effectiveness of the staging of
the piece. The opening scene is one of
Mr. BruntOns best achievements
Charles Ruggles, Beatrice NOyes, De
Witt Jennings and Miss Ida Lewis all
contribute admirably to the success of
the production.
Leander De Cordova and his company
present a good act in Wireless at
the Orpheum this week. Although the
sketch is a bit too melodramatic, it is
we'll played and probably is the best
feature of the present bill.
The bill begins with an athletic num-
ber by the JOsselin trio and ends with
a similuar feature in the Harveys'
wire balancing act. The Josselins are
held over for next week, but the Har-
vey performance is in new in Los An
geleS. It is a remarkably clever eX-
hibition of taut wire stunts. the physi-
cal charms Of the young women per-
formers constituting an important part
of the act
Paul LaCroix is an old timer in his
hat Juggling business, having worn
off nearly all his hair in catching
whirling hat brims on his head. He IS
seen this week on his first visit to the
southwest, and his act seemed to be
highly appreciated at yesterday after
moons performance.
Miss Julie Herne, the Murray sis
ters and Charles Wayne are held over
from last week.
Buster Brown and his dog Tige
attracted the largest matinee audience
of the season to the Los Angeles the
ater yesterday afternoon, despite
strong counter attractions. every the
ater in town offering holiday matinee
Buster is played this year by Master
George Phelps, who looks to be about
Busters age, but. whose voice pro-
claims him a man grown. He makes a
most amusing youngster and one that
pleased nightly all those other young
sters who went to the Los Angeles yes