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Show MelodramaReigns Supreme in 'Branded" fpHE play "Branded," produced for the first time last niffht by the Wilkes Players, is replete with thrills, stirring situations and, humor. The machinations of a gaiiff 01 procurers, the underworld of New York, the struggles of a mother to save her daughter, make a play of , melodramatic character that is entertain-j entertain-j ins to -a high, decree. Kuth Beimar. the daughter of a woman wo-man who keens an infamous resort tries to outlive th? "brand" which parentage placed UDon her. She marries and thinks to escarps from the sordidnesa and disgrace dis-grace of her past life. "When hor joy and that of her husband is increased immeasurably im-measurably by the birth of a daughter, the activities of a blackmailer force Ruth to renounce all in order that she mav save her child from a life of disgrace. The efforts of the mother to save the child a:id her ultimate success make a drama that grips tensely the interest of the audience till the last curtain. To Nana Bryant, as Ruth Beimar, should be given unstinted praise. It is her abilitv to portray emotion of the most tempestuous sort and love of boundless depth that made the performance per-formance a .success. J, Anthony Smythe as "William Courtenay, husband of Ruth, gave an excellent portrayal with deft suretv of touch. Miss Claire Sinclaire, as Dot Beimar. the mother of Ruth, was very effective in her interpretation of the difficult role assigned to her. Miss Dora Clement, in the dual role of a college col-lege girl and of mother of "William Courtenay, gave two distinct character--ization.s. Frederic Moore, as the suave "Velvet" Kraft, made a good villain; A. Burt Wesner. as Douglas Courtenay, de-I de-I Dieted with ease the good-natured, fond j father. Miss Avis Manor, as the schonl ! principal and as an Italian girl, achieved i very creditable character-acting. Ancyn T. McNultv. as Tony, made one of the I distinct "hits" of the evening. Miss I Anna Berrvman. as Dora, was a very I adnrhTe nnd nrctt y daughter. "Whore her part dornnndr-d pnthop. she jv-hievrd t ho d i -sired f-i l'.m-L wit h much t-a ;e. nnd realism. Cliff Tli'n-.is.m. as Aiii"S. w;s. s- usual, sa i. i y fa. 't '.. ( ': rl T. I 'asv, a new nii'mHi'i' of tiie cnmpnnv; Wiiiif tvd WilkiH and William C. WaiVh ivundcd 'Ut a wt.-ll-balanced C'St. Casals Said to' Possess Sense of. Humor of the Keenest Sort. pAP.LO CASALS, the greatest Spanish -p II i t. " who will give a recital at , the Palt T.nkt1 'theater tonight. i a very human person cons id '-ring the fact that lie is one of the greatest living viuuosi. i He has an excellent sense of humor, which endears him to nil his associates. When he was a bov lie played the echo in an orchestra in Barcelona. The con-, con-, ductor, a fussy old person, was very difficult dif-ficult to satisfy. It happened that the j cadenza, an improvisation for the cello, ! was given to Cabals for a certain pcr-i pcr-i formanee. The first time that Casals played it In rehearsal the conductor snapped "Too long." Patiently Casals attempted it again, whereupon he w;is rewarded with "Too short." By this time somewhat in despair as to his ahil-i ahil-i i v to satisfy, he inquired innocently, "What about the width?" |