Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-03-29
OTIS SKINNER ROLE
IS CHARACTERISTIC
Actor and Not Play Appears to Be the
Thing, and Fine lnterpreta-
ton Maintains ln-
terest


Otis Skinner at the Mason opera
house last night stirred large audi
ence to enthusiastic appreciation-ap-
probation not for his play, but for his
artfu and sympathetic portrayal of
one character in that play. 1t Is well,
occasionally, to indulge in the luxury
of truth telling; and candor compels
the admission that there is little in
your Humble Servant" to compel adj
miration. Were it not for Mr. Skin
ner's delightful realization of its CEN
trail role, the Harrington Wilson work
would be positively boresOme, but, as
it is, the play has been transformed
into conspicuous success. For the
result we have to thank, not the play
wrights, but the actor; not the plays
plot, which 1t trite, but the character
drawing, which is broad, human, vivid,
1ovable.
1t Is a big thing Mr.. Skinner has ac-
complished in this piece-a character
ization that will be remembered long
and pleasantly. We may wish, indeed,
that the picture were better framed,
but after all the canvas compensates,
and on that canvas the actor has
spread an actual identity, the portrait
of a man kindly in thought and deed,
optimistic, cheerful in adversely, a dear
sentimentalist, with the saving grace
of an abundant sense OF humor
The plays story can be retold in few
words. Lafayette Towers is a barn
storming actor to whom her parents,
now dead, have bequeathed Margaret
bruce. with the hope and expectation
that he will retain the child for the
stage which has been their life work.
Of n
the stage story the girl is playing
with him in "Weedsport." The name
of the town is significant and we are
told that capacity" audience is 'in
front" That means, in round num-
bers, 1927. Meantime the sheriff is
sitting on the actors trunks. Then
the manager disappears with the
nights receipts, the sheriff closes in
and the players are confronted with
the necessity of returning to New
York in their stage attire and without
money.
Days of Adversely
In the company is a young man of
wealthy family who imagines that he
has fallen in love with Margaret and
who, for her sake, resists the entrea-
ties of his father who urges him to
return to his home, his clubs, automo-
biles and easy existence. With Tow
ers and the girl this young chap goes
to the city. making the trip on canal
boat. Then follows a hand-to-mouth
existence which affects the girl not at
all, makes Towers even more cheerful
than usual, but finally results in the
youngsters departure for the parental
roof.
This brings us comfortably to the
third act-the worst in the play and
wholly immaterial to the main thread
of the story. 1t may be passed without
comment.
Act four finds Miss bruce on the
opening night of her career on New
York's Broadway as a star She makes
a great, u phenomenal success ano
then, at the very last, she discovers
that 1t is Towers she loves, Towers
who has taught her her art and who
though she knew it not, has taught
her also the divine mystery of love.
More Clever Than Genuine
The play is clever rather than gem
uine. entertaining without being in the
least interesting. But it has given
us Lafayette Towers and as Lafayette
Towers Mr.. Skinner would make us
glad even of a much poorer work than
is this one. His support is not re-
markable save for u very well played
bit by Miss Jessie Cromette as the
landlady of a cheap theatrical board
ing house; and another good piece OF
work contributed by Edward Fielding
who, as Knollingsworth Brean, q So
ciety man whose normal state is one
of inebriety, successfully resists all
temptations to overaet Miss Izetta
Jewel plays Margaret bruce only in
differently well.