Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-01
". II. CRANE IS DELIGHTFUL
IN FATHER AND THE BOYS"
BY w. HERBERT BLAKE

I be generally expressed, except that
Forrest Orr, as Son William, needless
ly eXaggerates the roWdy side of that
youths character. William is the de-
votee of teas and teapots and dow
ayers smiles. He was quite too rude
at moments last night to successfully
cajole the mildest matron. His brother
Tom (Sidney Blair) was the better
hammered of the two. He was the
pugilistic aspirant, but then the two
things go together far more generally
than is commonly believed.
Father and the Boys" will remain
at the Mason all this week. 1t is well
worth a visit.
There are haunting echoes of Mrs.
Temples Telegram" in "Dobbs' Dilem-
ma" the clever playlet in which
Franklyn Underwood and Frances
Slosson are appearing at the Orpheum
this week "Pickletor" recalls pleas
ant memories, but the working out of
the plot is less gratifying. husband
tells his wife the uneVentful truth
about his absence over night. She re-
fuses to believe him, so he invents a
very poor lie and summons an old
friend to help him carry it through.
They succeed, sWimmingly, and the
wife at length begs for forgiveness for
her suspicious. The plays weakness
lies in the failure to unravel the tan
gle. We naturally expect the truth to
be revealed, to the utter confusion of
both parties. 1t would be better farce
and better fun than to leave US sus-
pended in the air.
The play is exceedingly we'll acted.
Mr.. Underwood exhibits a droll quality
y,e fo1a nc 611e 11n
and Miss Slosson plays the wife at
tractiyely. although the story gives her
little chance to do other than look
daintily aggrieved and sweetly relent-
ing. Mr.. Davies is the necessary third
character, and plays well.
The Basque quartet and Nine. Pan
ita, flute virtuoso, offer two excellent
musical acts. The former sing selec-
tions from Martha" II Pagliacci" and
"Traviata," all in liquid Latin tongues,
and then revert smilingly to English
for Victor Herbert's "Glow Worm"
which they sing with every evidence
of appreciation. A Partisan song-light
and heeting as a bit of down on a
summers day-completes their pro-
gram. They are good singers, if occa-
sionally not in the best of accord. Their
Offering is one of the things which
make vaudeville decidedly worth while.
Panita has a rare quality of tech
nique at her command and in addition
puts into her work sensuous fervor
which is delightful. She held the audi
ence closely intent yesterday, and was
one of the distinct features of the bill.
Belle Davis and her "Crackeriacks,"
bits of black minstrelsy who dance as
if on springs, make an agreeable act.
The pickaninny never quite exhausts
I, Ia, l
youngsters are clever as we'll as spry.
Fox and FoXie's circus just gets by.
1t is onee-third ingenious trapeze work
by a pert young dog with a very elias
tic skin, one-third purposeful and di-
Verting fakes by the fat gentleman
who stands in the spot and third
just casual foolishness. 1t has its
bright spots, but We expect rather
more from this sort of an act.
The McNaughtons got hearty re-
ception again-and again nearly spoiled
it by their untidy finale. 1t is a pity,
for their patter is the best in many
weeks. Alice Lloyd gave us several
new songs, less pleasing for the most
part than the old, few of which she
repeated under the pressure of thun-
derous applause. The London masher
is still getting his jolt in the eye, how
ever, for which we are duly grateful.
The brothers Permane also hold over,
and there are some pretty picture films
showing what happens to romantic
boy in the land of nod.
The author of "The Ringmaster,"
next weeks attraction at the Burbank
theater, is a woman, Miss Olive Por-
ter who gained her knowledge of high
finance as a stenographer in the New
York offices of one of the nations
money kings. 1t is said that several
of the characters are drawn from per-
sonages familiar to Wall street and
with whom she came in contact in the
course of her work. While Miss Porter
isn't writing problem plays she is de-
vising new yarns for the delectation
of her friends. 1t was Miss Porter
who astounded her dignified stock
| juggling employer one morning by re-
marking nonchalantly that she had en-
tertained a most distinguished visitor
during his absence. The CALLER. she
! explained. wore highly striking uni