Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-04
LOS ANGELES GIRL
AT WORK ON PLAY
JULIUS STEGER TO PRODUCE
A DRAMA
Ruth Comfort Mitchell Gains Recogni-
tion-E. C kammermeyer viii
Direct Levy's Orchestra.
Stage News and Views

Stage News and Views
1t is probable that while in Los An
geles, Julius Steger will complete ar
rangements with Ruth Comfort Mitch
ell regarding the three-act play which
she has under contemplation for his
use next season. AS is not generally
known, this is Mr.. Stegers last season
In vaudeville. as Mr.. Martin Beck, his
manager expects through cooperation
with Klaw & Erlanger, to send him out
in a production next fall. Miss Mitch
ell, who wrote. THE Way to the
Heart" Mr.. Steger's present vehicle,
has had a play under negotiation with
Mr.. Steger for some time, and IL is
understood that arrangements have
been concluded for Its writing, as the
scenario has been passed upon favor
ably.
Miss Mitchell secured the material
for 1.-THE Way to the Heart" during
her visit to Europe some months ago.
When she arrived in New York. she
submitted her sketch TO Mr.. Steger in
incomplete form, and he and Mr.. Beck
so approved of it that she was asked
to continue the work. She did so, and
1t was finally and fully accepted. Mr.
Beck and Mr.. Steger provided a most
hailed as IA Belasco production in
vaudeville" Both Mr.. Steger and Mr.
Beck have high hopes for the new play
and feel assured that it will be as fine
as Is the present sketch. 1t is no Sc
cret that the new play will not be
along the lines of the present sketch.
but. of course. 1t will afford Mr..
Steger opportunity for a display Of his
vocal powers.
Beginning Monday next, L. C. KAN
mermeyer will take charge of the mu-
steal bill at Levy's Cafe Chantant.
vice J. +. Wiley, who came down from
San Francisco to start the series of
concerts. Mr. Kemmermeyer, who
formerly led the Auditorium orchestra
and the Catalina band, is an expert
conductor thoroughly up In popular
and classic music, and has collected an
orchestra of competent soloists who will
be heard in individual selections during
the course of each program. The pres
ent singers, who have steadily grown
in popularity all week, will remain for
the coming week, but new selections
will be proffered by each, and thus a
complete new bill is assured.
In yesterdays mail came a letter
which 1t will do no possible harm to re-
produce. Therefore it is given in full
as follows:
Los Angeles, March 2.-tEditor Her
add: When l saw that Mantell was
coming for a weeks engagement at the
Mason theater my hopes rose high in
anticipation, but then l recalled what
a poor company he had when last he
was here, and / said to myself: No,
don't believe / care to see him, Tor
though he is fine himself, he cannot
| atone for an inferior company of sur
rounding players-and above all in
Shakespeare" But early Thursday
morning found me In line before the
| box office to buy tickets, hoping FOR
the best in the supporting company.
went Monday night to see Louis
| XII" But alas, l was doomed to dis
appointment. Mr.. Leiber as De Me-
mours made fine presence but was
utterly void of any dramatic Intensity,
and by his delivery I see we can eX-
| pect nothing of him in Shakespearean
! roles: the very thought of him playing
| Iago, Jacques or Edgar is absurd. The
very moment De Commines came upon
the scene with his Iabored and tire
some delivery / remembered him and
| wished myself some other where, or he
following another avocation, If Mr..
Montell and Mr.. Brady have an affec-
tion for this gentleman then why dc
| they not provide for him in some other
way than by engaging him to infict
the poor unoffending public? The only
person worthy of any comment in
praise was George Stillwen as the
| Dauphin OF course / am ranking
Miss Marie Booth Russell with hel
| husband, Mr.. Mantell, whom | have
seen in the east and knew her to be
| most excellent actress.
| / am glad to see that the Herald's
| dramatic critic has the strength of his
convictions in his comment on Mac
beth" in today's paper In regard to the
| supporting company. They certainly
| do not measure up to standard" and
that, the high one set by Mr.. Mantel
and his wife.
Mr.. Mantell, If be wishes to have the
support of his audiences in time u
come, will have to surround himself
with more competent actors. No won
der Shakespeare is not cared for by
many theater goers when he Is Sc
poorly interpreted as in the present
case. Even the most subordinate rol'
in Shakespeare is worthy of an actor
of ability. l do not blame the actors
| for they are doing the best they car
with the light that is given them, bu
the management in furnishing such {
mediocre company. Yours very truly
4SO South Soto street:
Frederic Belasco left Los Angeles
last night for New York city to confer
with his brother, David Belasco, witt
reference to a coast tour of "Swee
Kitty Bellairs." under the direction o.
the Morosco- -Belasco enterprises Th'
tremendous success of this sparkling
Belasco comedy at the Burbank, where
it is announced to begin its seconC
week Sunday afternoon, has persuaded
both Mr.. Belasco and Mr. Morosco tha
road tour of the play, utilizing thu
scenery and costumes made for th'
Burbank production, would prove pop
ular. incidentally Mr.. Belasco prob
ably will contract for several new