Variety (September 1913)

10 VARIETY THIS WEEK'S PRODUCTIONS CLEAN RECORD OF SUCCESSES. **His Little Highness," ''Smoldering Flames/' *'The Ham Tree** Revival, and ''Seven Keys*' all Pronounced Qood. '^Leopard Spots," Excites Southerners Through Subject Matter. ^ Boston, Sept. 17. "Her Little Highness," with Mizzi Hajos, was given its first presentation OJ1 any stage last night, opening the season at tlie Treniont. It will be an unqualified hit. Werba & Luescher's assertion made in the lobby during the piemiere that they have invested $65,000 in the production, may be 50 per cent. true. But they need have no worry. Mizzi Hajos scored the biggest triumph of the evening, the brightness cf the book and the charm of the music being sadly marred by the dreariness o; the second act, which seemed end- less and was most tedious comedy. Reginald de Kovcn directed and made a neat little speech before the curtain nearly brained him, "My Fairy Prince" is the musical coup, coming ill the first act in the form of the in- evitable waltz. Wallace McCutcheon, with three young women in the last act, has a dancing specialty which is' the best since the original production of "The Sunshine fijfl." Last night the production ran three hours and 20 minutes and should be cut at least 45 minutes to keep the audience awake in the second act. The chorus is exceptional in every way and lavishly costumed, while the cast, which includes James Davis, Neil McCay, William McCarthy, Willard Louis, Louise Kelley, Delia Niven, Mae Murray and Kthel May Davis, was well balanced. Channing Pollock and Rennold Wolf have made "Her Little Highness" from "Such a Little Queen." The score is well sustained throughout and is in de Koven's best vein. The piece, after a fortnight in the Hub, goes to Baltinutrc for one week, Washington a week and Philadelphia four weeks. Werba & Luescher then plan to bring it into New York. Philadelphia, Sept. 17. "The Smoldering Flame," describea as a comedy-drama had its initial pre- sentation at the Adelphia Monday night. It is another "problem play" with a point and a strong scene. There are several unusual situations, but while Strang are not carried to the point of plays of "The Fight" and "The Lure" type, though it might be inferred that the recent tumult caused by these plays inspired the current presentation of "The Smoldiriii^ ^1 laiiiL'." form- erly called "Deborah," and as such, started something last spring in Toronto. The plot has to do with a girl, pos- sessing an iiistiiKiivc and peculiarly strong craving for motherhood and being reared in the strictest atmos- phere by a pair of elderly aunts, reaches the age of 33 years before she lias a chance to "see things. " (."ir^n^ 'tj New York to visir a cousin, she pre- vents a secret meeting between the cousin and her lover and in a dark room passes herself off as the other girl. Then to conceal her sin she rauses a separation between the pair. The final act employs another strong scene in which the man, who is a physician, is called to treat the girl who has returned to her old home accompanied by a boy, the result of the meeting, and he learns it is his own child. The piece is capably presented by a strong cast including Fernanda IJiscu and Conway Tearle in the prin- cipal roles. Maud Sinclair, Marie Day, Ethel Grey and Forrest Robinson have the other important parts. The first and last acts are well con- ceived, the second needing strengthen- ing. Before a well filled house on the c>pening night the play was well re- ceived. William LeGrande Howland wrote "The Smoldering Flame." Since presented in Canada about a year ago ic has been rewritten. . Next week at the Chestnut Street, the stock company will play "Mrs. Warren's Profession." Hartford, Conn , Sept 17. George M. Cohan's latest play "Sev- en Keys to Baldpate" with Mr. Cohan temporarily filling the leading part, opened at Parson's Monday evening- The play was a hit. It is described as a "mystery farce" and is a combination of farce and melodrama with the mys- tery withheld until the final moment. The play had the audience guessing. Few could solve it until the finale. Mr. Cohan jumped into the leading part lecause Wallace Eddinger had not suf- ficiently recovered from the recent au- tomobile accident. Mr. Eddinger may, however, assume the role before the week is out. The local press were unanimous in their criticism that "Seven Keys to Baldpate" will prove a typical Cohan success. Certainly the first night's audience received it most enthusiastic- iilly. Many New York managers were l)resent. : Boston, Sept. 17. "The Ham Tree" revival, with Mc- Intyre and Heath, opened here form- ally this week at the Majestic after try-outs in Schenectady and Montreal. John Cort should make money with it thanks to his two principals and the Ned Wayburn chorus. The re- mainder of the cast is rather sad, but not necessary anyway, as the two min- strels and that dancing chorus consti- tute the performance. Mclntyre and Heath have really nothing new over the original "Ham Tree" production. Lew Bloom, the veteran, is in the show with little to do, and manages to do it. Mildred Beverly takes the mother role, Edward Wade is the Wall street broker, Ted Holmes is the lover and needed a shave Monday night, .\rthur Barry, as the English Lord, carried an uninterest- ing role exactly as it was written, and Mabel Elaine as Desdemona, the col- ored wench, worked hard and won solely by her energy. The company now has a trained mule which has been a familiar figure on the small time stage, and which does much to enliven the first act. The remainder of the cast includes Lulu Wells, a dainty little miss who may improve as time goes on, George C. Youngman, Otto Johnson and Edward S Holder who furnishes the mule and rides it, and Norman Woodward. Costumes and scenery are all abso- lutely new and Cort has evidently not been miserly in his expenditures. Norfolk, Sept. 17. The production here Monday night of Thomas Dixon's "The Leopard's Spots," has raised a storm of criticism directed against the novelist. The play is an effective melodrama, but the newspaper writers attack Dixon for his discussion of what is considered an unsavory subject (negro question). One reviewer puts it this way: "Just it present New York is disgusted with some plays that have been produced showing a social sore vividly on the stage. It would be better tor Mr. Dix- on to direct his marked talents ~into a channel of this kind thigi to continue digging into the past for a lot of mon grel material that is more revolting to the sense of decency than 'red light' productions." •*MARY*H LAMB** WOBBLY. New Orleans, Sept. 17. "Mary's Lamb," which has been bleat- ing about the bush and major towns for several weks, is in a precarious financial condition. It is reported sal- aries were not paid when the show was here last week at the Crescent. During the local engagement, C. Da- vid Pfirrman and Wm. Pfirrman, own- ers of the show, were made defendants iu an attachment suit filed by Charles Marks, of New York, claiming $237.60 on a note. The Klaw & Erlanger New Orleans Theatre Co. was made gar- nishee, and an attachment issued. SHOWS IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Sept. 17. The business at the Grand, where "Stop Thief" is playing has fallen down. It is not improbable the show will leave there in a couple of weeks. Nothing has been so far slated to fol- low it. The future attraction at the Cort, to succeed "The Double Cross," which is a real flop, is unknown. "The Whip" at the Auditorium has a box office statement of $25,000 for its first week. Prospects are very bright for it. "The Silver Slipper" at the Illinois is not the hit it was in New York. "The Road to Happiness" at the Garrick is running alonj.; moderately. Sam Bernard in "All for the Ladies" will follow it in there with no date yet set. "Within the Law" at the Olympic still tremendously popular. The Scott pictures go to the Ziegfeld next week for a run. SHOWS IN FRISCO. San Francisco, Sept. 17. Big society patronage of the local charity benefit at the Tivoli opera house, where "one week" is taken by Mrs. A. W. Scott, Jr., and company, who are appearing in a dramatic play. Next Monday the Tivoli company will resume its operatic productions, offer- ing "Maritana." Announcement of the farewell week of "The Mission Play" at the Colum- bia, as Margaret Anglin reopens the legitimate season at this house ne.\t week, brought out an increase in business. The Scott pictures are making money at the Cort. "The Lure" is billed for this house next week, and indications point to big' business as a result ()t the police agitation against the piece in New York. "The Lure" is here for two weeks, when "The Enchan- tress," the Kitty Gordon show, is ex- pected to follow. SHOWS IN PHILLY. Philadelphia, Sept. 17. "The Follies" is doing big business in its second week. It is said the show did over $18,000 last week, opening to $1,750 and jumping steadily until Sat- urday night which was over $2,500, "The Master Mind," with Edmund Breese in the principal role, opened to big business at the Garrick, starting the season for this house. The piece was greeted with warm recognition and was strongly praised by the press. The cast is an excellent one, Mr. Breese and Francine Larrimore divid- ing the honors. C. Cooke Wanamaker has assumed the managership ot ine Garrick. "Madam X" opened to capacity at the Walnut. Following "A Fool There Was," which did a tremendous week, "Madam X" started in a way which promised to hang up a record at popu- lar prices. It looks as if the old Wal- nut has a new lease of life. The busi- ness so far is the talk of the town. An effective dramatization of Black- more's romance "Lorna Doone" adapted by Willard Holcomb had its presentation at the Chestnut by the Orpheum Players. It's a strong play and well presented. "The Deep Purple" closed here Sat- urday night after two weeks of light business. The Lyric is dark this week. The show lays off a week and reopens at the Shubert. Boston, next Monday. D. E. Davenport, a St. Louis news- paperman and dramatic critic is no^ publicity promoter for the Shubert houses. Lyric and Adelphi. Lottie Uart, Barry Maxwell and sev- eral others of "The Purple Road" com- pany, now playing at the Lyric, have been let out and their parts are to be taken by people of bigger reputations. Business here was poor and the man- agement is determined to give the opera one more trial in Boston, with a strengthened cast. "THE COURTIN* " SHOW. Boston, Sept. 17. "The Courtin'," a musical version of "Adams Quincy Sawyer," opened at the Boston theatre Monday. It is re- viewed elsewhere in this issue. If you don't advertise In VARIETY, don't ndvrrtiM) at aU.