The New York Clipper (February 1919)

February 26, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 23 MATKCani MUSICAL "A SLEEPLESS NIGHT," NEW BEDROOM PLAY, HAS ONE GOOD ACT "A SLEEPLESS NIGHT."—A three act farce by Jack Larric and Onatar Blora. Produced Tue.viay evening. February IS, at the Bljoa Theatre, by the Shnberta. CAST. Talbot Chandler William Korrta Erneat '.........Donald G.uaner trances ..Ladle Watson Rena Manafleld ....- Peaar Hopkins WelUnston Weat Ereaat GlendennlDg- lima Harper Carlotta Monterey Bar. Henry Townaend Fred W. Paten Leonard Fred Nlekolla Da»l» Daniel Smith Ella Adrienna Bonnell "A Sleepless Night" is just one more of the bedroom farces of which the New York stage has recently seen a number, and, while it has moments that bring forth a certain amount of laughter, it can not be said to have the merit of some of its pre- decessors. The chief reason of this is that the authors bare pat all of their eggs into one basket. In this respect, the second act is the basket. This is the bedroom scene and all the situations and practically all- of the bright lines are to be found here. And, as "one swallow does, not make a sum- mer" so one act never makes a play. In the first act, we learn that Bena Mansfield is the ward of Talbot Chandler. She is a literary young woman of eighteen and, because her guardian is a millionaire, she is able to indulge her whims, one of which is that half of the world is wrong and it is her duty to set it right. In her ■ quest to "carry' out her self imposed "task" she has wended her way. to Greenwich Vil- lage, believing this to be the ideal spot to begin work. Here she meets Wellington West, a Mu- ra i artist, in whom she becomes interested. West encourages her, in spite of the fact that he is the husband of Lima Harper, a sculptress. The marriage; of West and - Lima has been kept, secret for business reasons, and each, with foil acquiescence' of the other, enjoys the Bohemian freedom offered by the "Village." While Bena is devoting herself to West, her foster brother, Ernest, is paying court to Lima, in spite of the fact that the elder Chandler has planned that Ernest shall marry Bena. Finally, West and his wife are respec- tively invited to the Chandler home on Long" Island by Bena and Ernest, and West is assigned to the room of Frances Chandler, spinster, and sister of the elder Chandler, who is in. New. York at the time. To this room the various Vomen of the play come and it is the complications that arise when the' spinster returns that go to make up the one good scene of the play. Peggy Hopkins made Bena a bright and charming girl and Ernest Gleniilnning as Wellington West did capital work. Lucille Watson was admirable as the spinster and Donald Oallaher and Car-, lotta Monterey made much of their rather thankless and trying roles. Wm. Morris played, the conventional millionaire and Fred NichoHs lived up to the traditions of the butler. WILLIAMS m A QUANDARY John D. w-mtama is in a quandary whether or not to close "Hie Copperhead" Company. This, is caused by the fact .that Lionel Banymore—the star of "The Cop- perhead''—has been signed by Arthur Hopkins to appear in his forthcoming' pro- duction of "La Ciena Delia Buffa," in con- junction -with his brot her John' Barry-, more. At present, Williams is undecided whether he will continue "The Copper- head" with''some one 'else' playing the Barrymore role, or close it. - - f-T<; ;■_ MOROSCO TAKING SHOW ACROSS "Please Get Married" the new farce which Oliver Morosco is now presenting, will soon be produced in London. Mr. Morosco has definitely decided this and will present it in conjunction with Gilbert Miller. Ernest True and Edith Taliaferro, who are' heading the cast at the Little Theatre here, will most likely take the same parts in England. GRACE GEORGE GETS NEW PLAY Wm. A. Brady has accepted for Grace George "She Would and She Did," a com- edy of contemporary city life, by Mark W. Reed, who returned last week after fifteen months in France. The play has been put in rehearsal and will shortly re- ceive its out-of-town try-out. FIRST NIGHTERS SHOW MARKED APPROVAL OF "THE ROYAL VAGABOND" SIGHS THE TWO BARRYMORES John and Lionel Barrymore will appear in a joint engagement at the' Plymouth Theatre beginning Monday, April 7. The play will be "La Clera Delia Buffa," by Sam Benelli, and will be produced by Arthur Hopkins. "Redemption" closes on Saturday, April 5. 'WASHINGTON" HOLDS INTEREST ONLY AS HISTORICAL WORK The production' in French'of "Washing- ton," by Jacques Copeau's .Company at the Theatre dn Vieux Colombier, is probably the first time that an American stage work, by an American author, has been given its first presentation on any stage in a foreign tongue. In doing this, M. Copeau paid a compliment to America while, on bis part, Percy MacKaye pays a compliment to France, as-the work hinges on the!friend- ship between America "and France, begun by La Fayette at Valley Forge and brought down to the present day. . "Washington,", in the true meaning of the name, is not a play, but is rather a dramatic episode better suited for a part in a.spectacular pageant than for.a stage production. It is based -on the single epi- sode of Washington in the discouraging days at Valley Forge, when the Father of Our Country was beset with doubts as to the ultimate outcome of the confliet.. These doubts were only dispelled by the arrival ' of.LaFayette with the promise of French, assistance. From an historical standpoint the work is interesting, but with this, interest ceases. At no time is this dramatic action or sus- pense, for there is.no great display of thank- fulness -when young La Fayette brings Washington the message that France will aid the young republic. Furthermore,. the work, admirably written from a literary viewpoint is. poorly constructed, although excellently acted. Jacques Copeau, made up for Washing- ton after the Stuart portrait, 'gave a splen- did performance. Jean Sarmant, is La Fayette and Robert. Cass, as Baron von Steuben, also did creditable work. .. "Washington" was preceded by "La Coup* ■Enchantie." a pleasing farce by La -Fontaine. .■■■.--.. ■.-.■ .-. "The Royal Vagabond" is called on the programme a "Cohanized opera comique," and those familiar with the work„ of George M. Cohan can easily recognize his work. It would seem that in its original form the piece must have been drawn along old-fashioned lines, but with its interpolations of up-to-date material it is given a snap and vim that carries it along with a rush. While not interfering with the roman- tic story of the work, Cohan has slipped in here. and there a little flip repartee, trite saying concerning passing events or a prominent person, or else a syncopated number. Between these Cohanesque sallies' the story goes smoothly on its way and tells of intrigue in the court of Bargravia and the love of the Prince and the Maid "in this mythical kingdom, and while tfie result is a mixed entertainment it is thoroughly enjoyable and was received'by i the first night audience with marks of un .oubted favor. The cast is large and contains many capable players. Tessa Kosta sings and acts the role of Anitza Chefcheck well. Grace Fisher gave a good account of herself as the frlncess Helena. Dorothy Dickson won favor for her dancing. John Goldsworthy, -Frederick Santley, Louis Simon, Roger Grey, and Robinson Newbold were others who scored.. Among the best of the song numbers are "Here Come the Soldiers," "Love Is Love" and "& a Kingdom of ^>ur Own." The work has been splendidly staged, the work of the chorus snappy and all in all it is one of the best musical show en- tertainments toe local stage-hag had in several years. - NEW RAMBEA.U SHOW READY Marjorie Rambeau will open, tomorrow (Thursday) night at the Republic The-, atre in "The Fortune-Teller," a'new play by Leighton Graves Osmun. In the cast are Hugh Dill man, Robert Vaughn, E. L. Fernandez, Grace Goodall, Eleanor Mon- tell, Winifred Wellington, Edna Archer Crawford and Irene Shirley. MOROSCO GETS ANOTHER PLAT The rights to "Slippy McGee," the pop- ular novel" by Marie Conway Oelner, have been purchased by Oliver Morosco. .The book wiQ be immediately dramatised by Edward E. Rose, who adapted the "Cappy Ricks" stories by Peter B. Kyne, for the stage. '-Slippy McGee" win be'tried out in Los Angeles this Summer., v -- sC« _..* OPENING DATES AHEAD "The Fortune Teller"—Arthur Hopkins— Republic Feb. 17. "Penny Wise"—Sdbllla Producing Co.— Belmont, March 10. "Tumble Inn"—Arthur Hammersteln—8*1- wyn. March 17. Barnum & Ballsy Circus—Rlngllng Bros — Madison Square Garden. March 17. "Le Ciena Delia Hurra'-—Arthur Hopkins— Plymouth, April 7. OUT OFTOWN "The Woman in Stateroom 13"—Sam Blair -Atlantic City, N. J.. Feb. ts\^ "It Happens to Everybody"—Wm. Muen- ater—Baltimore, Md., March S ^^^^sss^S^ Co-At " '"bus. V .!°MSrcn , l faarry Hun t«-C°™«* ''^S. &nn , .rStarin a T' ^, »-"—««-= l£ ?. Ur C 0 . n M. t r 0 n 0 fo BoWum "- W " hm »- "Our Pleasant 81ns"—Bryant Producing Co. —Baltimore. Md., March 17. """• «"*4 ..,«. =. aHows~lxqsiric .JEU" Betrothal"—Century, March 1 I The Little Brother"—Bwln»mt. March a The Crowded Hoar"-Selwyn. Mlrcrf 16. ^R^emptton^^lymputo^ April 5? DEATH OF ACTRESS RENDS JAPAN Tokjo. Japan, Feb. 15.—Sutnako Mataui. ™S5a mo * t P° Dttlar actress, committed suicide last Sunday morning, and all Ja- pan la asking what is> to be done with her ashes. In a note left by the actress, 'she re- quested that her remains be buried be- side the. grave of Professor Shirnamura, her instructor and patron, who died two months ago, and there are those of the 'Moderns" who want the last wish of the dead actress carried out, and also- that s? "hiyoku-suka," or lovers' mound mark the joint grave. Others, headed by the widow of Shi- rnamura, and who belong to the "oM fash- ioned" class, object to tie carrying out of a project of Immortalising the relations that existed between them. ~ r ~ - ■ ■ At the time of her death. Miss Matsol was undisputably the leading actress in Japan, and the Yurakusa Theatre, where she was appearing- m "Carmen," waa com- pletely sold out for the month of January. She was not only regarded as he^&oun- try's leading exponent of modern' acting, but was a leader of fashion, her styles being copied by the most "modern" women in the land. ■ ' *'*''■ On the Saturday "night before her sui- cide, she gave a most brilliant perform- ance, and, at its conclusion, was compli- mented by friends and critics of the press. Dressed as she appeared on the stage, she. repaired to her home, and, after writing several letters, strangled herself with her scarf and died at 2 o'clock Sunday morn- ing, the hour at which Shirnamura had passed away just two months before. So intense is the public feeling in the matter, that members of the Dramatic' Association have determined to miry the ashes of the actress in the Shimamura plot by force if Brreaaary. A set of guards is watching. the home of Shlmamura's widow, to prevent an attempt-to-force a a written consent to such a burial. An- other set of guards ia watching the Shi- rnamura plot, and still another is guard- ing the ashes of the actress to prevent Shimamnra'a relatives from stealing-them and thus making impossible a lover's mound. ■ W. H. CURRIE ACTIVE AGAJ* . Wm. H. Carrie, formerly manager for the Shuberts in Chicago, has completed the incorporation of the Eureka Screen Co., of which he ia president; Dr. Henry Mc- Manua, vice-president; C P. Rockwell, treasurer, and Dr. G. O. McLean, owrer tary- The concern ia capitalized for flDO,- 000 and the office headquarters and fac- tory will be in Hartford, Conn., with Wilbur Davis, patentee and production manager, ia charge. The New York office win be at IT West Forty-second Street, with Carrie as tiw directing . head.._ The purpose of the new company is to market a new style of colored motion pictures.. '• .