Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-03
PLAY HOLDS
BOARDS At BURBANK
when Knighthood Was in Flower
PIeases Greatly Stirring
MeIodrama at the Grand
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

~
to be popular. And this fact was at
tested yesterday when the Burbank
players presented "When Knighthood
Was in Flower" The matinee audience
which filled every seat in the theater
seemed to enjoy every moment OF
the drama, judging from the numerous
calls and the interspersed applause
during the various acts. Not all OF
the applause was given because of the
play itself, however. Most of 1t was
given to show the appreciation OF the
efforts of the Burbankers whose act
ing made the performance delightful.
Charles Majors novel, when
Knighthood Was ir Flower" was one
of the best sellers ever placed upon
the book market. Likewise Paul kes-
ters play, a dramatization of Mr..
Majeors book was in it's heyday the
biggest money-getter on the dramatic
market. The power which attracted
then still exists in the current attrac-
tion of the Burbank theater SO OllVer
Morosco should be able to buy another
auto or two as a result of the bust-
ness of the week.
1t is necessary to give but a brief
outline of the plays story. Mary
Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, king of
England, is forced into a betrothal to
the king of France, an aged and wholly
detestable old cldger. Mary loves
Charles Brandon, captain in the Kings $
Guards, and he loves her. They are
parted just as the marriage is to take
place. Mary leads her kingly hus-
band such merry chase that he soon
gives up the ghost. Brandon comes
back from his exile to his love, they
marry and all ends happily.
OF the role of Mary Tudor Marjorie
Rambeau made a success, judging from
one standpoint. But in plain, unadorned
Justice | am bound to say Miss Ram
beau over-acted. She burlesqued her
character by too many low-comeoy
gestures. And again she insisted on
being kittenishly comical at times when
there was no need for any but natural
display This criticism is made of Miss
Rambeau's acting while the character
Melville Dollar from Guaymas, Mex. via
ilishly termagant moods. Mary Tudor
was according to all accounts, full OF
life, headstrong, whimsical, daring any
thing, an angel or She-deVll as the
spirit or occasion moved her, but wlthal
a woman and therefore adorable. Mary
Tudor never was a buffoon, however.
Miss Rambeau gave full expression to
all the phases of Mary's character and
disposition, but Miss Rambeau added
an ultra comedy note which could cas-
ily and should have been dispensed
with. Byron Beasley made Captain
Charles Brandon Virile, outstanding
man, and pleased thereby. But Mr..
Beasley is not a romantic actor In any
sense of the word. 1 understand he
made a brilliant success of the role of
the Dauphin, the heavy of the play
when it was presented last on the
Burbank stage. But Mr.. Beasley did
the best he knew how as Charles Bran
don, and angels and stars can do no
more. Willis Marks made much of the
small role of the kings Jester Wnlle
David Landau as the Duke of Bucking-
ham, David. Hartford as the Dauphin,
Grace Travers as Mary's lady-ln-walt-
ing, Ethel Won Waldron, Percy Bron-
son. and others in the cast gave ex-
cellent account of themselves.
..When Knighthood Was in Flower"
has been given handsome stage
mounting; especially is this true of the
opening act.
When twelve or more near-murders
are narrowly aVerted in the course OF
four-act play it may rightly be called
a thrilling melodrama. Also it may be
said that there's divinity that
shapes our ends, rough-hew them how
we Will"
such are the observations which must
necessarily be made by any person VINO
sits through a performance of The
Cowboy and the Squaw," the current
attraction at the Grand opera house.
From the moment the curtain goes up
on the initial act until it rises again on
the fourth and only peaceful act there
are battle, murder and sudden death IN
the atmosphere, but none of 1T ever
comes out of the atmosphere. One be-
comes accustomed to the smell OF gun
powder, the sound of firearms being
discharged and such expressions as
GGpf ont of
sight or you will be taken away on a
stretcher'' before 1.-THE Cowboy and the
SuuaW' comes finally to its denoue-
ment. But there is in the play some
thing which makes ones nerves tlngle
and ones blood rush faster through
ones veins. Therefore 1.-THE Cowboy
and the Squaw" is a real thriller and
worth while as melodramas go;
AS the title suggests the locale or the
play is in the west-Custer county,
Mont, to be accurate. The free, fresh
air of the plains, the virility of big,
broad, elemental men and the sweet
simplicity of women of the plains as
we'll as those of the city are to be
found in the play. 1.-THE COWBOY and
the Lady, is a society drama with the
damper off.
Roy Sutherland, who plays the cow
boy. is delightful in the role. He seems
to be particularly adapted to such char
acters, his big broad a'frame and his
kindly, gentle voice just suiting the
part. Iva Shepard also makes most
distinct impression as the girl from
Chicago who falls in love and eventu-
ally marries the cowboy. Her role,
though not SNOWY" is one which gives
her ample opportunity to display her
ingenue charm and graceful personal
ity. Lillian Hayward scores heavily in
the role of Silverheels, Crow squaW
whose doglike love and devotion to the
cowboy leads her into devious paths.
Gertrude Claire creates no end of mer-
riment as Bridget McGinnis, ranch
cook Chester Stevens is the "bad
man" of the play. He is that, and then
some. Others in the cast, including
Joseph De Grasse, Minnie Janicke, Sid
ney Diamond, Herbert Cramer, Lindley
Phipps. Robert Chandler (nO relation TO
"Whose Looney Now"O and Frank
Opperman, the last named making
much of "bit" in which he character
ICES half-breed, give good account OF
themselves.
A broncho riding and roping exhibition
is a special feature of the performance.
The Girton company will leave the
Grand this week, opening next Sunday
at the Empire theater in West Third
street Ferris Hartman and his com
pany will open at the Grand as soonfas
certain repairs are made to the build
ing.
The Pollards and the NationHt opera
company will open a weeks engage
ment at the Auditorium tonight In
1.-THE Mikado," the greatest opera Gil
bert and Sullivan ever wrote. The re-
cent revival of the famous opera scored
N aGk rn6 Oan l.