Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-04
prince of Tonight" Makes
Instant Bid for Popularity
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

" OLYMPUS
/ he puts the audience in a good one
Lew Lawson as the queer old gardener
does an excellent character bit.
| Taken by large, 1.-The Prince or 10
night" is one of the best musical OF
ferings Manager Morosco has Offered
for some weeks. 1t should do large
business this week.
1.-THE Lion and the Mouse were
taken red-handed yesterday. That Is
to say, a capacity house at the Bur
bank theater applauded Charles Klein's
comedy-drama and the players pre-
senting it, until every pair of hands III
the theater was red and sore. The
demonstration given was nearly. equal
TO a successful first night. About the
only thing lacking was a call for the
| author. There was so much applause
and so many times was 1t necessary to
raise the curtain that there Is a strong
indication the mouse will continue for
two or maybe more weeks to gnaw at
the net which enmeshes the lion.
1.-THE Lion and the Mouse" gives a
clear concept of conditions 1t fails
to offer an amendment. 1t does not
cffer even amelioration. The unthink-
ing may look upon 1.-THE Lion and the
Mouse" as a form of propagandism.
Such a view is totally wrong. We
know that judges-and others-who OPP
pose the money power, are retired
quickly or disgraced through trickery
and chicanery. All that is trite. What
we want to. know Is how we shall elm
mate from the body polite such
abuses; how we shall attain the new
and original: by what system of gov
ernment such abuses will be made i'm
possible. The man who writes such
play will, indeed, give the world
what it has been waiting for-the great
universal drama.
Spectators of 1.-THE Lion and the
Mouse" and its kindred declare. THAT
was a great play" without knowing the
reason. They applaud the sentimental
ity, not the sentiment But even at
that, such dramas are good for the
people, just as grand opera poorly
sung is good. The people are set to
thinking, made to wish for better.
Repetition will bring remedy-maybe.
And there you are!
Aside from the sociological and
philosophical elements of "The Lion
and the Mouse" it is appealing, char
acterized by virility of verbiage and
teeming with climaxes, great and small.
AS a play, merely, "The Lion and the
Mouse" approaches perfection and pos
sesses greatness. None of it's excellent
qualities are lost by the Burbank
players.
AS The Lion. David M. Hartford is
exceptionally pleasing. His only fault
is in makeup. In man of finance,
mere gray hairs do not betoken age.
John Burkett Ryder. as created by Au-
thor Klein. was, old in face, figure and
experience. Mr. Hartford makes Ry-
der appear too young in face. But at
that Mr.. Hartford is most deeply con-
vincing. His normal personality Is one
which dominates, which is just the ex-
act requisite of Ryder, the human
money-making machine. Mr.. Hart
ford's enunciation is distinct and
agreeable. His manner is forcible and
dominating; his characterization ex-
cellent.
BY her. portrayal of Shirley Ross
more, The Mouse, Marjorie Rambeau
shows she has latent talent which she
can summon into action naturally,
easily and artistically. Her gestures
are a bit too wide, too sweeping, too
frequent. At times her delivery is
marked by a peculiarly forced enuncia-
tion which seems unnatural. But her
true notes of comedy and pathos find
echo in the emotions of her auditors,
which means she 'gets it over" And
that is the great essential In acting.
Miss Rambeau has made good Sec