The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-01-23
THE OLD SOAK
MAKES A HIT.
DULUTH ORPHEUM PLAYERS
PRESENT THIS VEHICLE OF
HUMOR AND PATHOS TO
LARGE AUDIENCE.

/ Don Marquis well known rlay
''The Old Soak" was presented to
an audience which filed the Wash
ington Auditorium Wednesday even
ing by the Duluth 0rpheum players
who were making a tour of the
principal range towns this week.
The play was given for the benefit
of the Frank Lozar Post, American
Legion.
So well satisfied was the audience,
the players and the Legion boys,
that it is the intention to put on a
play of this kind here once a
month hereafter and thus furnish
the city with the spoken drama
once in a while.
1.-THE Old Soak" is vehicle of
humor intermixed with pathos of
the higher order. While the play
deals with affairs which exist since
Volstead began to rule the thirst OF
man. it conveys fair picture of ex-
listing conditions involving the
affairs of family with THE Old
Soak" as the head and the avarl-
cious old banker who sings hymns
on Sunday and forecloses mortgages
on Monday.
The authors life character, Glenn
Hawley, while arousing the con-
tempt of the audience IN the treat
ment of his patient wife and fam
ily. wins his way into hearts by ms
homely philosophy, his quaint good
humor. his love of home despite nus
sins against it, his thoughtful kind
ness. as exhibited in such ways as
taking the blame for the act OF ms
wayward son after having robbed
his mother. His great sin is over
looked in the interest aroused oy
the fortunes and misfortunes OF the
old soak from the rise OF the cur
tain to the last sentimental piece.
Every mannerism, every facial ex-
preston, every gesture of the typ
lical old soak is brought out in a re-
markable true manner by Gene
Lane. who reminds one considerably
of Thomas Francis jefferson who
PLAYED the title role in "Lightnin"
after the death of Frank Bacon.
The hating walk, the weak, disso-
lutte face, with tongue extended IN
sensuous anticipation, the hedonIc
snirk of satisfaction after downing
the cheering cup,-an suggest the
typical old time bar room character
of pre-Volsteadian days. Mr.. Lane
portrays Glenn Hawley with SYM
pathetic touch, and reads much into
his lines that that might be missed
by the ordinary thespian.
Alice DeLane as Matilda Hawley,
wife of the old soak, plays the long
suffering wife in manner certain
to win ones admiration, being at all
times matronly and lovable. S. o.
Gardiner as Cousin Webster Par
sons, the avarious banker, who as a
prominent citizen financed the boot
logging ZAP on the quiet, plays the
villain in capable style. Wally Grigg
as Glenn Hawley, Jr., portrays sue
eessfully, the hayward youth. Dir.
Grigg with his repentant manner
and quavering voice in the second
act wins our comisseration.
Mento A. Everett as Lucy Haw-
ley, and James Billings as Tom Og-
den, do effective bits as the stead
fast lovers, and Adrienne Earle, as
Ina Heath portrays the tightly. ex-
travagant stage beauty capabiy.
Ruth Friend as the hired girl put
up a difficult piece Of character
work. C. James as Gap, the ex-
bartender and now bootlegger also
does his share towards the success of
the play.
The company brought scenery
with them and besides furnishing a
good play were individually fine
pepule with whom IL was a Meas sure
to do business.