Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-18
The Love Route Greeted
by Two Large Audiences
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

BC ShlhLl
1.-TWO capacity audiences greeted
1.-THE Love Route" at the Burbank
"A tneater yesterday. Edward Peple,
who is responsible for the play, con-
structed something not quite western
enough 10 be. a real western drama, not
quite sensational and bloody enough
to be 2. 1nelc drama, and not quite light
enough to be a clever comedy. Re-
mem3eiag Mr. Peple's beautiful. COM
pelling success, prince Chap" one is
forced to ask anont "The Love Route"
How could you do it, dear friend of
other daYs?'
"The Love Route" is the story of Il
girl q ranch, a railroad. some foolish
sentiment, a young civil engineer and
two bullets from one of Mr.. Colts
forty y-nves." Marjorie Rambeau is
the girl. a. Byron Beasley the civil
engineer. The bullets speak for them
selves at tho proper time, which hap
pens to be in the third act, the weakest,
most strained and most unreal of the
four.
Mr.. Peasley's Characterization was
excellent He tinged his harshness
with bit too much tenderness, be-
tokening love, but that was natural,
maybe IF not, 1t was necessary. Best
an engineer. Mr. Beasley's forceful
delivery stands him in good stead this
week. II suits the role to nicely.
Miss Ranbe was not nearly as
subtle last night as she has been in
previous weeks However, her por-
trayal was delightful in many respects.
One thing Miss Rambeau should elimi-
nate from all her characterizations--
excessive use of gestures. The use of
= t..I q e Havl Ice l.. wRfNf
exactly dignihed. In her present role
of Allene Houston she is the owner and
manah sr of a big ranch. She is not a
country hoyden, however. Therefore,
II is 4 bit inelegant to be so familiar
with the ranch foreman, even though
he is a gentleman and in love with her.
This applies especially to placing her
hand Oh his shoulder every little while.
In the sentimental and other scenes
with Mr. Beasley Miss Rambeau is
at her best. She gives exceptional tone,
life AMI color to the general picture.
David Landau, as the ranch foreman,
has a role which might compel sym
pathy all the time If 1t were not for
the fact that the man, born a gentle
man, is a cad in actions and coward
at heart. To force an audience to pity
one minute, then to scorn and then to
pity again is no little task. 1t is to
Mr.. Landau's credit that he is able to
accomplish the result with ease, grace
and skill.
To Ethel Won Waldron has been given
an exceedingly difficult role because of
its opportunities for overacting. But
She does not do what seems to be the
inevitable as Lily Bell, the giggling,
garrulous girl from the east. who is
troubled with severe case of IMAM
it's" Miss Won Waldron hits happy
medium and thereby brings out much
comedy and with it laughter Of the
hearty kind.
Harry Mestayer has neglected his
makeup. Working on an engineering
corps of a construction outfit in Texas
in summer brings tan and sunburn to
cheeks, hands and forearms. Otherwise,
Mr. MestayeT's portrayal of rather
inadequate role is good. David Hart
ford plays a railroad president well.
Henry Stockbridge as the private sec
retary adds a big note of comedy
Lowell Alice Taylor as deaf mute
servant hasn't a chance to look pretty
She is daubed up like a half-breed In
dian or negro, as you will. The cow
boys-five, count 'enn, five-are excel
| lent, especially Leo Pierson.
"The Love Route" may prove i'm
mensely popular this week, for 1t has
enough love, enough pathos and enough
strength to appeal to many even
though IL does lack superlative ele-
ments of surprise and dramatic In
terest.
Three features of unusual quality and
strength make the Orpheum bill, OPEN
ing this afternoon more than ordina-
rily attractive. One is the appearance
of Mime. Mauricia Morichini, the cele-
brated prima donna from the Manhat-
IL nj
the Theatre Chatelet, Paris. She is
recognized as one of the worlds great
est sopranos, and her appearance is
musical event OF very rare import.
Blanche Hall, leading woman at the
Burbank for many years, with Evelyn