Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-03-14

From the constructionist's stand
point The Right of Way" which
opened for a weeks engagement at
the Majestic theater last night, is
theatric. melodramatic, declamatory,
almost impossible From the actor S
point it is gripping, intense, sat
sibilities for Characterization, crammed
full of fat" situations, trimming over
with good lines and possessing won
derful powers of appeal To the heart
strings. From the audience stand
standpoint it is gripping, intense, sat
isfying. AS the audience is the factor
to be reckoned with most and as the
audience is pleased THE Right or
Way" must be termed worth while.
There are not many plays winch
have a subtle power of drying the
throat in sympathy and making the
eyes start with tears of pity, be those
plays melodramatic and impossibly
constructed or be they worked out on
the most approved lines of the drama.
THE Right of Way has that peculiar
power. Something was put into II.
just as something was left out OF
Charley steele. 1t may be soul or
genius or what not. Whatever 1t 49,
it has made a play unusual
one rises from having witnessed
"The Right of Way" with a feeling OF
having been made better of having
seen a human machine placed in the
crucible of life and of having seen
that form emerge human belhg WIN
soul and heart where none existed pc
fore. one takes home with him a pos
tive lesson, but just what that lesson
is 1 venture to say nobody could eX-
press definitely. 1t is more an inner
warmth of heart and soul than con-
crete idea.
hnE
Parker's wonderful story from when
,oThe Right of Way" was dramatlzed
by Eugene w. Presbrey. 1t is TOO
late now to repeat the story. Suitlce
ii to say the novel was truly great, IN
fact too great to be told properly ana
adequately on the stage. In the novel
there is an ending which makes tne
book a classic. For the sake of send
ing the audience home perfectly sat
isfed, the play has been radlcally
changed in its denouement. In the .
book Charley Steele dies, giving his
wife the right of way to happiness.
In the play it is the reverse-Charley
Steele lives.
Hallett Thompson is the Charley
Steele of the present production. AS
the sneering, questioning, contaminat-
ing. cynical lawyer, Thompson is at
his best. He forgets not the turn of
carver he weakens. He gives two di-
ametrically opposed types of man.
That is not the easiest thing in the
world The wonder is that Mr.. Thomp-
son of any other actor can do 1t at
all There are times when Mr.. Thomp
son declaims a bit too loudly and
speaks his lines in an unnatural tone.
These come when he seeks to convince
his audience of hidden power. He
L.. f1fNNxfh hal
natural pitch which makes his speeches
fail to carry their full value.
Theodore Roberts created the part
of Joe Portugais. and Theodore Rob
erts is consummate actor. he
knows every trick of the profession and
is an artist as we'll. F. Aug. Ander-
son has succeeded Mr.. Roberts, and
worthy successor he is, MI Roberts
should look to his laurels, for here is
a man far past the meridian of life who
has come into his own at last. Not
by one jot or title could Mr.. An
derson improve his Characterization.
The wobbly walk of the riverman, the
trembling of the chin and the way in
which Joe uses his mouth-these
speak of the artist. Mr.. Anderson's
dialect was excellent. 1t took Mr.
Roberts many months to master that
peculiar cultural information ii the
broken language of a FRENCH Canadian,
and Mr.. Anderson's speeches are de-
livered as we'll as ever were those of
Mr. Roberts.
Miss Arleen Hackett is exceptionally
winsome as Resale. she grew rapidly
in the hearts OF her spectators after
the scene at the Cote Dorion. In that
den of vice and insobriety she seemed
SO totally out of place that one was
glad the scene was quickly ended.
]. j. Kennedy as Justice Vantage
made a small part seem like stellar
role, but as the cure he was not salts
flying.
Advice is cheap, to use what Gillette
Burgess would call "a bromidiom.
Here's a bit of it which is given with
out price at all Go to see 1.-THE Right
of way" even though YOU have seen
it before. 1t will pun at your hearts
strings and set you to the hardest