Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-28
MRS. FISKE IS BRILLIANT
IN ROLE OF BECKY SHARP
Actress and Company Delight Au-
dienCe in Comedy of Three
Generations Ago
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

matter what the bill. 1t is doubly
true that Mrs Fiske afforded treat
such as has been mentioned by pre-
senting Becky Sharp" at the Mason
opera house last night. A capacity
house greeted the star and evidently
enjoyed to the fullest her character
ization of the sharp-tongued, witty
Becky.
Becky Sharp" is dramatization of
q portion of Thackeray's VANITY
Fair" The main incidents of Becky's
career from nothingness into social
eminence and back to poverty were
beaten into a most delightful comedy
by Langdon Mitchell. The period of
the play is 1916 to 1880, which affords
ample opportunity for quaint, pictur-
esque and even gorgeous costuming
and beautiful stage settings. The per-
sons in the play remind one of living
daguerreotypes and take one back
along the road to yesterday to the
homes and conditions Of our great
grandparents.
From the first moment Becky steps
onto the stage 1t is evident she Is
playing a part" because she desires
to reach a social, albeit meaningless
goal Her tongue is like rapier. Her
wit hurts like the sting of a bee. She
resorts to trickery and deceit in every
thing which, among other things,
brings about her marriage to Rawdon
Crawley. When Becky Sharp becomes
a Crawley she begins her social climb.
When besieged by creditors after hav-
ing reached her social goal, Becky
makes one false step. Then she comes
to realize how little there is in being
the queen of society. She pays her
price just as every other woman who
is consumed with worthless ambition
must pay. Her soliloquy of life is the
acme OF pessimistic philosophy.
Becky Sharp" is a most delightful
comedy because 1t gives Mrs. Fiske
every opportunity 20 display her won
derful talent, which is equal alike to
comedy and pathos. Her graduation
from gay to grave and back again are
shaded with exquisite art.
The star has surrounded herself with
capable players, each of whom acquits
himself or herself in a manner fitting
to association with a great actress.
Florine Arnold does clever character
work in the role of Miss Crawley, the
spinster aunt of Rawdon CrawJey and
benefactress of Becky Sharp. Hol-
brook Blinn's Marquis of Steyne Is a
wonderfully natural work of art. He
makes one feel the putridity of the
nobleman'S nature without in any
manner, except possibly in makeup,
showing it in the least, by voice or
action. Though the part is not large
one in the matter of lines 1t is the
most important role in the piece next
to Becky Sharp. And Mr.. Blinn makes
one realize the bigness of the role
every minute. Henry Stephenson por-
trayed Rawdon Crawley, who married
Becky Sharp and went down to ruin
with her, in the proper key. Harold
Russell as a fat beau, Robert v. Fer
guson as Sir Pitt Crawley, Wilfred
Buckland as Pitt Crawley, Edward
Mackay as George Dobbin and Frank
Mccormack as Major Loder were es-
pecially clever in their respective roles.
Others in the cast were eminently sat
isfactory.
It's a close race between "Self-De-
fense' and "a Hunters Game" for the
headline honors of the newcomers at
the Orpheum this week. The latter
act has shade the better of the race
and wins first place by a nose because
of intrinsic merit. And by such a
statement no reflection is cast on the
former act.
"a Hunters Game" is chock full of
cleverness not the least of which is
displayed by a beautiful setter whose
leap at the finale of the act makes the
curtain tag" if such a term may be
Stafford's limitations of birds, trains
and animals of all sorts, while not new,
is artistic and clever enough to merit
every bit of the generous applause
given. Marie Stone has a small part to
play as the summer girl. Although the
act is last on the program it should
not be missed. AT yesterday after
Moons performance the act was inter-
fered with to some extent by numerous
persons anxious to get out.
f-Defense" gives Edward Abeles
large opportunity for pantomimic act
ing. The manner in which he explains
the revolving triple murder, acting
every scene with gestures and motions,
is far more eloquent than words could
describe. Because the act departs from
the beaten paths of vaudeville offerings
it is worthy of high praise.
Harry Fiddler and Byron Shelton,
dark skinned comedians, present an
artistic musical and comedy act some
what out of the ordinary. The manner
in which the comedians "get 1t over" is
refined and pleases immensely.
La Toy brothers, comedy acrobats, do
sensational. Lily Lena sings
some new songs which are not winners,
and her old favorite "Swing Me Just a
ner. James Cullen, with a slightly al
tered singing act; Mabel Bardine and
company, presenting "Suey SAM" an
exhibition of the Curtiss aeroplane and |
new motion pictures complete the bill.
S. o.
David Kessler and his company of |
Yiddish players arrived in Los Angeles |
last evening and will be seen at the |
Auditorium tonight and tomorrow
evening, presenting two of the favorite |
Ytddish dramas. The original Thalia |
Theater company of New York will be
seen with Mr.. Kessler.
A distinct aroma Of the padded mitts |
and the squared circle is filing "Hooray
for Jeffries,'' Producer Arbuckle's |
latest and best made-to- order playlet |
which is holding the boards at the |
Princess this week. The musical num- |
bers of the playlet are another feature |
which makes it most enjoyable. A |
grand finale of a military march, fea- |
turing the chorus in stunning costumes |
while Ben Sellar sings True Blue"
is worth seeing, while Minta Durfee's |
Funny Face" is we'll rem
dered sellar also gets away in a comic |
with humorous speciality, IF |
Women Were No More" while Haze |
with a chorus of Irish Pad |
dies, figures in patrick ]. O'Hare." |
Bessie Hill also contributes to the |
with pleasing solo.
BRISTOL PIER CAFE
Miss Grace Morena, the California
opened the new bill at |
Bristol Pier cafe Sunday, amid much
The voice of this young |
lyric soprano created a storm of ap- !
plause after each verse. Whether she