Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-25
THE BLUE MOUSE IS
TOBASC0 SAUCE FARCE
BeIaSCo Audience Goes Home
with Sore Sides from Too
Much Laughing

Farce comedy with the tobasco sauce
of slight suggostivcness in it is what
"The Blue Mouse" presented last night
for the first time in Los Angeles by
the Belasco company is. The complica-
tions into which the various charac-
ters in the play get themselves by
reason of their avarice for pleasure,
for position or for something else at
times SAVIOR of naIghtiness. But the
situations are so humorous that none
but the straightest of the straight
laced could take much offense. One
almost loses sight of the fact that there
is any suggestion Of marital unfaith-
fulness in the comedy.
THE Blue Mouse" is a Salome dane
er 1t is her Willingness to allow her
self to be used as a stalking horse by
which Augustus Rollett brings down
his quarry-appointme as superinten-
dent of raiIway-whlch makes all the
trouble, brings about all the situations
and causes no end of laughter. The
audience at the Belaseo went home last
night with sore sides because of over
indulgence of their risibilities. Judging
from last nights indications "The Blue
Mouse is a sure-fun hit and will be
one of the most successful attractions
Manager Blackwood has offered in q
long time. The Beiasco company play
ers seem to be most at home in farce
comedy. This week they have a play
which gives them ample opportunities
to display their likings and their tall
ents.
Briefly the story of "The Blue
Mouse" is as follows:
Augustus Rollett, private secretary
to the president of a small New York
railroad must earn a promotion as SUI
perintendent of the road before his
wifes father Will give the young couple
a substantial dowry. Since Rolletts
employer, who is none too true to his
wife, whose face and figure have seen
better days, is fond of young women,
Rollett conceives the idea of engaging
the Salome dancer, Paulette Devine-
born Maggie McHooley-to pose as
Mrs. Rollett, entangle the railroad
president and then force him to give
Rollett the promotion. The scheme
works we'll and the promotion is gained.
But the father-in-law appears on the
scene, becomes entangled with the
dancer and adds to the dilemma. Rail-
road president and Rollett are found
out. Hasty retreats are beaten. Then
come explanations which satisfy every
body and all ends happily. Even the
dancers sweetheart. a playwright who
gets a wrong idea CT the whole affair,
becomes reconciled.
Wnen Eleanor GOfdOn 11rSC elected a
stage career she selected comedy as
her particular field oe endeavor. While
on the Orpheum circuit she scored
heavily in a farcical sketch. 1t there
fore is no wonder that she made a fine
impression as Paulette Devine, "the
Blue Mouse" She impaired her most
artistic comedy efforts to the role and
made new friends thereby. Her slangy
conversation and her references to al
lusions" were delivered in manner
delightful. Lewis S. Stone was ex-
cellent as Augustus Rollett, the ambi-
tious private secretary, and Frank
Camp gave one of his usual fine por-
trayals of the "foxy old grandpa" Jo-
seph Llewellyn, president of the rail-
road. Richard Vivian was the excit-
able and jealous young playwright in
love with the dancer: William Yer
ance, the receptive father-in-law of
Rollett; Ida Lewis, Mrs. Llewellyn, and
Helene Sullivan. the young wife, Mrs.
Rollett. Adele Harrington gave an ex-
cellent portrayal OF Lizzie, Paulette's
chaperone. AS usual Miss Harrington
was screamingly funny. Others in the
cast were acceptable S. o.