Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-01-09
sPLENOOR Marks
OPENING OF NEW
sHUbERT THEATRE
Representative Newark Au-
dience Applauds Lew Fields
in "The Henpecks.'

ark Mahomets last night. The noun
tain this time Is a dramatic one, the
new Sam S. Shubert Theatre, whose
opening is an event of Importance to
the city. The admirers of the Shupert
productions no longer need cross the
river to see the best that is offered IN
this. line. The Mahomets in gala at
tire and their friends, similarly ar
rayed. who occupied every seat In the
house last night, knew this to be true
and settled back In their comfortable
chairs with a feeling of well-neing. "A
spirit of pride and good fellowship per-
meated the audience, for the new
theatre while equaling my of the New
York houses in modern conveniences.
surnasses many of them in the ~restful,
homelike air which comes from the
rich deep purple of the furnishings,
the harmony of the details and the
snug arrangement of the seats. Inc
floral pieces banking the promenade
perfected the scene which marked the
long anticipated opening. The audi
ence. which was composed of repre-
sentative Newarkers, evinced hearty
approvaI of the theatre, of the man
| ager. Lee Ottolengui; of Lew Fields,
of '"The Hen Pecks:" in fact, of every
/ thing which made the event fawless.
Following the playing of the star
| Spangled Banner" Mr.. Ottolengui gave
| an address of welcome. He apologized
for the few details which were still
unfinished. saying that he did not wish
to postpone the opening after the date
scheduled. He assured the audience
that the management would do all In
| it's power for the patrons comfort and
would present the best of the Shubert
productions.
Lew Fields, in 1.-The Hen Pecks," was
a fitting entertainment for the initial
performance Mr.. Fields received such
a hearty welcome that the tongue of
the laxative spouse was silenced for
at least three nut h play is
described as a musical panorama in
six pictures. Pictures there certainly
| are, with chorus, setting and costum-
ing 10 make them complete in every de-
tail.
Both soloists and choruses are good,
and the songs are of the kind that can
have encore after encore and still be
heartily enjoyed.
The opening scene is perhaps the
most unique in ~stageland. The farm
and the farmyard in which the audi
ence is first introduced to the Henry
Pecks is not the conventional kind with
a tree and a plant n at most a cat
and a dog to give 1t life, but 1t swarms
with all the inhabitants Of the barn
yard that the widest imagination can
fancy in the widest barnyard. And
the animals and the fowls are actively
alive to their duty as stage folks, for
they all talk ut once in their native
tongues, raising q din which makes
one wonder If this Ia truly far from
the madding crowd" 1t is an aus
picious opening, for as the last cock
departs from the scene Growing his
last crow the audience has caught, the
spirit of the piece and retains it dur
ing the entire performance.
The story, which Is but a frame to
enclose the six pictures, concerns
Henry Peck and Mrs. Henry Peck,
who, ir. passing, concerns herself with
everything and everybody. So lively
does she make life 0 IN the farm in
i Cranberry Cove, New England, that
father, son and three daughters leave
for the quiet of Broadway, New York.
Flu, her returns to his former profession
of tonsorial artist and permanently
decorates the faces of those who come
beneath his razor. His fayorlte daugh-
ter Honoria. becomes a manicurist, in
the hone of winning the love of Zowie,
the Monarch of Mystery" whose
sleir tricks in the Cove's
temnle of amusement, combined with
his beautiful. sunlit ticks, have won the
heart of the country maiden. The most
humorous Ave minutes of the play
occur when Father Peck shaves and
hampo this prestidigitator, whom he
believes false to the fair Honoria.
Although the plot is slight the Incl
dents are filled with fun that Is spon-
taneous and not forced, with enough
varieties to suit all classes of theatre
eoers. Lew Fields. as a merrymaker,
has the happy faculty of never stepping
over the line where humor's efforts be-
come tiresome. -
Mr.. Fields Is supported by a capable
company. Miss Louise Carver, as Mrs.
Henry Peck, presents a true picture OF
the "lady BOSS of the house." the kind
that would make a Rip Van Wrinkle
welcome slumber in some peaceful
mountain region. Miss Jessie Busley,
as Honoria Peck, the farm girl h
searches far and wide Tor ner nero Oh
the golden locks, is perfect in every
detail of the role. The wrong pronun-
citation of all words possible of such
treatment ripples from her tongue with
mirth- producing ingenuonsness.
Miss Elizabeth Brice, as Henolia
Peck. home from Swellsely College,
pleases with her singing and dancing.
She possesses a well-trained voice OF
remarkable sweetness. Playing OPP
posite her is Charles King, as Aver
Castle. Mr.. King also possesses a fine
voice, which he uses to good ADVANTAGE
Their duet, "In the Shadows" is the
song hit of the play. Vernon Castle
gives a clever impersonation of the
sleight-of-ha artist.
Miss Resale Ceballos and Hilarion
Ceballos introduce a novel dancing
speciality, "Valse Fantastique' and
"Tarantula Twist
Next weeks offering will be the New
York Casinos a~ll-star cast revival OF
Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera, III.
M. S. Pianfore."
Among the boxholders We're Mayor
and Mrs. Jacob Haussling, Mrs
Haussling wearing a costume OF
black satin with silver yoke
Ma sAbo y