The New York Clipper (January 1920)

January 28, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER MATICand MUSICAL "MAMMA'S AFFAIR", ftfORC&CO PRIZE PLAY, IS CLEVER COMEDY ■MAMMA3 AFFAIR"—A comedy in three acta by Rachel Barton Butler. Presented by Oliver Morosco, at toe Little Theatre Monday evening, fan- nary 10. .1920. t „ Tommy Hooper Little Billy Henry Merchant George Le Gaere Bve Orrln..........Miss Ida St. Leon' lira. Mercha nt .Mis s Katharine Kaelred Mrs. Orrln. ST... ..Miss Kffie Shannon Dr. Brent Jannm :-..... Robert-Edeaon Mrs. Bandy... .Miss Amelia Bingham Metropolitan premieres, as they go, axe always more or_ lees interesting affairs. But the first New York showing of "Mamma's Affair" was a performance of exceptional interest, for, aside from mark- ing the opening of the rejuvenated and enlarged Little Theatre, a new playwright and a prize play 'were introduced to this city's theatre-goers. The new piece is, indeed, a prize, set- ting forth a well written and denned plot, which, in addition to having a sin- cere and distinct punch as a'laughmaker, is human and thoroughly entertaining. In fact, it was so thoroughly delightful as to give rise to repeated calls for the author. But the young dramatist re- mained invisible throughout the. whole evening. Morosco, aside from being able to pick a "winner," has shown an equally keen insight into showmanship, by providing the piece with an exceptionally strong cost. And there is little doubt but that the piece will have a long and success- ful run. Amid the homespun atmosphere of the New England foot hills, Miss Butler pic- tures two mothers. One has a daughter, the other a sob. Naturally, they-are bent' upon marrying their respective offsprings , to each other, although the two younger people are totally unsuitcd. And to make matters worse, the girl's mother is a moat trying hypochondriac, and the boy's only remaining parent is much the same, but. in a different way. Finally, the imaginary 31s of the mother drive the girl to a real nervous breakdown. A doctor is called In and correctly diagnosed her case as too much mother, and an overdose of her youth- ful, unwilling suitor. During the courts of treatment that follows', the doctor be- comes so interested in his rase aa to for- .get the dreams of a bachelor and the girl responds to his treatment so readily that they soon find themselves in love with each other. It is in this manner that the author brings her play to a close with happiness for those who deserve it. Erne Shannon, as the complaining mother, and George LeGuere, as the pallid suitor, are so effective in their respective Toles to be irritating—of course as char- acters. Ida St. Leon, aa the heroine, gives a forceful impersonation of her character, and Robert Edeaon typified the strength and honesty of the middle-aged physician. Little Billy, as* an impertinent bell boy, furnished some of the best laughs of the evening. Others who con- tributed good performances were Amelia Bingham and Katherine Kaelred. GUILD TO CELEBRATE . The annual theatrical festival, closing the sixth year of the Catholic Actors' .Guild, will be held on Friday, February 15. George M. Cohan, Brandon Tynan and Gene Buck will direct the entertain- ment. A special meeting of the Guild will be called in the near future to make further arrangements. PUT WASHINGTON IN PLAY "George Washington," an historical play dealing with the first president of -the United States, will be presented by . Percy Mackaye. Walter Hampden will appear in the role of the "man wno never told a lie." The play will be brought to Broadway eventually, bnt will be given its premiere at the Belasco Theatre, Washington, on Washington's Birthday, February 22, un- der the direction of the George Washing- ton Memorial Association. LUBOVSKA STARTING WORLD TOUR Desiree Lubovska interpretative dancer,. has been boked by Maxim P. Lowe for a world salo*Jjfoote~tour beginning next- month m* Parts. --Following a tour of their larger cities of the continent, she will go to Sou*t> America. She will present »~ progTanjjfaf .dances- of her own creation,' inelucUnjf tint- Egyptian one which she created jm the Hippodrome program last year. OTIS SKINNER RETURNS IN PLAY ' * WRITTEN BY WIFE "POWER OF DARKNESS" SORDID AND DISMAL YET IS GREAT PLAY "PLR7TRO"—A drama In a prologue and three acts by Maud Skinner and Jules Bckert Goodman. Presented by Charles Frohmao, lac, at the Criterion Theatre Monday evening, Jan. 10, 1920. <M|M» CAST '"^tE^m rai paou»tm The Court Interpreter.... J. T. Challee The Bailiff Walter V. Scott TomUnson .Robert Smiley Keith Oliphant Thurlow Bergen The Jail Matron Madalyn Kent The Bomblna JJHMk Pletro Barbara. Otis Skinner INTHl PLAT £ Peter Barban OH» Bkinner A lfred-P eyton O. B. Clarence AAVBaT.V Buth Ko»e KeTtBF OUpbant Thurlow Bergen Keith Ollphant. Jr. Robert Ames Clark William Bouelll Padre Michettl Clarence Bellalr Jarrold George Barcourt Miguel j. .Joe Bparln Teresa 1 . ay _ -■%f SETT BARA PLAY OPENING The first performance of "The Bin* Fhune/VTheda Ban's new starring ve- hiclsCfln the legitimate stage, will be at the ^Columbia Theatre, Far Kockawey, m February 13. The supporting eoaiaaay includes Earl House, Do Witt Jennings, Horace James, Walter Abell, Alan Din*, ral Stout, Thais Lawton, Ken- Donald GaUaher and others. WOODS REHEARSING "UNSEEN HAND" A H. Woods has begun rehearsals at ."The Unseen Hand," a new play in three acts by Wilbur Crane. The cast includes Alma Bel win, Malcolm Williams, FeHx Krembs, Howard Lang, William J. Kelly, Brandon Peters, Will Loys, Clifford BafT, Harry Bhutan, Beatrice Noyee and John Bay. "BIG GAME", ANOTHER I NORTH WOODS PLAY, IS J&GREAT MELODRAMA "THE POWER-OF DABKNF.8S"— 4. drama In three acts by Leo Tolstoy. Presented by the Theatre Guild, at the Garrlck Theatre Monday evening, Jon- nary 10, 1920. CAST Anlsya .........Ida Rauh Akoullna -....-...;. Marlorle Vonnegttt Peter Henry Stlllman Nan Maud Brooks Nlklta Arthur Hobl Akim Frank Belcher Matryona - .Helen Weatley Marina ..'....... .Bertha Broad Mltrich Ersklue SanXord Simon .....William Nelson Bridegroom .Walter Geer Ivan Henry Travers First Neighbor.....'. Mary Blair Second Neighbor Grace Ade Driver .Robert Donaldson PoUce OUlcer Richard Abbott Best Man Michael Carr Village-Elder.... ..Milton Pope Matchmaker .............Noel Leslie First Girl '..' Once.Knell. Second Girl '.' .Mary Tree With an overshadowing atmosphere of gloom, "The Power of Darkness" is a sor- did and dreary tragedy. But, for all its 'murky abysmus, the'piece was splendidly acted and, for those, who are interested .in the curios of the. theatre, it will no doubt prove a source .of delight. Although- this was the first presenta- tion in the English language, the piece Is by no means new, having been written some forty years ago. During the late 'BO'S, it was presented in Paris, and the German stage, a little later, welcomed its > hideousneas when the free theatres of the Central Empire became its havens. Still later, Russia gave welcome to the piece and one might venture to say that it' would create a flurry if. presented there now. With all its sordidness and gloom, though, Tolstoy's play carries a terrific moral lesson. The story sets forth the abysmal degra- dation of a peasant family. First comes the murder of the consumptive husband, by his wife, who lives illicitly with their hired man. The guilty pair then marry and the new husband plunges into further depths of licentiousness and bestiality. His animalistic desire chooses his step- daughter for his victim, and again he as- sists in a murder, that of the girl's il- legitimate child. And so it goes, crime after 'crime. However, in the last act i comes atonement, through confession j and precognition - of Go«& ?)j jis&i-'j- i J i*'-'?» %ari°the?rtte of tie'-otdmther, Frank Reicher plays with great power. Helen Westley is good as the beldame mother aid Arthur Hohl develops every sottish ' trait of the peasant,"jhnBband. Others who contributed were' Ida, Rauh, Marjorie Vpnnegut, and Maud Brooks. The star bearing the name of Otis Skin- ner has again made its appearance'in the theatrical.heavens of Broadway, this time, in a play written by his .wife. "Pietro," has been admirably cut and fitted to the histrionic talents of the actor. In fact, it is all that a play should be, telling its story in the terms of the theatre rather-than in strict accord with the prob- abilities of actual experience, though one £nds it not less engrossing on that account. Briefly, the plot revolves about an Italian, acquitted of the murder of his wife. Me takes his bambino and finds a new land, where he. rises, to. wealth and power. His daughter ripens into woman- hood, a lovely creature. She. is wooed by the son of a district attorney who, eighteen years before, had prosecuted her father. The men meet and there are in- stant recognitions. Then Pietro's wife, for whose disappearance he could not account and for whose, murder he had been ac- cused, re-appears. ... *S ' The former prosecutor's objection.'that he will not permit his son to marry the daughter with spontaneity and.warmth been cast an indelible stigma now no longer holds good. It becomes even less an argument when the wife reveals that her husband's prosecutor had known, dur- ing the trial, that he was guiltless of the crime. With this revelation, the woman wanders back to the mystery from which she snddenly emerged and Pietro is-released-from the life of con- cealment and deception which he has en- dured for his daughter's sake. Mr. SfcinJer's character, that of Pietro, was one that gave ample opportunity for some admirable acting, which, needless to say, was handled in. the most artistio of manners. Buth Rose impersonated the daughter with spontaniety-and warmth of feeling. Thurlew Bergen was the Dis- trict attorney and Mary Shaw the un- worthy wife. SUES FRANK MAYO Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 21.—Mrs. Joyce Eleanor Mayo has filed suit for separate maintenance against Frank Mayo, actor, and at present a director for the Universal Film Company, in' the Supreme Court, here....She bases her suit on the charge that he has been spending large sums of money on other women, especially on Day- mar Godowsky,' daughter of the noted . pianist, Leopold Godowsky. .1 v PRKOLLA DEAN MARRIES - 3 s ' Saw ^fctutecjsco, Jan. 24.—Prisdlla Dean, the motion picture actress, was mar- ried, this-week to Wheeler Oakman, also a 'film actor. They were'saarried under their real names which -were given as'. Priscffla Fitzpatrick and Vivian Eicneiberger (Oak- man). " "BIO OAME"—A melodrama In three acts by WUlard Robertson and " urn Gordon. Presented by Mrs. y. B. Harris. Wednesday evening, try 21. 102b. CAST Joe Charles Halton I'ieeon ...William Morran "'"nKm, hi Reginald Barlow USBuna William Maxson fcfaflr 8mlth Pauline Lord Larry Smith Alan Dlnehart lohn St. John George Oanl Lizard .J. A. Curtis -r • JSiiajtmg the emotions of men and women: isolated from the. world, "Big Game" is, without donbt, one of the moat powerful melodramas that ever graced the noaMV- of a Broadway playhouse. The _ metropolitan performance of this- 'was one of exceptional interest, fotj aside, from being a new play, it is the initial work of a pair of new playwrights, Wiilard,Robertson and Kilbouru Gordon. JRiiis the second play of the North- wSadsBfo make its appearance during the season, and the scenes are much fat the same~key as that of the "Storm." How* *""*"r|aate * utnora have given the plot an. origflaT^twist, which lets forth the re- genefatinn of a coward. Three acts arer givea dVer to emphasizing his weakness- and .the method in which it la remedied. Tkjjrcmgnout these scenes there-aire nu- merous.. incidents, tense and drama tie, whfchpset forth the following story x . The three or four more or leas perma- nent denizens of a snow bound trapper's . cabin in the woods, North of Quebec, are joined by a married pair. The girl la taking her physically frail husband, bred among the placid hills of Vermont, to the home of her father, in the great North woods. Out of the blizzard comes • debonair, insolent, smirking Don Juan of the woods, who, at once, turns a covetous eye upon the girl. The Don Juan makes advances to the wife and the husband's courage falls. Be- . cause he appears a coward, the wife's love and pride turns to the extent that. she loathe him, and she resolves to go away for a gay whirl with the one who has proved her husband as coward. But the husband's moral valor has yet to be reek-' oned with and, when the final test comes, he proves himself the better of the two. The action of the play does not cover field, but its interest is intensive, and staging are, likewiseygood. Lord, the only woman In the east, takes the part of the young wife, and not only handles the French patois de- lightful ly, b ut proves herself'-to be aa <fxcell«S^eAotional actress. Charles Hal- ton ^rsi-good as "Joe," the trapper,. and George Caul, as the villain, plays his part to the limit of its possibilities.