Life — January 17, 1907 — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BLANCHE WALSH AS SHY DOESN'T LOOK IX “IME STRAIGHT ROAD" members of the company from the prima donna down, show all the faults that accrue with playing to audiences which must have effect’ broadened and. exaggerted. The libretto never was and never could be funny, no matter how expounded. ‘The score by Mr. Alfred G. Robyn contains some rather tuneful numbers which de- served better rendering. Paula has been known to New York audiences not altogether unfavorably in minor parts. In the present production she and her abilities both frightfully overworked. Her sub- every dwardes *DTPE* ordinates are evidently selected with a view to not eclipsing her own mediocrity and the ction is in that respect a grand success. Up to date this is a free country. There are some reasons for regretting that fact. “The Princess Beggar” is one. ee 6 . ATILDA,” at the Lincoln Square, was more of a novelty. It might be described as comic opera without the aid of the inevitable chorus girl. Primarily, it was a farce, laid out on rather hackneyed lin Incidentally, there was singing by all the principal characters. If the farce a better farce, if the music had been less conventional, if both acting and singing had been better done, the piece would have had greater reason for existence. “ Matilda” is worthy of note, principally aS emphasiz- ing the often expressed statement that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. * * * N PARIS an attempt to establish a Theat- rical Trust has just come to an unla- rented end. The managers of half a dozen important theatres banded together in an offensive-defensive alliance, but when they attempted to do a little boycotting, after the manner of their kind, they found themselves opposed and quickly defeated by the power- ful Society of Dramatic Authors, which con- trols practically all the plays and all the dramatic writers of France. This organi: tion can starve out any theatre or any com- bination of theatres, by depriving them of plays. It is not a pleasing idca that there should exist even this monopoly in an art, but, if monopoly there must be, it is cer tainly better that it should rest in the hands of authors who are men with some regard for the higher ideals of the stage than that it should be nothing more than the moncy-get- ting conspiracy which until recently abso- lutely controlled the destinies of the Ameri- WAITING FoR My QUECE can theatre. Metcalfe. (vid ie te, the “Thcetves| “The Girl of the Golden Academy of Music West.” Blanche Bates and original cast in Belasec thrilling and well-presented drama of the early mining days in California Astor—" The Straight Road," with Blanche Walsh as the star. See opposite. Belasco—"The Rose of the Rancho.” Sleepy, Mexican California before it was roused by Yankee ownership, Frances Starr, Hamilton Revelle and ex- cellent company in delightful play. Bijon—""The Mimic and the Maid." Notice lat Casino—Paula Fawardes in "Princess Begs See above. Garrick—Mr. William Collier in “Caught in the Pain.” Very funay, up-to-date farcical comedy Empire—Last week but one of Maude Ad: “Peter Pan.” Mr, Barrie's exquisite stage-fooling with the myths of childhood. ns in 101 ‘The Student King.” Genuine comic Garden opera, with music by Reginald De Koven. staged and well sung. Hackat ahl in “The Chorus Lady Laughable and true to the life of the Tenderloin. Herald The Road to Yesterday.” Dream play of considerable merit and interest, with competent company. Hippodrome—The Wild West, pictured in “ Pio- ner Da: jians,and gorgeous spectacleand ballet in“ Neptune's Daughter.” Lincotn Square—" Matilda.” See above. Lyric—Last week of “The New York Idea.” with Mrs. Fiske in the leading role. Comedy of brilliant lines. very well acted Madison Square—"The Three of Us." Carlotta Nillson and unusually clever cast in well-written and well-constructed play of American life in the West Majestic—" Brown of Harvard.” with Mr, Henry Woodruff as the star. Episodes from college life agree- ably presented Manhattan—Victor Hugo's * Les Miserables," done into dramatic form by Mr. Wilton Lackaye. who im- personates Jean Vatican, Well worth seeing Princess—Miss Anglin and Mr. Henry Miller in Mr. Moody's “The Great Divide.” Interesting ex- ploitation of the feminine New England conscience. Proctor's Theatres—Vaudeville. Weber's—"'The Dream City” and “The Magic Knight.” Fun, burlesque, girls, and charming music by Mr. Victor Herbert. Brilliantly Rose Square— by real Logical English ] PAUSED to talk to a_fishmonger. ishmonger,” said I, pleasantly, “why do you fishmong?” He answered with a cordial smile: “T fishmong because my father fishmang before me.” “And have you been fishmonging long?” I asked further. “Yes,” was the reply. “I have fish- mong for seven yearscome Michaelmas *“You are a worthy fishmonge responded, “and I’m sure you always mong the best of fish.”” Carolyn Wells. comicbooks.com