"TIGER ROSE"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 288, 30 August 1920, Page 6

"TIGER ROSE"

A DRAMA OF NORTH-WEST CANADA "Tiger Hose," a drama in three acts, by' Willard Mack, originally produced by David flelasco. Cast:— Mak-a-Low William Buckley Pierre La Bey 0. Henry Gordon Wa-Wa Louise Waller Hector M'Collins Douglas Ross Old Tom William Driscoll Michael Devlin Ethan Allen George Lantry Reginald Goodo Hose llocion Marie Ilka Dan Cusick, M.D John Waller Father Thibault' George Bryant Ht'uce Norton Frank Hatherly ConstabL llaney Charles Bertal Standing 1 by itself, Willard Mack's play "Tiger Rose" does not withstand the acid test of analytical criticism with any marked degree of success, but as embellished by that wizard in etago eflec'ts, David Belasco, It is at least made a very interesting series of pictures illustrative of one phase of life in primitive North-west Canada way back of Alberta County. It is the Belasco touch that gives life; to many characteristic bits of business and st'age realism that vivify the story, hut best of all he Ims introduced an ninatihc storm scene the like of which has ;>cvcr been seen or heard on the slug" in any previous production. The sceno is the Interior of the ca'oln of one of tho factors of the Hudson Bay Company, and as night collies up the background blackens. then tho wind whimpers and >"oan3, and gathering giant force among t'e mountains it rushes down with a shriek and a roar that is positively thrilling, hurling itself at tlfo' clearing until even the curtains withTn the Bimg room flap wildly. The wtnß di'es 'down a little, and one is just beginning to'think that the storm ie at .111 end when the darkness Is riuped by a llosli of liehtnlng, and the artillery of the heavens sends a shudder through the audience. With the echoes of the thunder still reverberating among ino mountains down comes tho rain, at first ;unt 11 hroivy shower, then In a perfect deluge of tropical weight aud density. Nothing can be seen except the blackness through the open door, but, the. rain sounds terrifying in Its fury, 'and as the only light is that supplied by the lightning. the effect is most weird and wholly convincing. It is what happens during that storm on which a vital part of tho play dependß. Rose Borion is a FrcncnCanadian girl of eighteen. She had gono north with a dissolute father, who had had trouble with the Church in Montreal, and for that reason Rose grows up almost untutored and with an abhorrence of the Church and good Father Thibault, who longs to conirol hor thoughts in the proper way. Her father dies, and Rose is adopted by M'Collins, the Hudson Bay Company's factor, and being young and fresh and amiable she is adored hy everyone 011 the post, including particularly Pierre la Bey and Michael Devlin, of the North-West Mounted Police. But Rose'H real love is not for them. She loves them all "vor' mooch, but just lak same as my dog"—so she tells tho swanking Irish policeman. Then one day, she meets in the forest a young engineer with his theodolite, and they talk much and meet often, without the factor's knowledge. Roso knows as soon as he touches her hand that Bruce Norton 1b "her man." On the morning preceding tho storm comes tho news to the post that there lias been a murder committed at the construction camp over the ridge, and that there is a hue and cry after tho man—Bruce Norton. Rose is terrified at, the newß, and almost demented at the dendlincss of Devlin's arrangements to effect a capture. 111 her desperation to do something to help Bruce to escape, she gains the aid of Wa-wa, her Indian maid, and Dan Cusick, M.D. Night comes, and with it 11 report that the hunted man had been to Pierre's hut to try and buy a horse, and Pierre, who was out at the time, swears tlmt he saw tnc man twice in'the bush. That night Roso secretes the escapee in tho cellar under the factor's house, and there he hides when the wrath of the heavens falls. During the teeming blackncss tho suspicious Devlin takes it into his head to search' the factor's house for the murderer. Rose speedily gets her lover out of the cellar, and places him in a tall old "grandfather's clock." i Devlin creeps into the room, marks tho time, and sees that the clock is going, then, attracted by an extra broadside of thunder, ho goes to tna door, and in that moment Bruce slips from tho clock and into the cellar again. That saves him for tho night. From there he steals to a ruined hut in the woods some miles away, and there is supplied with food and the wherewithal to make his escape. There is another Belasco effect In the picturesque dawn cffect at tho hut. Roso coines to meet hor lover, and the doctor follows. There the boy tells why he committed tho murder. The man murdered had induced his sister to leave her husbnnd and then had basely deserted her. Tho revelation Is loaded, as Cusick proves to be the husband who was betrayed, and who has been looking for tho very man that his young brother-in-law has shot. After making their plans, there is a move to depart, when from a bunk springs Devlin, and covering them all with his gun is about- to handcuff Bruce, when Roso and the doctor attack tho big policeman, knock llis gun from his wrist, and cover the o'red-shirt." Rose allows Bruco to go, and stays the night with her back to tno door, holding Devlin a prisoner. When the dawn breaks, Bruce is brought back to the hut by. Father Thibault, who has persuaded him to give himself up. From this point the dramatic intensity curiously fades away in favour of light comedy all round, though the young man's position is Just as serious as ever, and tho curtain I falls most unexpectedly and inopportunely 011 it being arranged that Hose shall marry Bruce and accompany him to Edmonton, where is ho is to be tried far ui» life. Never has a play been so inconclusively ended. Many remained in their Beats uutil the orchestra played "God Save •the King," and only then was it mado clear that there was to be no "liappy-ever-after" ending. The play is admirably cast. Miss Marte Ilka gave a delightfully bright and richly intelligent portrait of the waif of the Canadian forcot. She has a voice full of musical tones, which can be readily attuned to any emotion, from those sugary sweet ones with which she wheedles Devlin, to those of tigerish ferocity, when the lanky policeman trios to bccomo a Utile too familiar Tho dialogue throughout tho storm 6ceuo could not ho heard continuously, but at its end, when her lover has escaped for tho time being, Rose throws herself on her infidel knees and fervently prays: "By dam, I think Father's Thibault's God, we be goot friends!" which is tho girl's way of thanking the Deity for favours received. Mr. Ethan Allen made a gallant flguro in the uniform of the North-West Mountcds, aud played the part with a sang frold born of an Irish temperament and an «• aggeratcd ego. Mr. Douglas Ross as tho philosophic M'Collins gave a good charac--tcjr study, and Mr. John Waller struck a deep, serious note, as Dr. Cusick. reminding one at times of the style and manner of the late Cuylor Hastings.' Mr. C. Henry Cordon was particularly happy as Pierro la Bex. He was quick and natural, and spoke the patois witli attractive lluency. He also plays tho violin (sweetly, and keeps 011 loving Rose all through with dog-liko devotion. Mr. GeiVge Bryant was an intensely English-French priest as Father Thibault, but otherwise lent weight and dignity to the role. Mr. Frank llatherlv was not a very Interesting Bruco Norton, and Mr. R. Goodo has to pluy the part of George Lantry, who is apparently introduced m order to ask questions, so that tho audience will be made wise as to what iS happening. Neither he nor Old Tom (Mr. William D.riscoll) have any bearing whatever 011 the plot. The Indian rolo of Mak-a-Low (Mr. William Buckley) fades away after the first ten minutes, and Wawa 'Miss Louise Waller) Is chiefly occupied in saying that everything and everybody is ''110 goot." The two settings aro good, but the play really revolves round thai wonderful twenty minutes' storm. Tho company is « J. and X. Tait importation. "Tiger Hose" will be played throughout the week.