Life — January 14, 1915 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

almost as much by what she does not do as by what she- does. She shows rare artistic discretion in declining to “emote” when there are strong temp- tations to indulge in that process dear to the emotional actress, and thereby adds to the fidelity of her portrayal of the girl brought up to repress herself. Violet Heming is an excellent foil as the scheming sister. Mr. C. Aubrey Smith is commanding as the god who straightens things out, even if he does suggest a much larger and less sand- papered John Drew. Mr. Vincent Ser- rano gave exactly the right tone to the young man who is the object of both sisters’ love, and Mr. Alfred Bishop was a delightful old rapscallion as the girls’ father. “The Lie” as a play and in its acting can be enjoyed by intelligent persons and largely contradicts the “punch” theory. N the con trary, “ Secret Strings" is “a play with a punch", which comes in the last act and is in the mature of a complete sur- prise. If a little of the melodramatic strength dis- played at this point could have been scattered over the earlier acts, “ Secret Strings” would have a stronger hold on its audience. As it is, this romance of the turesque French thief seems to halt in its action and confuse the interest of the beholder. Mr. Lou-Tellegen, whom the play introduces as a star, is perhaps also to blame for this impression. He is graceful, at times winsome, and at times forceful, but there seems to be a lack of determination in his artistic method which keeps him from gripping the sym- pathy and interest. He has good sup- port, headed by Miss Mary Nash, satisfactory in the trying réle of a heroine who can never be herself, but must constantly suffer, misunderstood and suspected. With less competition and a less jaded public, “Secret Strings" would have a good chance in the not overworked field of emotional melodrama. AS0V os YD cr is mot true that Madame Marie Dressler is playing Lady Macbeth in the provinces. She is at the Thirty- ninth Street Theatre, appearing regularly SERRE S in what used to be termed “a screaming farce", called “A Mix-up”. The farce is not much in itself, but the star is. She is funny every minute she is on the stage, and she is on the stage most of Astor.—" Hello, Broadway!” by George 'M. Cohan, and with the author and Mr. William Collier in the cast. Musical show and burlesque of plays of the season. Ex: tremely funny to those thoroughly familiar with New York theatres and theatrical talk. _Bandbor,—" Poor Little Thing.” by Jerome K. Jerome. Last week of pleasantly acted but “colorless little play of studio life in France. Belasco— The Phantom Rival." Dream play from the Hungarian adapted ‘to life to; day in America. Well staged, well played and interesting. Booth.—“ Children of Earth.” The Wine throp Ames ten-thousand-dollar prize play. Notice later. Candier.—" On Trial.” A novel and inter: esting method of telling a melodramatic story. Well acted and absorbing. Casino.— Experience.” An_ elaborately staged allegory dealing in the manner of the morality play with the sins and temptations that beset us here and now. Cohan’s.—" It Pays to Advertise.” Farcical comedy demonstrating that even so matter-of- fact a topic as advertising can be so handled as to provide highly laughable stage material. Comedy.—Marie Tempest in “The Mar- riage of Kitty", preceded by “The Dumb and the Blind". “The old comedy and the clever star joined successfully in delightful entertainment. The curtain-raiser__ simply character-studies from English low life. Cort.—“ Under Cover.” Melodramatic comedy with smuggling for its basis. Divert- ing and well dove. Eltinge.—" The Song of Songs.” Dramati- zation of Sudermann novel by Mr. Edward Sheldon. “A useless and revolting excursion into the vicious circles of our social life. Empire—For' ment of Mr. John Drew in Notice later. Forty fourth Street.—" The Lilac Domino.” Agreeable. and tuneful comic opera, well rendered. Not remarkable, but pleasant. Forty-eighth Street—" The Law of the Land.” Melodrama of murder and police methods. Well acted. with considerable. fun at the expense of the police, Fulton —"Twin Beds.” Amusing farce, its incidents based on’ the. diffeulties en: countered by a bibulous gentleman who gets into a flat which he thinks is his own. Gaiety." Daddy Long-Legs.” Pathos and humor pieasantly mingled in the life story of a-girl who starts ber eareer in a foundling ‘asylum. Globe.—' Chin-Chin.” Clever musical ex: travaganza, elaborately staged, and showing ir. Fred Stone, of Montgomery and Stone, at ‘his ‘very funniest. Harris.—Margaret Mlington in “The Lie”, by Henry Arthur Jones. “See above. Hippodrome—" The Wars of the World.” Big, spectacle with the picturesque side of various kinds of wars as its basis. Should hot be missed.” Last week. Hudson-—" The Show Shop," by Mr. James Forbes. See above. Hudson—" The Débutante.” —_Girl-and- mpusie show by Herbert and Smith, with Hazel Dawn in the leading réle. Tuneful, diverting and pleasantly done. 69 the time. She wisely does not claim to be a refined and polished comedienne. She claims to be Marie Dressler, and she is. And Matie Dressler is funny. Metcalfe. Stockings.” particular. well acted. Kate Littl —" A Pair of Silk Farcical comedy, English in ever; including the cast. Laughable an Longacre.—" Secret Strings,” by Jordan. See above. Outcast,", by Mr. | Hubert Henry Davis. Elsie Ferguson, as the star, fiving a iost finished and sympathetic per- rmance of a unique réle in an unusual and interesting play of London bachelor. life. Lyric.—" The Only Girl," with score by Victor Herbert and the libretto a former comedy revivified by Henry Blossom. Con edy with musical features. Tuneful. funny and well done. Manhattan Opera House. melodrama of American life. and extremely up to date. Marine Elliott's —" The Hawk,” with Mr. Faversham and Mlle. Dorziat. French society drama of intrigue. Somewhat old fashioned, bat interesting and well presented. iefart Polygamy.” An effective Amer- ican drama life in Utah and the methods of plural marriage for its subjects. Well worth seeing. Playhouse.—" Sinners,” by Mr. Notice later. Princess.—Brieux’s “ Maternity”, by Mr. Richard Bennett and company. Notice later. Republic.— Kick In.” Another of life among the crooked individuals underworld. Interesting melodramatic play, well acted. Shubert—" To-night’s the Night.” Musical pay, from Tendon with London’ company. Notable for the charming way in which it is done. Thirty-minth Street—Marie Dressler in“ A Mix-up”, by Parker A. Hord. See above. Winter Garden.—" Dancing Around.” with Al Jolson as the star, Another manful and parjicularly womanful effort to rouse, the t. bom. from his gloom. Chorus girls in battalions, comedians, _ costumes, scenery, dancing and music that is far from churchly. Lyceum. “Life.” Big Sensational Owen “SHE LOVED A STRUGGLING LAWYER”