The Pittsburgh Post from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 26

ml Two XDAY MORNING, THE PITTSBURGH POST. JANUARY 15, 1911. JOE WELCH. MASTER GABRIEL. CLAUDE AND FANNIE USHER.

v- -rXX-v 'S-'V 3 si 3 5 i i "4 Jackson D. Haag. MARGARET ANGLIN By i to be regretted, in a meas- hat the actdr-manaser not prevail in this; i a great' extent than I in ri i i tu-toni countrj it (iui 5 C- 5 now, pos-if ana Marlowe, jix A ri -a. per-Forbes Robert- exception ii there is no at haps it be son, to Ft cure wj will make who back of. ti American man- til i sorts of i i eop.ces.-rono, dictates his era sail the of such an i own f.dli.-ii i more poi-na nt v- a ar was the -x actor a Otis Skinner, Nixon Theater last lation, as far as it v.

adaptation, as fir as t. a gooJ transit, and a poor at went, of a 4 VS. French play called "Sire." Mr. Skinner is by kmgr odds the best of the native p. avers and one who few years ago wve in'omise of becoming the uncjuestion.

tors identihed leader of American ac-with important roles in i the ilra. ma. By all the traditions of the actor's calling he was the logical of Booth. Barrett and MeCuliough just as they had been the of Forrest and Junius Brutus Booth. He j-hould have vied with Mansfield for applause, lie began his i- fi 1 mm xx; -J a -w v-.

-t 5 C'-: 4 N.1, a 1 1. t--1 i'. 01 THREE OF THE STAR FEATURES IN THE VAUDEVILLE BILL IN THE GRAND THIS WEEK. and shimmer of romance. Mawkish en-ttmcnt banal and slushv and illogical career as an actor in 1ST7, and his first part on the professional stage was in blackface.

T.ien began the apprenticeship that eventually resulted in the perfection of his methods si rid the making of a player sui. ior quality. In stuCK lie supported su. Mars as McCuiluiigli, Barrett, Ita. motid, a nausehek, Mary Anders.

jn aim others, with ail of whom he played a var ety of roles and with every appearance he acquired knowledge and experience, both essential to artistic aehieverm nt. Then came an enisagetntnt with Booth, later one with Barrett and then fed. owed a live years' oa 'fmmt with August.n Daly's company. After this came a urtiier encasement v.tu Buotli and Modjetka, and subsequently other appearances witu tne Poush actress. It was in that he became a star, fir ft appearing in romantic dramas, but hi IMG he appeared in "i fanilet," and lie also j.re.-emt.d olh-r classic plays.

For a short time he was leading support lor Josepii t'fi rson and later a reasoning are all enlisted to make the Stories of the Player Folk with Ada I -i i n. With tie he was I'e- Shylock. October, V.M, appeal an in" "The a piny miaptcl from tho ttuchio and lie. made he-French of pi pin. ire -e that lime he stock company of the California Theater at that time including in its membership Mr.

and Mrs. MeKee Rankin, Frederick de Belleville. Joseph Holland, David Harkins, C. P. Bishop and other famous players.

Of this company she was the leading woman. Then, for some years, Miss Bert supported MeKee Rankin In his starring tours, playing "The Danites," "Canuck," etc. In Miss Bert played leads in the road tours of such Empire Theater successes as "The Masqueraders," "Shenandoah." "The Fatal Card," etc. She was afterwards engaged by the Klaw i- Erlanger company for "A Warn 01 France." which was brousrht out in Wal-lack's Theater, and after a season as leading woman for Henry Miller, Miss l'ert returned to the forces of Klaw Kr'anser and treated the part of the Mother of JTur in "Pen Hur" in tho Broadway Theater, New York, November l.f!. She played this role for a number of seasons and since then has appeared in numerous plays always Assuming a prominent role.

criminal a hero and the commission ot crime an irresistible and fascinating- delight. Of all the books written in the last decade I know of none more harmful to youth than "The Amateur Cracksman." To immature minds and folk with cartilage constitutions these plays which impart to crime a romantic flavor are as vicious in their way as of the recent cheap melodramas were in their way, even more so, for in the latter the criminal always got his just deserts, but in these other crime plays he tricks the officials, "reforms," with unpunished crimes against him, be is victor in love and grins securely at the law. In "Jimmy Valentine," to bring about a happy ending and glorify the crook ail the more, a detective is made to do something: that lie would never have dona in real life, g-ive up a man whom lie had been chasing for three years all because a girl was in love with the safe breaker. Tommyrot! To be sure the play was interesting. So was "Nick Carter." "Old Ironsides," "Hanky Panky," and their fellows of the yellowbacks.

In youth we wanted to be excited and so it is in maturer years. The play was well acted, capitally so. Mr. Warner gave a splendid characterization of a shifty crook, Phyllis Sherwood was quite charming as the illy girl and the other roles were in good keeping. Two excellent bits in the first act were given by Edward Bayes and Charles E.

Graham. appeaiei in nt ner plays of Kronen. origin, notai.ly "The Honor of the Family" now For many years Mr. Hkinncr wa practically his own manager and in those times he clung tftiaciousiv to thr thinir r7 The Career of Mabel Bert. One of the most sympathetic and charming character portrayals that has been seen on the Pittsburgh stage in a long time was tnax of M'lle tie Saint-Salbi, in "Sire," the nlay presented in the Nixon Theater last week with Otis S'kinner as the star.

The roie was enacted by Mabel Bert, and with a grace and delicacy that made it an admirable piece of finished acting, admirable in conception and flawless in execution. Miss Bert is a native of Australia, but she was taken to San Francisco when a child and educated in that city at the Stills seminary. Her advent on the stage was quite an accident. She was not a Stage-struck girl, fresh from elocutionary studies, but she just happened to be behind the scenes with a friend during the performance of "Oliver Twist," of which James A. Heme was the stage manager.

A little girl, who played a part constituting about three lines, did not put in an appearance, and Mr. Heme, quickly coaching Miss Bert, sent her on and she did it so easily and well that she was retained in the part. This incident happened in the Grand Oera House, San Francisco, and Miss Bert stayed in the company three or four months, getting more pretentious opportunities as the engageuuent proceeded. Miss Bert was next with the Grismer and Davis company, in the Grand Opera House, and en tour, playing in "Monte Cristo," "Lights o' London." and all the 4 is heart est type sired, which was the hign-plav- worth while. lie may heard of in the his cities not have be and he mav not niivi most dej uiiir uii 111.

(I ilfS runim WHO WILL APPEAR IN THE ALVIN THEATER THIS WEEK IN A COMEDY, "GREEN STOCKINGS." A Young Star's Achievements. No actor who has played in Pittsburgh achieved the success that reward of II. B. Warner'n Alvin theater this week in in years has has been the efforts in the "Alias Jimmy What has this American stage actors? We listen Jn the Duquesne Theater, "In the Bishop's Carriage" was offered bv the valentine. Being tne son manager done for the and for American intently and hear echo Barrie was a factor of a well-known actor, Charles Warner, answer, hat': before he was taken up by this mana the original French the principal part, that is to a reader, is that of M'lle de Saint-Salbi.

Naturally this is the role that has the sympathy. Roulette in the Lavedan play is only one of the figures that surround her and while more im-portant than Dr. Cabat, Abbe Remus, or Leonie Bouquet, is in no sense worthy of the best efforts of a star of the first magnitude. In the Comedie Francaise production the role of the actor-liar, tinkerer was played by M. Huguenet, who, it is said.

played it with somewhat then big melodramatic successes from New York. After that engagement she joined the LOUISE PALMER, Henry Byron Warner was expected to give a sterling performance, and be mow than exceeded the fondest expectations or his Pittsburgh auditors. Mr. Warner was born in London In lTS; his father, as has been said, being the well-known English actor who starred for so many years in "Drink." II. B.

Warner was educated at the Bedford grammar school. Very early in his life he adopted the theatrical profession, and for some time had to be content with small parts. Finally, however, getting an opportunity in "It's Never Too Late Mend," be achieved a wonderful success as the Rev. Mr. Eden.

Later he played several parts with bis father. He suc elder when the ceeded as D'Ariagnan, t- 5- 4 1 Warner was unable to ill- play throug booked Ijy tiie autoi.rats of the road, hut the words "Otis meant a survival of the classic drama, it meant, intelligent and inte.ieetual por-trayal of character and iiluminatimr and comprehensive read in a- of poets' lines; they meant earnest and well directed effort to maintain the best traditions of the stasre and to keep alive the dramatic masterpieces, around which cluster a wealth of recollections. On him the older generation of playgoers were pin-nine their faith that the ane of sreat actors had not passed while the present one was crow ins stmriRvr in its belief Fiat the Vest of the dead past would be excelled by him of living present. Then ca me a change, a recourse to the French of the pr -sent ilav and a splendid actor's abundance of talent, manifold attainments as a histrione wealth of experience in a school that lias passed forever, personal charm and intellectual visor, were wasted to pive expression to tho transitory pifile transplanted from the Meanwhile Shakespeare and the other crassies. plays in which lie could appear with rtaz'ins brilliancy, were left in the hands of a ranter on one side and a hardworking but mechanical, non-sympathetic, actor on the other.

Nowhere in this broad line Is there a training school for actors of classic roles; nowhere are the younsy players enabled to learn from masters and from use of their own powers of precept ion how to read poetic lines, now to impart to a. role the suggestion of romantic charm, how to simulate transport ot tragic race or the grief of unutterable woe. The traditions, sometimes the bugbear of sane character 'portrayal, are passing to the limbo of things forgotten, simply because those who would keep them alive by month to mouth narration are tottering on the brink with occupations gone. Here is the one man on whom the hope of the lover of Imperishable drama has fondly clung, and while he is striving valiantly to make bricks without straw and by ebnt of his own individual efforts create a vogue for a play that is beneath his notice, no one appears to teach, by precept and example, the refinements of the actors' calling. Mr.

Skinner is the one who should hitch Iiis wajjon to a star, not yoke himself to a. tumbril. It is because 1 have the greatest ailmlr. Davis players. What was said about thief plays applies to this one.

The company presented it even better than many that have preceded it. in fact, it was 'a distinctly notable production. Miss Hali gave an excellent portrayal of Nan. while Mr. Morrison was good as Batimer.

Mr. O'Nei! as the burglar, Mr. Harris. Mr. Miles, Mrs.

Wheatcrcft, Mr. Remley and Miss Starr doing especially effective work. Jn the Grand Opera House a very good bill of vaudeville was offered with several acts of headline proportions, but an unknown one, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mc-CJTeevy, with a comic musical act.

and a lot of new patter, made the greatest hit. Burr Mcintosh and associates appeared in a poor playet, Edwin Stevens and Tiny Marshall appeared in a sketch unworthy of their talents, amusing as it was. IJ1-lian Shaw with new songs, Marshall Montgomery, a clever ventriloquist, and others appeared. In the Lyceum Theater Chauncey Ol-cott appeared In a new play, "Barry of Bally more," in which he played one of his customary heroic Irishmen, full of sentiment and song. Th- story was -pleasing and the play well rendered.

It was handsomely produced and is a distinct departure in many ways from what Mr. Ol-cott has been presenting. In the Gayety Theater the attraction was "Follies of New York and Paris." with Charles Howard as the star. The burlesque show presented was an enjoyable one. Billy Watson and his company were In the Academy and gave an old style burlesque show" that pleased the patrons.

Ue ation for Mr. Skinner, because I recognize his great attainments, because in the past I have been charmed by his masterful portrayals, marvelled at his tinesse and almost deitied him among actors, that I grow peevish and scolding. One hates to see one's hero deviate from the straight and narrow path that ultimately leads to the actor's only reward a monument in the memory of his auditors. Now where's tbf fault? The suggestion that Mr. Skinner himself is more than quiescently responsible, I am prone to dismiss with a graceful but emphatic wave of the hand.

In these days or managerial domination we may, with some assurance. pomt out the exact cause of Mr. Skinner's deflection his management. This manager is noted for his predisposition to transplant plays of foreign growth, and a success on the other side, regardless of its purely local appeal, is sure to be seen here with a personality in the principal role, "presented by." If these plays be French the essentials, which are opposed to our standard of good taste, are eliminated, and to the injury of the offering, for then even the original appeal is gone. Instance "Israel," "Sampson," "Love "Watches." "The Scandal," and Innumerable eithers.

"Israel," a purely French play, was ruined to make an absurd "happy ending." "Mid-Channel" and "Smith" were distinctly Knglish in appeal, all the Maugham comedies, for that matter, are the same. But one may go through the entire list and of all the plays this manager has produced In this country, and but a very small percentage has been more than a success d'estime. John Drew, on past performance one of the best light comedians on our stage, has crystallized into a personality; Ethel Barrymore promises to do the same thing; Billie Burke will never be anything more; Ooro and Pauline Chase are jokes as stars; Maude Adams is a personality, charming in roles that do not necessitate characterization, but lamentable when the occasion does arise. broad comedy effect, for he is too large a man to have enacted it otherwise. The first three acts and part of the fourth are mere translations, substituting here and there words for the idiomatic French that are understandable and applicable.

The fourth act is a combination of the original fourth and fiuh acts. Roulette's farewell. "Mademoiselle, if vou have not seen a king. I have seen a queen," is in the fifth act and then comes the announcement that Roulette has been killed defending the king, and the play has an ending that winds up the story in a positive and unmistakeable manner, prettily and sympathetically. But to make 'Roulette a star part is almost as absurd as was Nat Goodwin's effort to make Bottom the star of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." To be eure Mr.

Skinner played his role weil It would demand a tremendous and unnatural effort on his part to do otherwise. Great and well-merited credit is to be given Mabel Bert for her admirable work as M'lle de Saint-Salbi. I don't know when I have witnessed such a sweet and charming portrayal or one more human and compelling. Mr. Skinner's company was a very capable one, with Alice Gale making much of a comparatively email part.

ness. The young man who starred In Pittsburgh last week in "Alias Jimmy Valentine'' received all the foundation for his theatrical work in England, coming to this country in During the seasons of IWW1-07, he appeareel as John Dan-bury, M. in Israel Zangwill'B comedy, "Nurse. Marjory," in support of Eleanor Robson. Later lie was seen In "Susan in-Search of a and in "The Girl1, Who Has Everything." The season of 3007-OS created a wonderful impression; in "Salomy Jane." and for the last two' seasons has taken the part of Jimmy in' "Alias Jimmy Valentine." 4 ger, for he had already favor with bis whimsical "The 'Professor's hove Story." The French authors have suffered rather than gained in fame owing to the manhandling of their plays, while the Knglish men must first gain recognition in their own country before they are taken up bv this man.

All the plays lie produces are of the most ephemeral type, some of them so transitory that they do not last more than a couple ot weeks. He has never encouraged an unknown author or given any of his stars a free hand in the selection of vehicles. The suggestion of putting Maude Adams out in the title role of "Ghanteeier" is in line with the wisdom he sometimes displays. Think of it! A role that tried the metal of a player like Guitry to be portrayed by a not physically strong woman! Mr. Skinner is the logical man for the part and this wit hot: quibbling.

It is to he regretted that Mr. Skinner is not possessed of some of the temperament that distinguished Mr. Mansfield, with whom he should have shared honors but as an independent star. The actor-manager, for such was Mr. Mansfield, places his mark high, picks his own plays, selects his own company, does his own producing and back of the curtain line is autocratic.

All these things Mr. Skinner, it seems, might do with honor and credit to himself and to the lasting benefit of the American stage. That he is versatile no one will deny, for he can play the most delicate comedy roles, the most flamboyant romantic parts, the intensely tragic ones and all with intelligent grasp and sympathetic, convincing force. Why, oh. why, elissipate such talents on the thin air of Roulette, a part that any actor familiar with the rudiments of bis profession could "get away" with? Why spend valuable time trying- to perfect a play which at best will 'have but a brief existence and neither add to his fame nor redound to the credit of the American stage? To -some actors this would not be a waste of time, but to Skinner it is and for the same reason that it would have been foolish for Marconi to have given up years to the construction of an electrical dumb elevator.

"Sire, which Mr. Skinner appeared, is not distinguished for "big" roles. In -f tit 5 'x For some unknown reason F. C. Whitney is deserting this country.

It seems. From London comes the news that Mr. Whitney has secured a 99 years' lease of the Strand Theater, at first ealled the 'Waldorf, and will reopen it in March as the Whitney Theater, with the first performance of'Albini's new comic opera, "Baron Trencke." Began in Melodrama. Edith Browning, who appeared In th Lyceum Theater last week as the leading woman in support of Chauncey Ol-cott, in "Barry of Baiiymoire," has tho rather unique distinction of having played nothing hut leading business since she" went into tho theatrical business 10 years ago. Miss Browning is a Chicagoan by birth, her family name being Knepper.

She first began to evince an interest in theatricals in amateur performances. Her father had been the instructor in the leading turner societies in Chicago and she naturally took to gymnastics of all forms. This fact i-tood in good stead in the first plays in which she appeared, where-. Si 4 WHAT WAS OFFERED IN OTHER PITTSSURGH THEATERS "Alias Jimmy Valentine," with H. B.

Warner as the star, was in the Alvin Theater. This is another of those thief plays and upon my word I am getting tired of them. I can't Imagine what thinking people see in them. In the first place plays like this, that is "Raffles," "In the Bishop's Carriage." "The Regeneration;" and similar things, are pernicious in the extreme. They all throw-about crime and criminals, particularly this "Jimmy Valentine," a certain glow MAME O'NEIL AND JULIA DEAN "The Rosary," coming again next month to the Lyceum Theater, proved the sensation of the season in Chicago, where it has just completed a three months run; it is now the talk of New York city, where It is running at the Garden Theater.

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-n 1 cr-; fv Hx 1- 5x -'x -1 i tr -xx4? Yx- 'i IX t'r 1 1 4 vtA-i i -f 4 Pi-il i i 1 I -rv K-V'-l X4 1 IX-; -X -v- 4, t. v. kr 1 AS THEY WILL APPEAR IN THE NIXON THEATER A SCENE FROM A SCENE FROM OFFER IN THE DUQUESNE' THEATER 'THREE WEEKS," WHICH COMES TO THE LYCEUM THEATER THIS WEEK. WHICH THE DAVIS PLAYERS WILL THIS WEEK. IN "THE LILY," THIS WEEK..