The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-13

Who booked the Clarke Comedy
Company to open at the Opera House
on Monday, January 20.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the well known comedian, who will be-
gin his season at the Opera House on
January 20. Mr. Clarke knows what
Honolulu wants, and he has given his
assurance that he has got together a
company that will be thoroughly ac-
ceptable to the patrons of the Opera
House. There will be two changes OF
bill each week.
THE average theatergoer of Homo
lulu said Douthitt yesterday, "is not
familiar with the conditions that a
representative experiences in his eff
forts to book first-class company for
the Opera House. A company has to
lose practically a month, and then
/ there are strenuous rehearsals in order
to give good, high class and caOable
performances before one of the most
critical audiences in the United States.
| "A great many companies on the
Pacific Coast approached me with =
view to booking at the Opera House.
Most of them were of a very indiffer-
ent character, but they were imbued
with the idea that they could figure in
Broadway theaters. l was approached
by concert people, amateur Kubeliks
and aspiring Paderewskis, all of whom
considered themselves quite equal to
the artists named. OF course, ,they
wanted their transportation advanced
to them
There were musical comedy COM
panies in motion picture houses whose
opportunities became an actual nuis-
ance. Dramatic companies touring
California at prices of ten, twenty and
thirty cents admission, explained to
me that they would be able to draw
crowded houses mighty to the Opera
House, even were the best seat in the
house worth dollar and a half.
Nov when the public takes into
consideration the Importance of this
undertaking, and the money actually
paid out for transportation, the cash
expended in kilograms, which are at
times necessary, before a cent is taken
in at the box office, it can realize the
great risk the management has to as
sumo"
AS representative Of the Opera
House, Mr. Douthitt is responsible for
the character of the company, and in
order to make himself secure on this
score he got the best there was to be
got. Mr.. Douthitt met many of the
managers of firstclass theaters. Mr..
Belasco of the Alcazar was one of
them. The project of bringing a com.
pany here was talked over, but Mr..
Belasco preferred not to run the risk.
There was the time involved, as we'll
as the great risk attendant upon so
large a venture.
1t will be readily understood from
the foregoing that the agent in quest
OF first-class talent for the Opera
House has a big task in hand. With a
company headed by Harry Corson
Clarke, the theatergoing public of Ho-
no'ulu can rest assured that they will
have something good.
The first production will be What
Happened to Jones'" This character
was created by Mr.. Clarke, and it is a
favortie one of hiss The comedy
should be a thorough success, for, jndg,
ing by the pictures forwarded, coupled
with Mr., Clarke's promises of only the
best available support, every charac-
ter should be well portrayed. There
are eighteen in the company, includ,
ing Miss Margaret Dale owen, Only
straight comedy will be played
The class of play to be produced will
no doubt meet with the approval of all
who attend, for the keynote will be
good, clean fun by capable artists.