The New York herald., 1921-12-27
MRS. LYDIG HOYT PLAYS WITH
FA VERSHAM IN 'SQUAW MAN
Young Society Woman's Debut
in Spoken Drama Feature
of Revival.

acquainted with Edwin Milton Royle's
THE Squaw Man" which was one of the
most popular plays OF theater period
that ended fifteen years ago. William
Faversham was also at the Astor Thea
ter to play the role which did more
than any other to fix his fame in the
theater OF this country. Four other
players from the company that first gave
the piece at wallacks Theater were in
the cast yesterday and there were capa-
BILE actors in some of the roles for the
first time.
The part OF the heroine was acted by
a recruit from society Mrs. Lydlg Hoyt.
who was making her first stage appear
ance.
But among the actors II was really
only Mr.. Faversham that counted His
playing of the British aristocrat, who
embraced American institutions alto
gether too completely for his own good.
Is as incorrigibly romantic as ever. quite
as irresistible In its virile swagSer, and
remains an hmpersonation of uncommon
charm. II only a few of the younger
generation had his triumphant gait.
could move with his muscular grace and
speak with the sincerity which colors mis-
voice In emotional scenes. 1t might not
be necessary to revive plays instead OF
presenting the young actors in new
ones. But "The Squaw Man" is still
capable Of providing some episodes that
would make the fortune of any play.
As Romantic ms Ever.
IA
little son. who has inherited the title he
left behind him in England. held the
audience as tense in interest as ever ii
used to. 1t received. moreover. the not
unusual tribute of tears. Mr.. Royle's
play Is so we'll made that it's emotional
scenes exercise most Of their old magic.
Certainly the farewell to the boy going
back TO England impressed deeply the
spectators who had never seen it be-
fore and made the strangers who wit
messed 1t for the first time wonder why
those old plays seem to touch one more
deeply than the new ones do nowadays.
Skillful as Mr.. Royle has been here. Mr..
Faversham did prove that the actor may
also be of invaluable aid to the play
wright.
It is not, of course. to be denied that
tho tooth Of time has bitten somewhat
deeply into the old piece in places. IT
is in the comic episodes that these signs
of wear are most noticeable ]. Malcolm
Young, IT. Cooper Cliffe. Burr Macl<in-
tosh, bluff and human as the old cow
boy. and Riley Hatch were among the
men in the company. The four sur
vivors OF Mr.. Favershan's original cast
were Emmett Shackelford, Bcrtram
Marburgh. William Frederic and Frank
Lyon.
Mrs Hoyt. who acted under the
name of Julia Hoyt, played the young
English matron who was more or less
in love with her cousin. Obviously ner-
vous, she never suggested at any time
the experienced actress, nor does she. in
deed. possess a knowledge Of the inn
portant use of cosmetics. She has not
grace in movement. but she has unde-
niable qualifications for her new career.
She Is tall and prepossessing In her
brunette beauty and her voice, which
she uses well, Is agreeable In quality
and powerful. Her acting was fntell-
gent. and with the material In her pos,
session she gave every indication OF the
ability to meet with success on the pro-
fessional stage.
Willard Robertson was Just as vo-
ciferous bad man as IL they had not
all grown speechlcss on the screen. Jo-
sephine Royle gave an exquisitely
poignant performance OF the Indian
wife. Here is a talent which is some
day destined to accomplish notable re-
suits in the theater. There is not a
role in this revival which is not well
acted. The audience at the matinee re-
called the actors repeatedly after the
third act and made Mr.. Faversham
speak. 1t did its best to persuade Mr..
Royle to appear. Every audience. how
ever, is going to enjoy itself famously
at ''The Squaw Man"
At last nights performance scores OF
Mrs. Hoyt's friends helped 20 fill the
theater and demonstrated their approval
Of the attainment OF her ambition. The
performance thus formed one of the I'M
portant Incidents in society.
During an intermission Mrs. Hoyt
received a reporter for THE NEW YoRK
HERALD In her dressing room. To the
| query: "And this marks your attain
ment to the one ambition of your life?"
she replied
you are right. but I waited for II
perhaps much longer than you think.
| I have waited for this hour since / was
| 16 years old. i decided then / would
study for tlne stage, and here I am. he
| fore you ask me any more questions I
hope all you In front will not Judge me
too critically by my work this afternoon
or tonight ! was so nervous this after
noon that you could see my legs tremble.
7 am more at ease tonight, because I
hear a lot OF my friends are in the
house. Their presence gives me conf
dence
"All my amateur Appearances were
merely tryouts. ! had this in mind all
the time. Once / harborcd grand oper-
attic ambitions. but I soon found that my
voice was not strong enough. and even
gave UP thought OF The lighter forms OF
opera or even musical comedy. / shall
stick TO tho spoken drama"
And the movies. How about them ?"
''rf the opportunity and the time pre-
sent themselves ] may go into the NOV
les In the future. but merely incidental
TO the spoken play" replied Mrs. Hoyt
1T Is my intention TO make a success
where I am and Mr.. Faversham and Mr..
Royle. the author of the play. have en-
couraged me In believing that eventually
I will arrive"
Mrs. Julian w. Robbins and Mr.. Lydig
Hoyt, mother and husband of the ac-
tress, were In last nights audience.
Mrs. William X. Vanderbilt, Cd. gave
dinner party In the Plaza and then
went on to last nights presentation
with her guests. who were Mr.. and Mrs.
Felix D. Doubleday. Mr.. and Mrs Louis
G. Clark. Jr.. Mr.. and Mrs Monroe
Douglas Robinson, the Misses MurieI
Vanderbilt. Betty Jackson, Marguerite
n<.t 1<I. Irf