South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-12
Land o Romance
Is Master Vehicle
f or Master Actor
Fiske O'Hara Scores Newest
and Greatest Success in
Oliver Opening.

The land Of romance where love reigns
The wonderful land OF which all Of US
dream
The sunlight is golden. the sky always
blue
Roses bloom everywhere. birds singing
too.
The king is Prince Charming so hand
some and bold,
One 10 compare. with the gallants OF old.
Ana the queen so 1t seems is the girl OF
In the wonderful land Of romance"
And around those lines was woven
one of the prettiest plots that It has
been the privilege OF local folk 20
see. Anna Nichols. as she sat I'm the
oliver theater last night. might well
have looked with pride upon the play
that she had written. and with equ-
al pride upon the success that II
will realize from the stage work OF
Ftske O'Hara. noted Irish actor
singer. and his company of stars.
Not in many seasons. and last
night was the opening OF the 3Sth
at the Oliver. has there found It's
way 10 a local stage a play with the
outstanding beauty Of Land O. Ro-
nance"
Nor has there been one here in
many months that could speak in
silence with the beautiful stage set
tings. Acting was superb. No one
can choose the characters for his
play with more perfectness than
Ffske O'Hara. That is evident IN
the cast that he has gathered to
gether for another and better sea
son
Arriving here Friday morning from
Norwalk, Conn. where the play was
first produced 20 the public last
week. Land O'Romance" gave its
initial showing here last night. An
other tonight. and O'Hara will lead
his company into Chicago. where It
is booked for a long run at the
Olympic
Fiske O'Hara was at home on the
oliver stage last night. He is al
ways at home there. and for many
seasons his plays have been herald
ed by success. Last year. The Hap
py Cavalier" was a crowned success.
But IN his present vehicle he has
something better. something bigger.
A little plot. with setting in Old
Erin. O'Hara, as Micheal Sheridan.
an artist, sees in the ragged urchin
OF the street forcer criminal
Sheridan determines 10 give him a
chance. placing from the first his
deepest confidence in the lad. Fran
ces, played by Pat Clary. How he
carried on. despite the protest OF his
friends and gives the boy a chance.
through adoption is told in an in
teresting way.
But during that time II DEVELOPS
that Sheridan. through the desire of
Mrs. Tavers for money finds Il best
to save the pride OF Rita Tavers by
declaring himself engaged TO her
Rita, however. loves John Marlowe,
Sheridan's companion How the
play works out. with the discovery
that Frances an orphan has been
attired in boys clothes by a master
burglar. how she developes into a
budding rose and returns 10 the
Sheridan studio on the eve Of the
wedding. just in time TO save Sheri-
dan from a loveless marriage and
gain the prize herself is the story
that is unfolded
Roles In the play are taken by J.
r. Miller as Pepy. the servant: Flo
renee Thompson as Mrs. Tavers,
Emmy Knill as Mrs MacNish. Rita's
grandmother. Mae Washburn as
Rita Tavers Dudley Clements as
John Marlowe. OHara as Michael
sheridan Patricia Clary as Frances
George McGrath as Father O'F1ynu
and Herbert DeGuerre as Black An
Dire. master burglar
O'Hara sings with the same favor
tie tenor several new songs. as vel
as some that have been his favoritee
in other years Besides Land o.
Romance" he sings Broth of a
Boy" Father o. Flynn" and
Thank God for a Garden" And 70
each OF them he was forced TO res
pond last night with encores.
The musical program supplied BY
the company orchestra. too. was es-
pec!ally good. TINT