Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-09
PLAY At ORPHEUM
! SCORES TRIUMPH

Comedy, carrying with it a vein of
pathos, and at times real gloon"
tells the story of 1.-THE Travel
ing Salesman presented by the
Brownell-stork stock company at the
Orpheum Theatre this week.
Cupid probably has never been
called upon to work so hard and fast
as in James Forbes's great play. over
night he introduces, wins the hearts
and brings the minister and wit
ness for the principals of the produc-
ton.
Told in few words, the plot of the
piece is the arrival in Grand Cross
ing on Christmas Day of a drummer,
who meets the ticket agent, a pretty
miss, in an unconventional way, tells
her of his loneliness, being away from
home during the Yuletide, and, at her
invitation, partakes of luncheon
truly spoken, for 1t Is but sandwiches
and tea-with his new friend, or shall
We say sweetheart, for 1t is plain that
already Cupid's dart has penetrated
beyond the outer barrieade.
He learns from her that she owns
property at Grand Crossing Junction,
and she Is working to pay off the
taxes.
Situations now develop fast. for,
through a friend, formerly a drum
mer, but now a business man of the
town, the travelling salesman learns
of scheme of capitalist, with the
| aid Of town man, to go down to the
sale and bid in the property, as rail-
road is planning to build spur, and
must have the land. Bob Blake, the
drummer, realizing the plot to trick
his little sweetheart out of her land,
succeeds, with the aid of his pals"
| to get his informant intoxicated, and
| himself goes to the sale, buys in the
property and gets into trouble" for
the two plotters tell the girl that
Blake has tricked her He convinces
her of her mistake, and, to thwart
the scheme of the two. takes his
acquaintance of but "A day to be his
| bride.
Miss Brownell. as Beth Elliot. the
station agent. makes the character "A
lovable and sweet one, and repeatedly
bowed to the applause of a. we'll
l pleased audience. Charlotte Wade
| Daniel. as Mrs. Babbitt, friend of
Beth Elliott, and general trouble
maker, was clever. The other femi-
nine parts we're all short and we'll
acted.
Edward Soroshan, in tho part OF
Julius, the negro hotel porter, waiter
and bell boy, gave the finest portrayal
of negro character ever seen in this
city, and added greatly to the excel
lence of the performance. If il were
not for the fact that 1t was known
that Mr.. Soraghan is a real honest-to-
goodness white man. the audience
would have defied anyone to say he
wasn't a negro. His laugh. manner
isms and dialect were absolutely per-
feet, and too much praise cannot be
j given him for what might be termed
tho best bit of acting in the produe-
ton,
clifford Stork, as Red Blake, the
travelling salesman, gave realistic
portrayal of the part and was a true
drummer Franklin Royce. one Of
the men who would rob Beth Elliot
of her land, played by Joseph Swee
ney, did full Justice to the role.
Joseph Girard an old fayorite, re
turns to the ranks Of the Orpheun
company, and received an ovation
upon his first entrance. His part. a:
Martin Drury, one of the conspirators
did not permit of any really great act
ing, but in his capable hands ii stood
forth prominently in the play
Altogether the play is excellently
staged and acted and brings tbs
! thoughts of Christmas near to home.