Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
FOUR NOVELTIES IN
PLAYS OF THE WEEK
nrIrE euerv thcator in town bld-

wv ITH every thcatcr in town bid
w ding for patronage, Christmas
" week pormises to be a busy sea-
son in local theatricals. Chief interest
perhaps, centers in the first production
of a new play, "Thc Way OUT when
will have it's premiere at the Belasco
tomorrow afternoon. Apart from t1aI
however, we shall have three novelties
-plays which nev,r have been seen To-
cally-"A Mans World" at the MaJes~
tie. with Mary Managing in its central
role. IN search of/a Sinner at the
Mason. a comedy which is being USED
Inv Lillian Russell as a starring vehicle
and "Tbe Battle" at the Burbank
Wilton Lackaye is still playing Ihe
Battle" i'll the east, but he Will not
hiring it to the coast, hence its produc-
ton here in stock. Mr.. Lackaye' II
seems. has not yet forgiven US Tor the
scant patronage accorded THE Bond
man" patronage, however, that was
quite commensurate with the play
small merit. George BroadhurStS H.
miliar and popular play of pracllcai
politics. THE Man of the Hour comes
to the Auditorium, and at the Grand
Ferris Hartman and his company con-
Time THE Toymaker" for a second
week, The vaudeville houses offer bills
of attractive promise. Matinees are an
nounccd for tomorrow afternoon at
every theater in the city except lhe
Mason and Majestic.
"Thc Way Out" if it proves sue
coss. will be used next season by Lii
liam Russell, and Miss Russell VIII
attend the Belasco presentation of the
n1av Thursday afternoon, when she
will have the unique experience OF see
ing a role written for her and in which
she has not yet appeared, played by
another. She has read the play and
likes it. Also she likes the character
devised for her use. If Belasco audi
enccs this week agree with her esti-
mate of the plays worth the matter
will be regarded as settled, and 'Ihe
Wav out" will be seen in the east
next season with Lillian Russell in
4he part to be played here by Eleanor
Gordon. The play viii be presented at
the Belasco by special arrangement
with Joseph Brooks and kIaW q Er-
LANCER, Miss Russell's managers, ana
on their request the production Will be
made on the week of Miss Russell's en-
pagou1ent here so that she may see 1t.
This plan of trying out new plays
in stock has appealed strongly 10
prominent eastern managers and with
good reason, for by turning over their
cyperiments to one or the other OF the
two very excellent Los Angeles stock
comnanies they have been able to
gain that experience which can only
come with stage production and at no
cost to themselves. To be sure, the
local talent has not always been in
dorsod in New York, "The Dollar
Mark" for instance, which enjoyed
here the longest run ever attained by
any play continuing at the Belasco
without interruption through ten
weeks. proved dismal failure in
Gotham. on the other hand, THE
Spendthrift,' which was played first
at the Belasco subsequently, made good
in the east and afterwards on tour,
while 1.-THE Country Boy which first
saw the footlights at the Burbank last
summer is one If the biggest hits of
the current New York season. Several
PLAYS tried out here and which failed
to make any particular appeal to local
audiences subsequently We're rejected
also i'm the cast; while others which
failed locally never We're produced
afterwards.
Within tho next few months We are
to have opportunity to pass Judgment
upon a considerable number of untried
rIays aud We arc threatened with a
1arftable invasion OF dramatists. Lee
Arthur. who wrote "Thc Auctioneer"
and many other stage works. already is
on The ground. His play. 1.-The Fox"
will be produced at the Burbank next
month claiming Pollock has prom
iscd IN come to the Rolasco later.
where ono or moro now plays from his
rou are 10 le given their first per-
fornauces. Hartley Manners, who
wrote "Zira," "Thc Girl I'm Waitjns,"
',Thr Man Next Door and other pieces,
i~ expected within a month or so. lie
will bring three now plays with him
and will turn them over tn the BE
1aaco company for production.
Malcolm Douglas Will come to this
city to see his "Nu ~ the Naudr-
villcs" given it, first performance. lIr
IHV-hc viii accompany Mckee Ran
kin when the formers uIuy, Peace ON
EARTH" is given ror the FIRST time at
thu BclascO and Immediately follow
ing two other play from Mr.. Lasbo's
Workshop Army Blue and Judge
Pattersoas Chld.' viii 1, nude known
here for jhe first tIWa. of course,
George Broadhurst W.l make his
headquarters at the B,as.u after the
first ai the year and as usual there
will bc several new HroaoANr-, plays
to be soon initiallr at lhat Iuu-..
Meantime persons who artud the
Thursday matinee performance ot The
Way Out' viii note seated in ma uf
the lower boxes the r0igniug nrluty
of the American stage as wCIl as ono
Of the most delightful condolences of
the period, and none in tln audience
will be mora concerned iu everything
that transprns ON the stGee than she.
neither will there bo more uorvoJe
person in The entire gathering. though
ordinarily Lillian Russell is NOT a VICE
TIM to nerves.
Iowa was the birthplace of FoIon
Louise Leonard and clinton tho town
that claims this distinction. IT. fact
they will point you out several places
from huts to pretty homes where tne
pmbVr0 queen of American comic