Variety (November 1918)

14 LEGITIMATE PETER'S MOTHER. . Sir Timothy Crowys Cbarles A. Stevenson liudjr Mary Crcwys... Selene Jobuaon I'etpr Philip Tense ' Lady UolBtone - Katharine Stewart Miss Gborglna Crewys Lillian Brcnnard John Crewye, K.C Lumsden Hare Canon Birch "Walter Howe Doctor Btundcll Frederick Trueedell Mrs. Hcwoll Kathrino Lorimer Sarah Gypsy O'Brien Ash Herbert Belmore Some 12 years ago—or shortly after the start of the Uoer War—a dramatization «t Mrs, Henry de la Pasture's novel, "Peter's Mother," was produced In London. About that time Gilbert Miller wanted bis father to do the play in America, but was unable to per- suade his pater. After viewing the piece at the Playhouse Tuesday evening, up-to-dated by substituting the present embroilment tor tbo Boer encounter, the conclusion ia reached that Henry Mlilcr—twelve years ago at least— was a better Judge of plays than eon Qllbert. "Peter's Mother" Is less a play than a treat- ise on the selllsbDesu of children and as such can have no popular appeal. Doting parents will not approve for the reason that they do sot want tlieir children to know they are "wise" to them and folks with parents will chafe under the merciless exposition of their selflsbneas. For the very reason that It ia very human and true to life, "Petor's Mother" Is bound to be morbid and unpalatable. As a visualization of the eternal sacrlQce of mothers for their children It Is a page of everyday lite which is not drama In a theatrical sense. It is well written In erudite Bngllsb, capitally acted by an almost perfect company and excellently produced. It presents a problem of life not readily solved, but it it serves to open the eyes of ouly a few children to their selusnness the stage presentation of Mrs. de La Pasture's book will not have been In vain. A girl of 17 (the action takes place in prov- incial England) marries her guardian 23 years ber senior. The husband Is a wealthy titled gentleman with old-fashioned ideas regarding the position women take In the world. When the play opens the wife has a son o( 19, but bns seen nothing of the world. She is treated with every courtesy and kindness, but looked upon and treated as an unthinking child, 'i no Iiusband conceals from bis wife that he is to undergo a serious operation the next day that means life or death. That afternoon they are Informed the boy has enlisted and Is to sail next day for Salonlca. Father had quarreled with the boy, but the mother, naturally, wants to rush to Liverpool to bid her only child good-bye. The proposition is put to her and he responds thnt her husband thinks only of the propriety or impropriety of not having his wife at home In the event of his demise. "He only wants to be sure 1 am doing the right thing." By the end of the flrst act she is persuaded by the family solicitor to remain. Act 2 occurs two years later. Father died under the operation and mother Is awaiting the return of her son, who la invalided honie. She has discarded her mourning weeds and fixed up the house to make the homecoming as Joy- look back I should like to -be Just like him"— ous as possible. Young man returns minus his , right arm. It develops he |r like his father— "I used to rebel against father, but when I "I shall take care of you Just as father did." Is a bit shocked at his mother's dressing up— "You never used to follow the fashions—and at your age. I don't like it at nil." Finds fault with the modern Improvemonts In the home, etc. In the two years tho mother had learned to love th^ family solicitor, a-man of 40, a cousin of her late husband. Sbe had touched happiness, but came face to face with disappointment upon the boy's return and his eelflah viewpoint. Tho boy promptly arranges things for his persona! comfort and plans for bis mother to spend the remainder of her life to his convenience, nil the time explaining ho Intends to spend his time with her. She real- izes that when the time comes that Peter (the boy) llnds ho can do without her, her chance for happiness is gone, yet sbe doesn't falter and wants to give up tho man sbe loves. Act 3 occurs three months later. Peter Is about to como of nge. Ho has spent very little time at the country home, but has employed himself In riotous pleasure In London and courting a girl who is a belle with numerous admirers. . ^ . , Peter comes home to break the news to nls mother that ho wants to get married. "Sarah's not like other girls"-"When Sarah marries Bho soya she must have the house to herself-— the dower house is close by." While be Is breaking it to his mother she takes the matches from his pocket and lights his cigar- ette for him, OS a matter of course. "You must live with my nunta—we shall travel, visit Paris, Rome and so on. Wherever we go and whatever wo do, It will be a comfort to know my duar old mother Is here waiting <or me." Then his mother rounds on bim. "why shouldn't I live my life? Why shouldn't I go to Paris and Rome?" He replies: "It would he perfectly preposterous to start a fresh life at your ape." He looks upon his mother's llio as finished. ^ . ^ . ■—■■■■ AS TTefare dtatwJ,- stMsu't -ft- pl*y;-bat-«i'.treatr- - ise, and won't do. Jolo. Replacing Constance Collier? Julia Arthur may replace Constance Collier in "An Ideal Husband." Miss Collier withdrew from the production because of the death of her husband, Julian L'Estrange. THE BIG CHANCE. Larry Thorndyke Wlllard Mock Mrs. Malloy .Anna Mack Berlein Margaret Malloy..Katherine Harris Barrymore Eddie Crandall William B. Meehan Charles Hickson .Harry Robert Mary Delano Mary Nash "Plnkey" Granville Ramsey Wallace Asa Hickson John Mason Jack Burns John Sharkey Sergeant Todklns T. S. James Fritz Nathaniel Sack "The Big Chance." given at the 48th Street Oct. 28, Is a war play, different from the usual run on the same subject. It deals with the psychological rather tban the physical side of the war and doals with it most con- vincingly and vividly. The play Is the Joint work of Grant Morris and Wlllard Maok. It features Mary Nash and Is produced by A. H. Woods. Perhaps ",Tbe Big Chance" Is the flrst play to dwell on the other phase of the war—the beneficial eSect wrought by It on certain phases of society. It Is a vital theme, and one which will be more and more impressed upon us as time goes on. That is. It shows the regeneration, the "finding themselves," made possible to wasters and derelicts, phy- sical and moral, by the baptismal fire through which they pass who serve in the great con- nict. Mary Delano is a girl who fought her way from the drudgery of a factory, through devious and questionable ways, until at last she Is the mistress of Charles Hickson, to whom sbe is absolutely true and In whose life she Is about the only Influence (or good. Hickson is a "throw-back"—a weak and vacillating tnember of a good family. Around herself Mary has surrounded a circle of pals, each of whom adores her and is only too eager to do her bidding. Of these there are an Irish remittance man, a rich young loafer and a young tout who has no mind beyond a Jab of cocaine and a tip on the racos. Finally Mary's man goes up the river, for forgery, while Mary devotes herself to making a liv- ing by china painting. Then the war comes and Mary In an ln>- passloned speech awakes In these men—her pals—what latent patriotism they have, and before they know it they have all enlisted. Mary goes In for Red Cross work. Two of the men come back on leave, wounded, the rich idler having been killed, While her friends are with her Hickson is released from prison and he has hardly arrived home be- fore Mary hae bustled him, weak-kneed and trembling, to a recruiting station. In the last act the scene is laid in the trenches—and splendidly done. Mary Is there as a nurse with her friends again around her. Hickson Is about to go over the top for the flrst time. He goes and soon news comes he has died, fighting splendidly. And Mary, heartbroken, finds consolation in the sym.- pathy of the big Irishman, but more especially In the fact that Hickson died a hero and with a clean record. In the leading role Mary Nash does splen- did work. Her moral awakening and de- velopment from the first act through the play are conslstenly and artistically shown. The tenderness of her love for Hickson, with her realization of and pity for his weaknesses Is admirably dtSerentlated from her love for tho other boys, which makes them—and keeps them—Just pals. She is tender and womanly always, now and then rising to remarkable oxblbltlons of passion. Miss Nash's progress has been steady and continuous. Each por- trayal she gives is a mile stone in her career, and It has all been through sheer hard work. Wlllard Mack played Larry, the Irishman, a part be assumed on a day's notice, after Cyril Kclgbtly withdrew from the company. Ho played with a mellowness, charm and finish nltogotber delightful. His brogue la flawless and unfaltering. As Eddie Cran- dall, the "hick," William E. MechEin achieved one of the successee of the evening. It was dittcult to believe that be was acting, and that is the sincerest praise. He made the most of his exceptionally clever lines. As Charles Hickson Harry Robert did what be could. It Is a thankless and colorless part —that of a negative weakling. John Mason bad almost nothing to do as HIckson's uncle. Anna Mack Berlein, as an Irish landlady, gave a highly artistic and amusing perform- ance. One doesnt often see better character acting. Katherine Harris Barrymore has the sort of part sbe does best—sbe Is the land- lady's sophisticated daughter with a leaning toward sitting on the front stoop and on the benches In the park with a various assortment of no-goods. Her mother compared the ap- pearance of the front stoop when her daugh- ter was receiving to a mass-meeting of the I. W. W. All the lines are good, some In their patri- otic appeal, some for their humor, and dur- ing the evening there was a running fire of applause and laughter. Mr. Mack, In a brief speech, referred to Miss Nash as their "big chance," and promised, if the play Is a suc- cess, to be there at every performance. "The Big Chance" la a success. """' HAL FORI) StlCkST '" " " Hal Ford, engaged temporarily to handle the role in "Oh Boy," enacted by the late Burrell Barbaretta,, will remain with the company for the re- mainder of the season. Marie Carrol, who has been ill for several days, is back in the West. GLORIANNA. Glorlanna Grey Miss Eyeanor Painter Dolores Pennington Miss Dorothy South Therese, Ltd Miaa Josephine Whittell Tonio Mr. Curtis Karpe Mrs. Sapbronla Pennington, MIse Ursula Bllsworth Miss Angelica Pennington, Miss Rose Mclntyre Lieutenant "Dick" Pennington, Mr. Joseph Lertora Jack Pennington Mr. Ralph Whitehead Alexander Galloway....Mr. Alexander Clark Robbins '... .Mr. James Joseph Dunn RmtlnUn} Brgottl Twins Jessica Miss Emily Lea PnrtBm I ^i*- C. Balfour Lloyd *^°™" \ Mr. Gilbert Wells jial jg ( Miss Marguerite St Clair t Miss Elsie LtwBOB Ring Bearer :......Miss Vera Dunn John Cort offered the second musical play this season to Broadway at the Liberty, Oct 28, "Qolog Up" having ended Its long run to make way for the new piece, "Glorlanna." It bad bad an out of town showing, inter- fered with, however, by the influenza epidemic^ which cut short the Philadelphia appearances. That acted as a handicap, for another week on the. road should have provided the oppor- tunity of bringing the show . to a fine edge. As it was, at least one number was not ready for the premiere. It Is to be inserted during the week. Eleanor Painter has been accorded equal billing wltll the title. Sbe has perhaps, had no better opportunity to display her vocal excellence, and the charm with which she Invested the title role counted for a very good deal. Rudolf FrImI wrote the score, his second show for current showing, too. As with most of his pieces, be again has delivered one or two hit numbers, not, however, with the tune novelty that brought him to atten- tion. To bis credit the melodies were not reminiscent of earlier efforts. The three acts were in two settings, pro- vided by Joseph Urban, the program for some reason using his last name with quotations. In the flrst setting, that of a studio, there Is nothing effective save the simplicity of de- sign. With the later scene, that of a spacious sun parlor in a Down-east home, the stage picture Is splendid and Urbanesque. The step arrangement tended to hamper chorus movements and no doubt proved a problem to Bert French (French and Els), who is lending bis efforts to the legitimate, nor did the arrangement prove any the easier for Clifford Brook, who staged the show. "Glorlanna" has music, very pretty muslo, and it has dancing. If those two features can counterbalance the lack of comedy and the absence of laughter, it may prove a winner. It's pretty certain that with the missing fac- tor "Glorlanna" would be sure fire. Mr. Cort must have noted the weak sector and hauled in dancing strength to support his star. 'This brought to the cast Emily Lea, superlatively graceful as a dancer and a kicking marvel (who succeeded Jessica Brown in the cast). She appeared quite late, but her scoring was distinct Present too were Lloyd and Wells, flrst as two porters, and they went over strongly with practically the same dancing routine as they lately offered In vaudeville. They appeared in a sextet dancing number which bad in addition Miss Lea, James J. Dunn, Marguerite St Clair (who danced in "The Rainbow Girl") and Elsie Lawson. The show Is Catherine Chlsholm Cushlng's "A Widow By Proxy," the authoress having herself adapted it for musical usage, and also written the lyrics. There are some changes to provide (or muslo cues, t))ough no apparent important other additions. Little In the way of comedy could be shifted to Miss Painter, so it was given to the role of the woman- bating attorney, who tried results with but small success. Alexander Clark essayed the character. A song number which Is to be given him may prove of some assistance. "The Dancing Lesson," the opening num- ber, sent the show off to a nice encored start, the song being pretty and admirably sung by Dorothy South, who could have had a bit more In the song line. She sent another num- ber over soon afterwards. It was called "Nenette and Rlntlnln," and evoked a flock of encores. That, however, because of the sole appearance of the Ergottl Twins, who as two elfs frisked about and did acrobatics. In the half light in which they worked the bouse thought they were children and marveled. The little chaps missed one or two stunts or they might have gone even better. Between those numbers came Miss Painter's flrst effort, "Just a Little Laughter," a pretty number beautifully sung. With "Why Don't You Speak for Yourself, John?" she also pletnea. That was one of the tew numbers where novelty was tried for. Novelty in others should have been tried. Miss Painter with Joseph Lertora had a corking melody In "Love, Love," a chorus repetition of which would have been relished. Mr. Lertora had orfPsolo with only (air results. (He was In "Going Up," so this Is a second season for him nt the Liberty.) Josephine Whittell handled one song well near the start, "Frocks -and-Frllis;" with .•th*■ohor4at«^v=heIpillE—with-.- a concealed costume "stunt.' The choristers number 10, Including sl| or eight show girls of about the same size as the others, though blessed with "looks." The girls are an excellent singing bunch, which counted in the deliverance of the score. It Is a coincidence that "Glorlahna" should succeed "Going Up" In the same theatre and that both were adapted from non-muslcal plays. I^ee. LADIESFIRST. - : Betty Burt — Nora Bayea Benny Irving Fisher Uncle Tody William Kent. Aunt Jim Florence Morrison Brother Larry Cbarles Olcott Mr. Betts Stanley Forde Little Jack Clarence Nordstrom McOurk Paul Burnes D. C. Washington Lew Cooper A Policeman A. Twitchel Mrs. Ebbsmlth Jane Elliott When H. H. Frazee tried this piece in the sticks It was called "Home James." There was also another title employed for' a time. When its Broadway premiere was held at the Broadhurst last week (Oct 21) "Ladles First" had been hung on It. The title Is a secondary matter, for Miss Bayes Is billed over the show. In so doing the baseball magnate-producer exhibited keen- ness. In the matter of drawing power Nor>v Bayea has got the show itself backed under the piano and that Is about a measure of the vehicle, by the way. Mr. Frazee probably was flrst to recognize tbat, because when a flrst nighter attempted to compliment blm on It being a good show, the producer turned r upon the well wisher and asked him not to insult his (Frazee'B) intelligence. ., A life saver cropped up to tickle the first nlghters. It was William Kent a young comedian marked for permanent residence In Manhattan. Bill used to gamble about In stock and emerged last winter to light up . "Toot Toot" (a good show gone wrong for some reason). He showed unmistakable signs of coming tbrough then, and bis work in "Ladles First" ensures bim continued demand- In the matter of his accomplishment of the role of Uncle Tody and the personal score at- tained, he ran second, not even to Miss Bayea. The piece Is all Bayes which delighted the Bayes fan. In ample attendance. She was not called upon to display ability as an actress, and It was a cinch she would deliver with her songs. Yet a better assortment would have helped. No less tban seven persons had a hand In delivering the score, that number the program admitting. The list of melody writers Includes A. Baldwin Sloane, Irving Fisher, Miss Bayes. Harry Clark, George Gershwin, Harry Akst and Sailor O'Keeffe (a "gob" attached to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station). "Ladies First" has a basis In Charles Hoyt's farce, "A Contended Woman," which Harry B. Smith attempted to bring up to date. That he did not do, for be retained the tinge of former times when worneiKweren't expected to monkey In politics and when BetCT (Miss Bayes) ran for mayor against her sweetheart, Benny (Irving Fisher), be was horribly beaten. In the Hoyt farce the two young people were married in the flrst act In "Ladles First" they await until the finish, that providing the love Interest that Is dressed with songs. Right off the bat the first two song num- bers caught the bouse. The opener was "Happy Days," quarteted by four male prin- cipals, who sent It over through the bright topical lyrics. "Crowd of Girls" followed, and Its pretty tune helps the general score. The other .two numbers In the flrtit act were written and sung by the Bayes-Plsher com- bination. The tempo of" both was markedly slower than their predecessors, the contrast not being in their favor. However, the catchy melody o( "Build a Home" sent it across. "The Older You Are the Harder You Fall," an old number Interpolated, surprised by its presence. It went over—Kent did it; tbat was another mark to his credit A chorus number, "What Girls Can Do," gave the eight choristers a chance, but they couldn't de- liver, save one who danced. At the finish Miss Bayes asked one girl if she could do anything, and she replied she would show what she had done. Whereupon a pretty kidlet of about two years tripped "out It may belong to Elsie Shaw, the show girl who claimed It, at that. The number allowed a set of four male principals to show "what men could do." Here (or a finish. Lew Cooper was asked what he could do. He mimicked Miss Shaw by moHonlng. and out stepped a little pickannlny—that small chocolate drop who helped In "Flo Flo" last season and also In "Yip Yip Yaifhank." "Snowball" bad them all laughing, espeqlally when she gave 'em a bit of the "shimmy." Cooper did Jolson, doing "The Night Boat to Albany," and it landed firmly. Frazee . had requested Cooper to ask Jolson for per- mission. Lew asked and Al replied H. H. meant nothing In bis life but tbat If he (Cooper) came and asked him for his own sake. It was all right. Miss Bayes bandied her numbers In ber own fashion. With a lone coon song she ■brought memories of ber old succeases and had she slipped in an Irish tune, might have stopped the show. The majority of the fun was supplied through the situations of Uncle Tody and "Aunt" Jim, bis hen-pecking wife cleverly played by the mountainous Florence Morrison. Tody stands for everything, but tells the boys that some day he Is going to have Just the right "mixture" aboard and then the worm Is going to turn. Tody keeps hLs word. One or two timi-s he looked as If out to cop the ; w«rJd's-record.fotL.tEcmbllhB,. JtmtJJt..wfta...Yejrr.. funnily done. ' ~ The program wns made out In the form of a sort o( letter yvrltten by Miss Bayes (out- fitted in a blonde wig) and signed "your loving son," which is the way she signs her holiday greetings and such for some reason. "Ladles First" ought to stick nround awhile. If the drawing power of the star can do that, and becnueo of the comicalities of Billy Kent Ibee.