Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-15

ny situations bristling with witty lines,
and acted with a eleverness that prae-
tically defied criticism, "The Dictat-
or" the melodramatic farce-eomedy
staged by the Cherrians under the direc.
tion of James Mott, was ego" from
the time the anchor of the Bolivar drop
ped off Porto Bankos until the United
States marines rushed into the consulate
and saved the consul from the revolu.
,ionists of that erratic and ephemeral
republic of San Manara.
'The Dictator is Il classic in farce.
comedy and is q difficult production
to stage by an amateur cast but the
talent engaged in the show last night
put the difficult stuff over in really
remarkable way. In fact, if a stranger
had dropped into the opera house last
night and seen the play, he would have
been hard to convince that it was an
amateur performance put or 5y busy
men and women just for "Sweet char
Lity's sake."
But everyone was satisfied-there
was something in the piece for each per
son. And it gave an idea of just how
things 60 in the neighbor republic south
of the border where revolutions are
brewing every hour or possibly every
minute. Richard Harding Davis painted
| typical characters and although farcical,
yet it is based on fact-whieh is gen
orally stranger than fiction. And the
way the Salem people cate up" the wit
sprung was q tribute to the cleverness
| of the east that put it over so ably.
h., A. Il Al IL
goes, Of course, to Jim Mott, who,
as Brooke Travers is the pivot about
whom the plot of the action hinges.
Jim's reputation as a producer of stand
ard plays that have received the stamp
of national approval has grown since he
first put on Arizona" which was
followed by Brown Of Harvard" and
the "Fortune Hunter" each of which
was different and required thorough
knowledge Of stage direction to stage
properly. But, to the enjoyment of the
Salem theatre goers, each play has prov
en- surprise and more nearly approach
| ing professional standards.
As an actor Jim is clever, natural,
subtle, and polished, He is careful in
! his staging Of the play and exacting in
its acting, as the production showed
last night in its smoothness, its lack Of
| embarrassing moments so common to
! amateur work
| There can be no doubt about it--Carl
Gabrielson is an ideal ships officer
! and he makes as good an actor as he did
, a corporal on the Mexican border. He
has remarkable fsang froid what.
ever that is-that enables him to put
anything over. Carl was an asset to
tthe show that could not have been miss
ed. AS "wise guy''--self admitted
he took the part with an ease and nat
! uralpess that was highly pleasing His
lines We're as full of laugh as possible
and he got all there was out of them.
| One of the best performances of the
play was that Of Perry Reigleman as
Simpson, alias Jim Dodd," the valet
of Travers. Perry got the audience go
ing from the moment he appeared The
part is a difficult one, and fall of
laughs, and this clever actor never miss
ed an opportunity to put over every
laugh the part contains. The scene in
the third act where the valet examines
a shot gun to find out whether it is
| loaded, brought screams from the audi.
ence that almost stopped the play.
| " Duffy the secret service detee-
tive, was scream and kept the audi
enee bubbling with laughter all the
| time he was ON the scene. He was 50
bold about his secret it was impossible
to keep from outright laughter-and his
innoncence in the hands of Travers was
extremely funny Duffy9-Oh, yes
laurence Hofer, he who played the de-
tectiye in "The Fortune Hunter" E" and
made such nit. Larry duplicated his
former success, with perhaps several
more laurels added to his crown. He
was decidedly good.
Charles J.. Dick, formerly an officer
in the national guard, blossomed out as
General Santos Campos,' - real, live
Central American revolutionst, who,
with $4,000 met and defeated his rival
in bloody battle in which five priv
/ ates were wounded and % generals. And
/ Mr. Dick upheld faithfully the reputa.
tion of the fierce and blood thirsty
general. In fact he was quite surprise
/ to his many friends, who were well
| pleased at his success.
Cook Patton, in a disguise of Indian
red and black mOustachios did excellent
work as DR.. Vasquez, the health officer
of Porto Banos. The laurels Of being
good MeXicans are divided about equal.
lily between him and Arthur Wilson, who
was "Senor Jose Drav0," proprietor OF
the Hotel Del Prado. Arthur was in a
strange sole but put it over in good
I shape.
/ Thus. b Kay, with his breast covered