Show World (August 1909)

THE SHOW WORLD August 14, 1909. “THE GOLDEN GARTER” APPEARS REMINISCENT Marguerite Clark’s New^Piece Said to^Smack of “The Morals of Marcus”—St v Louis News Notes. BY BASIL WEBB. ST. LOUIS, Aug. 12. — The most important happenings of the week were the engagement of Grace van Studdiford a t Delmar, the pre¬ mier perform¬ ance of “The Golden Garter” with Marguerite Clark in the stellar role and the opening for the winter sea¬ son of the Co¬ lumbia and Hav- lin’s theaters. Grace van Studdiford drew a record house at Delmar Gar¬ den last Sunday- night when she appeared there in her old success “Robin Hood.” The performance fully demonstrated the fact that Van Studdiford is without peer in the light opera field. She has a clear high soprano voice which is of grand opera timbre, and this is combined with that perfect enunciation which goes with a successful lyric singer, so since she has a charming person¬ ality there is no reason why she should not be perched securely on the top of the tree. Van Studdiford was in much better voice than when she last appeared in this city in “The Golden Butterfly.” St. Louisians al¬ ways look with a paternal eye on this prima donna and believe that she is entirely their own and whatever en¬ thusiasm may be shown the star in other cities and whatever applause she may obtain St. Louis will claim a part. After the forest song in the second act the star was literally bombarded with flowers and the whole theater positively reeked with the perfume of the florist. Then again after each of her numbers the applause was so per¬ sistent that it even got to be almost a nuisance as too many encores play havoc with the continuity of the play. The role of Marion exactly suits the star and the music of this opera is well up to the standard of Sullivan and Messager. In fact in Robin Hood De Koven places himself in the ranks of the greatest light opera writers. Last season this play ran two weeks at Delmar Garden with Mary Quive in the stellar role. Miss Quive is a younger sister of Grace Van Studdi¬ ford and those who remember Quive’s performance will be struck by how like the two sisters work. Van Stud¬ diford has the advantage of stage ex¬ perience and Quive has the advantage of being younger so it seems to be an even break. Ann Tasker has not overmuch to do in the role of Anabel but all she has to do she does very creditably. Carl Hadyn is singularly successful in his duets with the star and he does the rest of his work in a very finished manner. Bernice Mershon makes a great hit with one section of the audi¬ ence, principally those of male per¬ suasion, and while she has lots of ginger to her acting and singing, at the same time to the critical mind her intolerable self-consciousness robs her acting of all the charm it might pos¬ sess. If Marshon would realize that she is many pegs removed from a star she would immediately step that much nearer to the luminary firma¬ ment. William Sloan appeared in the role of Friar Tuck and was a little inclined to overact the character. The en¬ semble features of the show were ex¬ tremely well rendered by the chorus and the stage direction and singing of the play reflect great credit on the management. Marguerite Clark appeared at the Suburban Garden in the premier pro¬ duction of E. W. Kidder’s new play “The Golden Garter.” The new play took well with the patrons of the sum¬ mer theater and received very favor¬ able reviews from the press. It is, however, a great pity that while view¬ ing the play one should be reminded so persistently of Locke’s success “The Morals of Marcus.” This fact would always debar this play from ever hav¬ ing a Broadway run. The memory of the willful capriciousness of the Turk¬ ish girl in “The Morals of Marcus” will always be in the minds of the public as they watch the Zaidee of Kidder’s production. The amazingly innocent and impossibly innocent type is the same in both plays. The chief point of the play is the comedy coin¬ cident on bringing the East to meet in close contact the West. While the play is fully worthy of patronage no great future could ever be predicted for it, though it must be admitted it might have been a success if Locke’s play had never been presented. Still the Oppenheimer Bros, are to be lauded for their temerity in producing so many new productions in this city and there is no doubt that the public recognize the goahead spirit of these managers. Marguerite Clark while she more than makes good with the audience is still inclined to bring too much of the comic opera spirit into the legitimate comedy. The acrobatic dance turn she does in the first act spoils her production completely in the minds of many. But still as we mentioned last week she has the power and she has the presence that is sure to make her a strong legitimate star in the future. She is more than making good with the suburban audiences and the press is treating her very favor¬ ably. Messrs. Fenwick, McHugh, Hum- mell, King Baggott, George Spencer, together with Angela McCaull and Alice Gale all figure prominently in this week’s production. Helen Bertram is the headliner at Forest Park Highlands this week. Her charming personality and her vivaciousness carry the audience com¬ pletely away. Her personality really counts for more than her voice. She was warmly received on Sunday after¬ noon by a crowded audience to whom she sang half a dozen songs accom¬ panying herself on the piano. This popular prima donna seems to have solved the problem of everlasting youth for she appears to be as youth¬ ful as ever. A1 Cameron and his company appeared with great success in a sketch entitled “The Last of his Regiment.” This act is introduced by means of a quartette and takes as well as any act in vaudeville. Byers and Herrman present an act which has many acrobatic and gymnastic fea¬ tures of a pantominic kind. Henry Potter and May Harris present a trapeze act which is way above the ordinary. The costumes of this act are magnificent. Felix Adler sings parodies in a manner which pleases and brings his act to a point which few parodists can attain. Adams and Alden, the two “Bobs,” are the best feature than Mannions theater have offered the public this season. Their act is distinctly dif¬ ferent from all others and they threat¬ en to monopolize the whole bill so enthusiastic is the applause of the audience. Their songs are their own and are original in every sense of the word, the only pity is that there are not more acts like theirs. Mile. Al- feretts is placed first on the bill where¬ as she deserves the feature place on any bill. She has a gymnastic act which is way above the ordinary and she works with a snap which makes the act never tire. Jimmy Wall, the black faced monologist, is as funny as ever. Schepps dog and pony act represents the climax of what animals are capable of in the way of human in¬ telligence. Nello is a juggler who is assisted by his wife. This is the way the program reads. But as a matter of fact if he would be a little less loyal and leave his wife out of the bill he would do far better. Mme. Nello tries to sing, accent on the tries, for she can’t sing and probably never could. She also essays to be comic but she is absolutely unfunny. Nello himself is quite clever, but he carries his stalls a little too far. Frank Tate fixed an early date for the opening of his Columbia theater, but he was not far wrong to judge from the packed houses who witnessed the initial show. Senora Guerrero, an imported Spanish dancer who ap¬ pears in St. Louis for the first time is the head liner of the bill. She makes a tremendous hit with her aud¬ ience with her pantomimic dance. She comes with the greatest of New York notices and she easily lives up to her advance notices. Miss Mable Mc- Cane’s songs make a hit with the aud¬ ience but it is an act which has ap¬ peared in this city before and therefor is not new. Edwina Barry appears in a sketch which is entitled “The Home Breaker” and while the act is a little bit risque, still it makes good with an audience which does not object to something just a little bit off. John McCloskey is a really good Irish tenor who sings songs which appeal to the patrons of the house. Jones and Mayo do some clever impersonating work. Marenna and Navarro have a very clever acrobatic and balancing St. Louis Personalities. Jeff Casper, who has charge of the publicity at the American theater, has already started to get busy and the town already knows exactly what the first attraction at the theater is going to be. Jeff intends to show the Op¬ penheimer Bros, what the American might have done with an efficient pub¬ licity staff. Manager Billy Garen scored dis¬ tinctly by opening Havlin’s theater so early this season. People were begin¬ ning to tire of summer stock and they certainly are making Treasurers Hutchinson and Havlin work overtime taking in the “filthy lucre,” while Tobe Coopers hands are nearly worn out handing out pass-out checks, for this certainly is thirsty weather. Willy Spink, the energetic press agent at Mannion’s Park, has con¬ tracted to handle several of the larger state fairs through the South. _ He contemplates putting aeroplane flights and balloon ascensions. He has not announced officially as to whether he will aerial navigation himself; _ we should advise him not to, for if things don’t go quite right, he will be up in the air enough anyhow. “IRISH QUEEN” SUING MAHER FOR DIVORCE. Once Famous Pugilist is Alleged to Have Been Cruel to His Wife a Former Player. PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 12.-Suit for divorce has been begun by Mrs. Agnes Maher, wife of Peter Maher, the prize fighter, known in ring circles as “The Irish Champion,” alleging cruel and barbarous treatment Mrs. Maher is widely known n vaudeville as “The Irish Queen.” She has played in most of the principal cities in this country. For the last few years, according to her attorney, she has not lived witn her husband and has been supporting herself by her work on the stage. In the libel for divorce just filed, n specific allegations of cruelty ar made, the record simply stating that the divorce is asked on the general ground of cruel and barbarous treat¬ ment. When he is asked for a bill of par¬ ticulars, Ferdinand Bloch, the attor¬ ney, says he will be able to supply a long list of specific allegations wlucn he believes will offer sufficient grounds for a divorce. Change Name of Their Act. ATLANTIC CITY, Aug. 12--The Rich Due, playing here have decide to change the name of their act & they will be known hereafter “Those Happy Chums.” C. Jack and Agnes J. Rich, comprise the te