Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-16
AMUsEM ENTs.
"The Whip" oId-Time English Melo-
drama Pleases at tho Odeop

drama, Pleases at tho Odeon.
MelOdrama came back into it's own
at the Odeon Monday night, when
The Whip" that massive and charac-
teristic Drury Lane story Of plots and
counterplots. was presented in all it's
entirety and thrills to a large and eX-
tremely appreciative audience. Packed
as the play is with hair-raising stage
wrecks, horse races automobile smash
ups and deep-dyed plots. not to men,
ton ten or more changes of scene, it
is small wonder that three hours We're
consumed in putting it on. But the
audience never tired. and remained
fascinated until the last.
Four acts and thirteen scenes were
crowded into the allotted time. besides
every emotion known to dramatic art,
including love, hate, revenge jealousy,
comedy, terror, and 50 on down the
list The plot of the play is as in
volved and complicated as the most
ardent devotee OF melodrama could
wish, while diabolical schemes planned
by the villain and his accomplice are
terrible enough for any one. Suffice
1t to say that the piece deals with
English sporting life, and leads UP to
the 1000 guinea race, where The Whip.
the Marquis of Beverley's horse, wins,
in spite of all obstacles. introduced
into the play besides the main plot
are at least five ub-plots which all
have direct bearing on the various
changes of scene.
The company is decidedly English
and decidedly capable. Viewed coldly
and dspassionately, the play is moth
ing more than one of Lincoln j. Car
=,
put on by company of real actors
and actresses with exceedingly realis-
tic stage effects, and that is where it
bears not the slightest resemblance to
Carriers melodramas.
From the first act where the electric
auto buzzes along at the Falconhurst
kennel, and the pack of fox hounds
rush in hot from the chase, on thru the
chamber of horrors at Madame Tus
saud's, to the great railway wreck and
realistic and not too stacy The work
ing crew of The Whip" which keeps
behind the scenes, does as much to-
ward entertaining the audience as does
the company of thirty people.
Eric Mayne, as Captain Breavill Sar
tors the villain. undoubtedly carried
off the honor as far as acting went He
has an exceptionally long part and is
on the stage most OF the time. In fact
he has to be. In order to hatch all of
his fiendish plots SO that the audience
can follow them. With plenty Of
chances to overstep the line of melo-
drama and burlesque he carried his
lines exceptionally and achieved the
GROWING glory of all villains, that OF
being vigorously Kissed as he passed
across the stage for his curtain call. |
He responded in true villainous man. I
ner by turning his back, and then
blowing cigaret smoke in the faces of
the audience, much to the delight of
all present. His compatriot in crime.
Mildred Cottrell as Mrs. D'Aquila the
adventures. was every bit as wicked
as he was, but did not convey the i'm
preston quite so smoothly. She was
suffering from severe cold, and was
unable to do her best. These two char
acters furnished all the villainy and 1t
kept them busy.
Hilda Honiss as Lady Diana Sartor-
is, won the hearts of the entire audi
ence and was indeed sweet and pretty
in her part. Hamilton Dean was ac-
ceptable as Hubert, Earl of Brancas
ter. but not exceptional. Rupert Lum-
ley had short part as the Marquis OF
Beverley, but filled 1t we'll enough
Bailey Hick and Peggy Dundas as
Tom and Myrtle Arson, were satisfac-
tory, while Frank Compton was good
as the spineless and weak curate.
The comedy element was furnished
in the main by John L. Shine as Tom
Lambert. the trainer, and Alice Edison
as the Hon. Mrs. Beamish. Mr.. Shine
gave an excellent piece Of acting In
the wax works scene. and his love
scenes with elizabeth Agnes" were
we'll received. Erick Hudson was a
comical English race track tout" and
Master Todd Lynch shuffled around
humorously as Henry Claud. the York
shire boy who wanted to see Or Crib