New York Clipper (May 1923)

14 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 16, 1923 "THE MOUNTEBANK," U W. J. LOCKE NOVEL, IN PLAY FORM ■THE UOUMTEBANK," an origijul play hj W. J. Locke and Emot Damy, ionnded on Mr. Locke'i novel of tbe tame name and presented by Charles Frohman at the Lyceum Theatre, on Monday, May 7, 1923. CAST. Andrew Lackaday, also known as "Petit Patou" Norman Trevor Hontio Baklnu Lennox Pawie Anthooy HyIton....T. Wigner Perdval Hany Veiity-Slewart. .Charle* Romando OnsUTc Loois La Bey Barks- F. CccQ Butler Lady Aoriol Dayne^ Lillian KeraUe Cooper Elodie Gabrielle Ravinf Lady Verity-Stewart Marjorie Chard Eradne Nora Swinburne Nonoan Trevor, who is featured in this story of what the war did to a man, had the chance to do some fine work, but some- how managed to miss on one end of iL He makes a fine general, a real general kind of general, but he makes a pretty sad down. It almost seems as if he had read a lot of fiction that toMT him that a clown always takes his work seriously and had endeavored to live np to the part He is, in the fii3t act, the most serious clown we have ever seea, and he never snaps out of it. Of course, he had enough to be serious about All throu^ the play he is having things done to bun, he is always in the accusative case. Even at the final curtain, he Is forced into a proposal and released from what he has considered an obligation by outside forces. Altfaongh the four acts- cover a period of seven years, the play does not move quickly. Nevertheless there is much that is good in it and affords a more than passable evening's entertainment. I'The Mountebanlc" is the story of a man raised ta the traditions of the sawdust ting, who is satisfied with his rise in life from the traveling circtis to the headline position as a mnsic hall down. His dog and part- ner dies, this being one entity, not two, and, while he is mourning the loss of his four- footed friend, Elodie, a former female mas- cot of his, arrives, and' they hit on the brilliaot idea, an idea which the audience had five intniitgo before it dawned on the actors, of making Elodie his partner. Two years later, iwitfa the worM in the throes of -war, the jartners are living together in Franrr, with the Montebank devoting most of his time to books of warfare. He finally enlists, and the third act finds him a briga- dier general after the armistice, the lion of the hour at an exclusive English home. A sense of duty calls him back to Elodie, in Paris, wiAout proposing *to Lady Auri- ole-Dayne^ with whom he is in love and who loves hinL In the last act Ijidy Dayne finds him out, again a clown, and the teio- peramcotal EJodie is removed by his best fol, vriio marries her and runs away, leav- mg the down, the lady, and her nephew to live happily ever after on the Solomon Islands. ^Norman Trevor, as the Moimtebank, gives rather lesa than his best performance, while LeoDox Pawl^ as his shiftless friend, ddes great work in a made-to^>rder part Gabrielle Ra-vine; as Elodie, gives a really fine performance, portraying the fiery Latin with sympathy and imderstanding. A fine performance in a small role was given by Nora Swinbame, as the bubbling flapper, Evadne. 'X>U> SOAKT CLO^S JUNE 2 Aitfaor Hopldn^ prodoctioii of Don afaniiii^ tixf nChe Okl Soak," wfaidi has been lumip g ^ Flyoioutili Theatre noe Aisast 22, I9Z2, wfll end its season (bene oo Jane 2id. The dio>w-will be sent on tour nest season, opening'in Chicago euily m September. "HITCHY-KOO" FOR GARRICK Raymond Hitchcock in his new revue, "Hitchy-Koo 1923," will begin its summer run at the Garrick Thaetre, Chicago, on Monday, May 21. The show has been out for several months and has been doing g^eat business on the one nightcrs through- out the middle west After the Chicago run the piece will proceed to New York. COMPLETING "OKEILLY" CAST <ieorge M. Cohan has added to the cast of "The Rise of Rosie O'Really," which opens at the Tremont Theatre, Boston, May 21, Bobby O'Neil, Caroline Lilja and George Bancroft. "SALOME" AND "CHIP WOMAN'S FORTUNE'^ WITH COLORED CAST EQUITY PLAYERS IN "THE RIVALS" REVIVAL SCORE REAL SUCCESS "SALOME," by Char Wilde, and "The Chip Woman's Fortune," a one net play by Willis Richardson. Presented at the Frazee Theatre Monday evening. May 7. CAST. SALOUE Young Syrian Arthur Ray Page of ncrodias Lionel Monagas First Soldier Lewis Alexander Second Soldier Coy Applewhite Cappadoctan Charles Odlen Jokanaan Solomon Bruce Salome Evelyn Frcar Herod Sydney Kirkpa^ck' Herodias Laura Bowman- First Jew ...Charles Ol^en Second Jew George Jackson Third Jew Walter White Tigellinua Arthur Thomp«on Slave of Herodiaa Marion Taylor THE CHIr WOUAM's rOlTOMB Liza Evelyn Freer Silas Sydney Kirkpatrick Emma Marion Taylor Aunt Nancy Laura Bowman Jim Solomon Bruce A Man Axlhnr Ray Negro players of the Ethiopian Art The- atre, which is a product of the Middle West, are presenting "Salome," and all things considered gave a creditable per- formance. In spots the play was bad and in others it was good. The type of play, however, is somewhat different than the kind of production the playei;; originally intended to produce. Raymond O'Neil, the director of the Ethiopian Art Theatre, says that he feels it is the folk-play that the colored actors are best fitted for, and 'The Chip Woman's Fortune" is one along sudi lines. Miss Evdyn Preer, as Salome, was well fitted for the part physically, has a good voice and stage presence^ but here and there she failed to realize the weight of the rol^ and consequently seemed weak in the moments when the play had its heaviest line. The dance of the Seven Vdls was done with less care and rather careless for art It was more like a jazz burlesque of the dance. At one point in the play she seemed to rise to the occasion and more. This was when she caressed the dome of the late Jokaanan. The minor players failed to come up to the standard set by Miss Freer and were very weak in most spots. Sidney Kirkpatrick, as Herod, did very well, -with a performance second to that of Miss Freer. "The Chip Woman's Fortune" -was done as a curtain-raiser to "Salome," and Miss Freer was seen in a comedy role. The piece is not very important yet at times proved real amusing. Tliis was well played by_ the company, who took it much more seriously, it seems, than the heavier play, and are capable of domg such comedies to good advantage. Many plays are announced for future production at the Frazee by the Ethiopian Art. Theatre, and most of these are expected to be in lighter vein and on the style of the curtain-raiser. "THE RIVALS." a comedy In three acts, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Re- vived at the Fcrty.cigbth Street Theatre, Monday evening, May 7. CAST Sir Anthony Absolute. .Madyn Arbuckle Captain Absolute Sidney Blackmer Faulkland McKay Morris Acres Francis Wilson Sir Lucius O'Trigger J. M. Kerrigan Fag John Craig David James T. Powers Mrs. Malaprop Mary Shaw Lydia Languish Violet Ueming Julia lEva Le Gallienne Lucy Vivian Tobin "The Rivals," put on by the Equity Players for one week, proved to be one of the best staged plays presented by the or- ganization to date. The Sheridan comedy, wdl acted by an all-star cast, filled the house with laughter. Most every one in the cast had an opportunity to shine individu- ally, as well as collectively, and on the whole, the play showed the Equity Flayers to an artistic advantage as no play has done in the past As Francis Wilson said, in a curtain speech, it won back something that the Equity Players have lost in taking their noble stand. That the players have lost anything in the eyes of the public is questionable. Both the old-timers and the new genera- tion of players were seen, the older actors and actresses included such stars as Fran- cis Wilson. Maclyn Arbuckle, James T. Powers and Mary Shaw. These more than held thdr own against such rising actors and actresses as Sidney Blackmer, McKay Morris, Violet Heming, Eva Le Gallienne and Vivian Tobin. The professionals in the audience were many and they warmly applauded the ef- forts of Mary Shaw, as Mrs. Malaprop. Her way of doing the part was pleasing throughout die evening. James T. Powers, as David, the poltroon servant of Acjres, was another excellent achievement, while Vivian Tobin, as the naive and kistable hacy, proved to be a charming maiden. J. M. Kerrigan, as Sir Lucius OTrigger, scored a great laughing hit, and as usual was always dependable. Sidney Blackmer was hindered by a cold, which kept his voice in a whisper for the most part, and his role of Jack Absolute suffered a little as a consequence. The rest of the cast handled their parts with a style almost surprising, with the re- sult that many are of the opinion that the play should have been revived for a longer time, or another revival done before long. ANN MASON FOR STOCK Ann Mason, leading woman of "The Last Warning," which closed at the Klaw Theatre last Saturday night, has been en- gaged by Robert McLaughlin to become a member of his Ohio theatre stock company, Cleveland, beginning June 4. VIRGINIA MARR MARRIES Virginia Marr, ingenue of the Manhat- tan Flayers, and Ferry Charles, press agent of Palisades Park, New Jersey, were mar- ried on May 7 by the Rev. Cox at Trinity Church. Michael F. Kelly acted as best man. "PAPA JOP' CLOSING "Papa Joe," which has been at the Lyric Theatre since it moved there from the Princess Theatre several weeks ago, will condnde its New York engagement on Saturday night ADOPTING GERMAN PIECE Herman Mankawicz, dramatic editor of the New York Times, and Lawrence Stall- ings, of the dramatic department of the New York World, have been commissioned by the Shuberts to adapt an unnamed Ger- man musical comedy for American pre- sentation this fall. Mankawicz also is adapting to the English Offenbach's light opera, "Orpheus," for Morris Gest He has been engaged by Gest to ^o to Europe early in June to do exploitation and pub- licity for him during Gest's sojourn in Europe. He will return to the staff of the Times in the fall. DR. F. E. MILLER WRITES A PLAY Dr. Frank E. Miller, physidan, known to innumerable theatrical people, has turned his talent in a new direction and has writ- ten a play called "The Goal," which will be produced next season. The principal scene of the piece is laid in the Grand C^yon and was inspired by a visit made by the doctor some two years ago. Dr. Miller is a famous throat specialist and has successfully treated innumerable sing- ers in vaudeville, opera and concert. 'TOR VALUE RECEIVED," CLEVER IN SPOTS, IS WELL PLAYED "FOR VALUE RECEIVED," a play in four acts, by Ethel Clifton, produced at the Longacre Theatre, Monday evening, May 7. CAST Almeric Thomson.., ...Augustin Duncan Beverly Mason Maude Hanaford Lawrence Banning Louis Kimball Fellman Thomdyke Cecil Owen Catherine Mason Eleanor Griffith Anthony Harry Blakemore Bemice Quinlan May Hopkins Ethel Qifton, who has been accredited with the authorship of many playlets which have been offered in vaudeville, achieved the estate as an author of a full-grown play, via "For Value Recdved," a play in four acts, which was brought out at the Longacre Theater last Monday night The plot of the piece revolves around Beverly Mason, who has made a mad bar- gain and the supreme sacrifice to Almeric Thomson, a blind novelist She for years has been his mistress in order to obtain a sum of money sufficient to educate her younger sister. As his secretary she -was also his inspiration. After she has made her bargain, love comes to her from another source, a younger man who embodies the very affection she must have. She welches from her agree- ment with the novelist and leaves him. In the year that she has been absent the novel- ist has accomplished little, if anything. He is con-vinced that his love for the girl was the inspiration which made his writings human and successful. Providence directs Beverly back to keep her bargain. She arrives at the crudal moment in the final act The man, how- ever, has changed. He has given nrudi thought to her present status, and being convinced that he really loves her, offers her marriage. And she, too, evidently feds the same way about it, for she accepts. The piece is written and played in a dis- tinct melodrama Umfo. In s^ts it achieves a height of brilliance, whidi un- fortunately is not sustained, yet withal the play has qualities and a sympathetic appeal that may put it over with feminme audi- ences. Agtistin Duncan gives'a creditable Inter- pretation of the blind novelist, while Maude Hanaford brings a refreshing note to the role of Beverly Mason. Harry Blakemore is also worthy of honorable mention for having made a routine part stand out Several others of the cast did equally wdl.