The New York Clipper (January 1917)

10 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER January 3, 1917 DRAMA ''GAMBLERS ALL" AT MAXINE ELLIOTT'S FAIR ENTERTAINMENT THEATRE TO CHANGE HANDS St. John, Can., Jan. 1.—On February 1 the lease of the present lessee of the Opera House, F. A. Spencer, expires, and on that date the house win cease to be a borne for traveling companies. J. M. Frank- lin, manager of the Strand Theatre, Hali- fax, & S., will take over the bouse, and the new policy will be fine acts of vaude- ville and pictures to be run in conjunction with the Strand Theatre, Halifax. The interior will be redecorated, new chairs will be installed on the lower floor, and the first performance under the new management will be given February 10. W. C. McKay, who for the past three yean has been resident manager of the Opera House, has been engaged by Mr. Franklin to continue in this position. Eliminating an entirely needless first act, as far as the story of the play ia con- cerned, and an unrealistic gambling hotue scene in the second with the usual police raid at its finish, "Gamblers All," pre- sented at Maxine Elliott's theatre on Mon- day afternoon is a play of considerable merit and was well presented by a com- pany of excellent players. In the story. Sir George Langworthy believes that stock market operations are legitimate business speculations, but cards, horse racing and other games of chance are abominable and all who practise them are social outcasts. Aa usually occurs in cases of this kind, his family do not share his views, and his wife is an inveterate card player, a pas- time which she practises in secret, under the guise of attending musicales. At the beginning of the play she is hope- lessly in debt on account of her gambling losses. Through her endeavors to raise money to pay off the most pressing claims the plot ia developed, beginning with her attempt to recoup her losses by one last night's play in a gambling bouse, where her husband, believing a musicale is be- ing given, calls just in time to become the central figure in a raid, where all pres- ent are hauled to the police station. An estrangement follows, and her brother upon whom she has called far financial ' aid forges the name of a family friend to a note for one hundred and fifty pounds. The friend, John Leighton, ia in love with lady Langworthy and in the midst of her troubles begs her to leave her bus- band and come with him, Knowing that within a few hours her brother's crime will become known she gives her consent. Upon learning that her consent baa been given to save the brother and that in spite of her estrangement she still loves her husband, Leighton refuses to accept the sacrifice, burns up the forged note and sends her home to her husband. Then all ends happily. Muriel Starr, as Lady Langworthy, did excellent work in a role not particularly suited to her talents, while John Miltern, as Leighton, gave his usual finished per- formance, and the balance of the cast was adequate. WHAT THE DAILIES SAT. World— P e r f or m ance fairly effective. Timea—"OutmooW' English melodrama. Herald—Good acting saves the day. Sun— Tico stirring sets. 'American—No* a dull moment. JULIA ARTHUR IN * ROMANTIC DRAMA OF BY-GONE DAYS ■SEBEMOVDA."—A. fonr act drama by ■ William Iindaey. presented Mon- day eTenlna. January 1, at the Cri- terion Theatre. CAST. Tidal Robert Oottacbalk Clara. Sonia Marcelle Berguedan.. Brlgham Boyce Golda It Troutman Ermengarda Katnerlne De Barry Guilhem Robert W. Frazer Seremonda Julia Arthur Raimon .Alpbonx Etnier Barral Benjamin Eauaer Almar.... .....Cbarlen N. Greene Felre William J. Kane Adelle Louis*. Waller Amfoe.. ..Frederick Dnnworth Ugo.......................Herman Levine Tlffion William Slngerman Marine Margaret Colllnge "Seremonda" is a poetic drama which harks back to the troubadours of the twelfth century, written in blank verse with beauty and dignity and it was doubt- less these attributes that induced. Miss Ar- thur to select this work as her initial offer- ing as manager. Seremonda is a young matron whose amours bring disaster. ' We learn that Count Raimon, her husband, had some time previously murdered a favored lover of Seremonda and dragged her to his own castle. He then went on a crusade to the Holy Land, and returned after he had been reported dead. He learns that Guilhem, his friend, had supplanted him in. the affections of Seremonda. Raimon kills Guilhem in a fight, artfully arranged by Seremonda, and shows her the heart of her dead lover, see- ing which she leaps to her death. Miss Arthur gave a convincing portrayal of Seremonda. It is a role well suited to her as the lines give full opportunity for the use of her delightfully melodious voice. Alphonse Ethier was probably the best of the supportinc cast. His work in the banquet scene was particularly excellent. Robert W. Frazer was as good as Guil- hem. The other prominent roles were cap- ably played.. The production is one of splendor. Ap- parently there has been a lavish expendi- ture of money in its preparation. WHAT TBS DAILIES SAT. World— Hat dignity and beauty. Timea— WeU played and ttaged. Sun— Picturesque. American— Miss Arthur splendid. "SHIRLEY KAYE" WITH ELSIE FERGUSON IS A CHARMING COMEDY "SHIBLEY KATE"—A foor-act com- edy by HnlBert Footner, produced Monday evening. December 25, at tbe Hudson Theatre. CAST T. J. Macen WHltam Holden John Bawsoa Lee Baker Srokeley WlUlam Lenox Mrs. Magen.- Mra. Jacqnea Martin Daiay Magen Kitty Brown Paul D'Anchlae Victor Benolt Shirley Kaye Elale Ferguson Egerton Kaye George Backus Mr. Dingwall Douglas Patterson Mra. Baylls.... Ethel Wlnthroii Peters Lawrence Wood 'The Earl of Rosselvln Ronald Byram Carol VaJlon Corlnne Barker- Mabel Helen ErsUne Joseph.. Albert Brown NEW "TREASURE ISLAND" Another dramatic version of "Treasure Island" was produced last week at the Elsmere Theatre in tbe Bronx by George Poultney. The new version is by Theo- dore Bart Ssyre and he has incorporated in a love story by giving Jim Hawkins, a fiancee in tbe daughter of Ben Gunn., The daughter is with Jim throughout nis" ad- ventures. On Christmas Night at the Hudson The- atre, Elsie Ferguson came back to New York, where she is always warmly wel- comed, and scored a big success in a new comedy entitled "Shirley Kaye," by Hul- bert Footner. A large and distinguished audience attended the premiere, and Miss Ferguson was forced to acknowledge their plaudits with a little speech at the end of the third act. Tbe play is quite unlike her more recent successes in that it is an inter- esting comedy of today. Miss Ferguson, in the title role, is shown as the spirited daugh- ter of an old New York family, with a will of her own and the knack of achieving what sbe sets out to accomplish. The part is rich in opportunities for the beautiful star, and Miss Ferguson proved herself a real artist iii comedy as in the more serious roles with which she has hitherto been more promi- nently identified. The scenes of the play are on Long Is- land, and tbe story deals with high finance. Miss Ferguson delighted with her portrayal o f the care-free society girl whose ambition it was to save her father from financial ruin, at the same time winning the love of the man intent on accomplishing his down- 1 fall. Needless to say, she succeeds in her ambition, and all ends happily. Miss Ferguson is surrounded by a most capable cast, and the play promises to be, seen on Broadway for many months to come. WHAT THE BAILIES SAY. Sun— Elsie Ferguson in part suited to intents. Tribune—An agreeable performance. Herald— Elsie Ferguson delights. Times— Elsie Ferguson pleases. World'— Elsie Ferguson pleases. American— Elsie Ferguson is sweet. TO RESTORE OLDEST THEATRE Annapolis, M<L, Dec. 29.—TK» city is planning to restore what was the first theatre in the United States and will estab- lish therein a company that will follow closely the repertory policy of the various community and civic playhouses in towns throughout the United States. NEW HOUSE FOR TOM'S RIVER Philadelphia, Pa, Dec 29.—Fred A. Nathan and T.. M Dougherty have taken a lease of the new playhouse being built at Tom's River, N. J. The house will seat 600 and will play available attractions. TO PRESENT "THE ASSASSIN" Holbrook Blinn has signed contracts with Eugene Walters whereby he will take out "The Assassin" the play Mr. Walters wrote several years ago founded on in- cidents in the career of the late Italian de- tective Petrosini. Mme. Auguglia will be Mr. Blinn'B leading support. Rehearsals will soon be under way and the company will start out at an early date. "THE WANDERER" REHEARSING "Hie Wanderer," a Biblical play, will be the next production at the Manhattan Opera House. It is to be produced by William Elliott, F. Ray Comstoek and Morris Gest Rehearsals nave already be- gun. The play was written by Maurice V. Samuels' and is founded upon William Schmitbonn's "Der Yerlorener Sohn," be- ing tbe parable of the Prodigal Son as narrated in the gospel of St Luke, chapter fifteen. 'TOOLS LAUGHTER" CAST COMPLETE The cast of "The Laughter of Fools" has been completed. It includes Jeanne Eagles, Eva Le Gallienne, Edna S. Brans, Kate Sergeantsen, Hassard Short, Vernon Steel and Edward Douglas. "HEARTS OF ERIN" SEEN Cleveland, O., Jan. L—Joe Weber's big musical production, "Hearts of Erin," was given here tonight before a typical first night audience. The music by Victor Her- bert is tuneful and catchy and Henry Blos- som's book and lyrics are good. There is a long cast of principals and a large chorus. SKINNER'S DONKEY BREAKS LEG Lynchbtjbg, Va., Jan. L—The donkey which plays the role of "Capitano" in "Mister Antonio," slipped and fractured a leg before the performance in Norfolk re- cently, and Otis Skinner was forced to secure another. "PALS FIR ST " OPENS "PalB First," J. Fred Zimmerman, Jr.'s production founded upon the novel of the same name, opened in Hartford and came to a dose in Syracuse Saturday night. It probably will reach New York a little later. REHEARSE "LOVE MUX" "The Love Mill" is now in rehearsal with an all-star cast, It will be produced in February by Andreas DippeL Gustav von Seyffertitz will stage the play. "BEN- HUR" TO CLOSE JAN. 13 Tne present engagement of "Ben Hur" at the Manhattan Opera House will end Saturday, Jan. 13.