Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-01-24
BrO0dhurst- DaZey Comedy
Charles HanfOrd'S Vehicle
BY w. HERBERT BLAKE

vortex of keen struggle, the bleeding
battle-ground of southron and aboli-
ZIONIST. Yankee and German were the
hated antagonists of the proud old
southern holders of the land. There is
more than an echo of that murmur of
wrangling swords in the political
strifes of the St. Louis of today.
The story of 1.-THE Crisis" shows us
the familiar triangle of southern
girl beloved by rivals wearing the blue
and the gray. 1t is not remarkable
for originality, dramatically speaking,
but for the freshness and ardor with
which the ywright-novelist has con-
trived to Undue his characters. The
men Of the play are not mere types.
The old abolitionist is also the frank
and unsparing friend of the Missouri
slave owner The Yankee hero in
forms the latter of an intended attack
upon Camp Jackson and hides a rival
for the hand of the others daughter
from his own men. OF course this
seems too romantic for fact; perhaps
too strange to be fiction. The story is
said to have a semi-historical basis.
There is also a well drawn eXpatriated
northerner, who spies on both armies
and plots to win his employers wealth
and daughter after the strictest pat
tern of Uriah Heep. Not forgetting
the young south side German clerk,
engagingly embodied by Harry Mes
tayer.
The Burbank company plays 1.-THE
Crisis" much more briskly and accu-
rately than has been it's wont with
some other recent offerings. Byron
Beasley as the Bostonian who buys a
negro slave to free her from the ribald
mercies of a public auction and later
fights for the northern cause in the
streets of st. Louis gave us a good
portrayal. David Hartford made an
excellent study of the abolitionist
judge and David Landau acted ac-
ceptably as Clarence Colfax. The
Colonel Carvel of John w. Burton
was bluff and courtly, if somewhat
lacking in the finer shades of charac-
ter possible to the part. Willis Marks
made a despicable character real. Miss
Frances Nordstrom as Virginia, the
only dominant woman role in the
play, appeared to good advantage, al
though by no means equaling her me-
morable work in 1.-THE Girl of the
Golden West"
The production is adequately staged,
and the smaller parts are taken very
pleasingly.
The body of Joseph Wheelock, jr.,
who died in Phoenix, Ariz. after
long illness, will be cremated on ar
rival here from that city. Mr.. Whee-
lock was a native of Chicago and had
supported William II. Crane and Ethel
Barrymore. He was once a member
of the Lyceum stock company and
later of the Empire company, in New
York, and had starred in his own play,
Just Out of College," His late IA
ther Joseph Wheelock, was also
notable actor,
In a recent interview Mrs. Leslie
Carter expressed decided views to the
end that the theater should aid in the
education of the masses. She believes
that the problem play is the drama
form of the future, and points to
"Zaza," "Du Barry and "Vasta
Herne,' among her repertoire, as in
stances of the kind of play she be-
lieves fulfills useful social purpose.
Mrs. Carter will open her engagement
of week at the Mason this evening
in "Vasta Herne."
Alice Lloyd, idol of the London music
halls, will be the most important ac
QUESTION to the Orpheum bill at to-
days matinee. The McNaughtons,
British clowns, and the Brothers Per-
name, in "Nightingales Making Love"
are other new acts. The road show, in
GLIDING Ida O'Day in "a Bit of Old
Chelsea" La Titcomb, "a Night in a
Monkey Music Hall; Melville and Hig-
gins and Hyman Meyer holds over for
one more week.
Arturo Bernardo, italian protean
artist, will soon appear at the Orpheum
in two separate playlets, assuming men
and women characters, directing the
orchestra at intervals in the garb of
various noted conductors and letting
the audience see him making up
through transparent back drop
Oliver Morosco returned yesterday
from his San Francisco conference with
Frederic Belasco and George L. Baker.