South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-10
SKINNER PLAYS
IN CLEVER ROLE
"Cock o. the Walk" Keen
Satire on English Life
Refuses Curtain Speech.

Otis Skinner almost made a cur
tain speech last night AT the end
OF the third act in the Cock O. the
Walk. which was presented at the
oliver theater. ne was forced 20 take
several curtain calls. and. although
the audience was insistent, he re-
fused to make the curtain talk.
The cock o. the Walk" can be
described as one of the cleverest
comedies that has visited South Bend
for some time. There have been
funnier ones and noisier ones, but
not any that excelled in cleverness.
The play is BY Henry Arthur James
and is a satire on English life Of,
say. before the war began.
IN addition 20 the story being
clever. II was presented by a com
panv that was clever. The presenta-
ton called for character acting,
especially so in the parts Of the three
bishops.
Tho play as a whole was enter
tanning and had the added feature
Of keeping Mr.. Skinner on the stage
the larger part Of the time and then
not letting the acting lag until he
returned Although starting poorly
Cock o. the Walk" continued and
ended good
Plays Part of Actor.
Mr.. Skinner played the part Of an
actor who had failed TO achieve great
heights. although his former pal
had. The former companion became
famous as a matinee idol and this
almost caused his downfall. Mr..
Skinner. as Anthony Bellchamber,
comes to his rescue after he had met
fair adorer. clears him of the
charge and is rewarded CATER he
has forced Sir Augustus Conyers TO
agreed by being assigned the part Of
Othello in the Shakespeare anniver-
sary celebration.
Mr.. Skinner had a part he seemed
TO enjoy. He was good in all scenes
and always carried the point of the
comedy across the fOotlights.
He was ably assisted by Miss Janet
Dunbar as Johanna Bride. who
thought herself in love with the
matinee idol. Miss Dunbar was the
gushing. raving. dreaming idol wor-
shipper So we'll did she play the
part she was labelled SILLY" by most
of the audience. which was every
thing she was required to be.
The Cast.
Anthony Bellchamber. Otis Skinner
Sir Augustus Conyers. manager
OF Berkeley theater London.
........... Vernon Steel
Sir Roger Winch. manager of
Fjccadilly theater, London.
..... Walter F. Scott
Sir Fisher Staynes, manager of
Pantheon theater. London.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Walter Gibbs
Sir John Darrell. manager SOci-
ETY. theater. London. .........
Frederick NJ Conklin
Tho Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of
Barum ........ Kenyon Musgrave
The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of
Sherbourne .... John Rogers
The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of
Malmesbury ........ Harry Dodd
The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of
Silchester ......... John Gibbs
Mr.. Bride 1900. Reginald Barlow
Clibbetts. business manager of
Berkeley theater Ernest A. Elton
LObb. Commissionaire at Berk-
eley theater Harry scarborough
Burcham .... Richard Webster
Johanna Bride 800. Janet Dunbar
Clara Fleckner ...... Enid Bennett
Pamela Gady ..... Rita Otway
Synopsis of Scenes.
Act THE MANAGERIAL room Of
the Berkeley theater. Three days
pass
Act 2-The River Lawn hotel sun
bury, on the following Sunday even
ing Four days pass.
Act 3-The mana gerial room.
Note-The curtain will be lowered
for one minute during this act TO de-
note the passing Of several hours
Act dressing room az the Berk-
eley theater on the following Shake
speare's birthday, April %. 1916.