Arizona republican., 1913-02-08
4 LAWMAkER
 ON THE STAGE
Splendid Performance of William H. Crane in "The Senator Keeps House," Makes Apt Response to Applause

There are two especially good things | about William H. Crane in The Sen ator Keeps House" The first is that | he played here last night the second, | that he will play here again this af- ternoon.
 Mr crane, his most excellent com pany and The Senator Keeps House" form about as delightful a combina- tion for an evenings entertainment as our plebian mind can conjure up.
 There never was a play, good or bad, in which MT. Crane has been anything but delightful. On this, his first visit to Phoenix he is not only his own charming self, but "The Senator Keeps House" is, to our mind, the best play he has had in years.
 The story is simple and human in it's appeal. Senator Larkin, (Mr. Crane) an honest old chap from the northwest, with a particular aversion for widows, is attempting to prevent grating in the senate and also to keep house in livable fashion with his very attractive 1 secretary and nephew IackDevereuO,
 He is a peppery old Nlow and finds l it next to impossible to retain house. l keeper for more than a month. 1 There is a land bill introduced into ! the senate, "The Mason Claim" which ! the senator is fighting with all the vigor of his manhood. The Mason ] claimant secures the position of house. l keeper in his house and brings her ] daughter with her. His enemies use 1 her as a means to discredit him or at l least to pass the bill. Needless to say | she revolutionizes things in the sena- 1 tors house, makes herself indispensable to him He asks her to marry him. She refuses. There the land-bill scheme is exposed. she is made known
 to him and he practically drives her from his house. In the meantime Jack, l we mean his nephew, has taken things | into his own hands and married the daughter This gives the senator a chance to make an honorable retreat l and in q most beautiful and touching little scene the play is brought to a
 happy finish. All of which is a very
 trite outline of a particularly attractive
 comedy.
 To praise Mr Cranes work is as su- |
 institution and about as on attractive
 institution as the theatrical world car l offer.
 There has never been a more finished
 comedian than he on the American
 stage His every gesture tells a story
 his face is an open book and one whicl never loses in interest. May the wind
 of good fortune favor him on his wa, for many prosperous years and wal him again to Phoenix before he say his last goodbye to the world he ha done so much to brighten. AS Mrs. Ida Flower, The MasOl claimant" gave a beautiful perform ance, a lovely picture of a gentlewo man.
 Jack Devereux was Jack Devereu1 s 1 meaning that he was wholesome ] charming and desirable from ever ] point of view.
 q Raymond Walburn as Sam, Mis s Frost as Eva and Marion Kerby a s that clinging honeysuckle all gave at $ tractive performances.
 In response to tumultuOus applaus @ after the third act MT. Crane made
 graceful speech and told a story whiC 4 got the biggest laugh of the night. g The matinee today needs no bett' sss advertisement than last nights deligh M ed audience.
 s MT. Crane is an honor to his profe < sion.
 E MAITLAND DAVIES.