Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-17
BIRD FANTASY IS
|. STAGED AT GRAND
WOODLAND" is PRODUCED BY
HARTMAN COMPANY
"THE ALASKAN" RETURNS IN
NEW DRESS TO MAJESTIC
"Men and Women" Veteran De Mille-
Belasco Drama, is Revived by
Stock Company at
Burbank
by w. HERBERT BLAKE

/ llOSl ldilldSllC lllIolGetl SliON III eAAN
Pixley-Luders list. and while less OF
the comic than king Dodo" or 1.-The
| Burgomaster," it abounds in brigh
| lines and pretty airs. The Ferris Hart
man company has given it revival
| opulent in color effects and fairly ac-
curate in details
Blue Jay, a tramp politician, wan
ders into the kingdom of Woodland just
in time to be elected potentate in sue
| cession to King Eagle, and the latter
| part of the piece is largely taken VI
| with his conduct of affairs and his
casual love making. A chorus of fluffy
| birds fill the stage at the slightest pro
vocation, and between times Walter
| Catlett, as a facetious rooster, trifles
successfully with any stray sObriety
| that may be left u.s.
Ferris Hartman is Blue Jay-a saucy
bird who sings about as scandalously as
| he rObs cherry trees. Mr.. Hartman
| pleases his admirers nightly in this
| role and makes no bones about it. YOu
need no more expect restraint or airy
! grace from him than you would from
| the bird whose ways he joyouslS
mimics. 1t is comedy of the broadest
| and frankest, and to his loyal following
| IL is always welcome.
Joseph Fogarty is Judge Owl, a
! learned and austere biped who sings
in a vigorous voice not always quite
| true to note but ever admirably dis
! tinct Walter De Icons best appear
ance is in his speciality dance with pert
| "Muggins" Davies. If he would man
age to moult that tipsy totter with
which he enters as DR.. Raven we would
| forgive him even his festive soarings as
a tenor. 1t is a mannerism retained
l believe, ever since his amusing i'm
| personation of an English chappie in
| THE Toreador" 1t was in place there
| but should not become chronic. George
Poultney is a handsome robin and
sings excellently throughout. Lawrence
Bowes is King Eagle @nd Jack Martin
Cardinal Grosbeak.
Miss Angelo Pinkley made a very
| pleasing impression last as Miss Turtle
Dove, singing her principal solo with
quiet effectiveness Miss Alethea Luce
| is the gossiping parrot-WidoW, q role
affOrdinS much opportunity for comedy
| Miss Edna Lorimer White, new mem
Der of the company, took the part OF
! Prince Eagle, acting capably but plain
| ly disclosing a voice inadequate to the
demands of her solos. In place of Miss
Josie Hart, absent from the company
through a painful injury to her foot
while rehearsing, Miss Lillian Leighton
played Lady Peacock with success.
| The chorus, gorgeously goWned, simp-
| ly rule the rooSt. The chorus men are
| also in agreeable evidence in the musi-
cal numbers, singing their ensembles
with force and in unison. Altogether
| woodland has enrolled itself as an
other of the series of creditable musical
productions which Manager Kavanagh
has afforded his Grand patrons during
the present Hartman engagement.
"den and Women" Henry c. De
Mile and David Belasco's drama of
defalcation and comedy of sentiment,
began the new week at the Burbank
yesterday afternoon. 1t tells the story
of cashiers appropriation of securi-
ties in private speculation, and of the
undeserVed blame for the shortage
which was laid at the door Of his assist
ant. TO spare his fiancee shame the
ITeal defaulter permits the other man to
bear the discredit until he discovers
that she, alone besides himself knows
the truth. Then, as the subordinate is
about to be led away to Jail, the real
offender clasps the handouts on his
own wrists and admits the truth. Of
course, convenient way is found to
shield him from the punishment he has
cOurted. The father of his fiancee,
also the governor of a western state,
himself an eX-embeZZler who has lived
down prison sentence offers to sup
ply the deficiency His tender is re-
fused, but that of one of the bank S
directors is accepted, and the play ends
in a burst of lovemaking comedy.
1t is a play which comes down to us
after almost twelve years of more or
less affectionate handling in numerous
stock companies. It's human interest
and the compelling strength of the third
act, showing the council of the bank
directors, have made ii widely and con-
|
Verbiage which frequently encumbers
the dialogue and somewhat tame sec
ond act. The comedy element is clever
ly introduced and the minor love af-
fairs are pleasingly elaborated.
Most striking among several good
character pOrtrayals was Mr.. Dutfied' $
Governor Rodman-a remarkably hu-
man and appealing piece of acting.
Mr.. Beasley was the defaulter, and por-
trayed we'll the strain under which the
man labors, although wanting at times
in vitality and realism of utterance.
Good impersOnations We're those of
David Hartford as the president and
Harry Mestayer as the assistant
cashier Willis Marks doubled skill
fully as a broker whose suicide compli-
Gates the shortage and as the crotchety
old director whose wealth at length
aVerts a scandal. David Landau put
counsel, with reasons of his own for
opposing a compromise, and John w.
Burton successfully dispensed with
that quality as the portly Lothario
who examined banks as a diversion
from his regular business of love-
making. Henry Stockbridge played an
amable juvenile who kept one from
feeling utterly serious at any time he
was within hail.
Miss Nordstrom was ViSually effective
in the principal woman role, but had
few opportunities to lift it out of the
rut of conventional heroines and can
hardly be said to have created any such
"a somewhat difficult task. The other
principal feminine parts We're assumed
by Miss Taylor, Miss Won Waldron,
Miss Royce. Miss Oberle and Miss
BANTER.
The scenic settings We're in excellent
taste and the staging. in general, ade-
quate, despite the light which almost
failed i'm the first act-a contretemps
for which the humors of electricity
must bear the blame.
The Orpheum road show, under Mar
tin Becks personal supervision, will
begin a fortnight's engagement at that
theater this afternoon. 1t is composed
of Ida O'Day and company in "A Bit
of Old Chelsea" La Titcomb in songs,
dances and poses; Hyman Meyer, Mel
Vile and Higgins, and Maud Rochez'
"Night in a Monkey Music Hall" There