Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-28


eonation.
The Childs Opera House was crowded
last night in auditorium and gallery by
certainly the largest, most fashionable
and brilliant audience which ever assem-
blsd in Southern California. The
beauty aud fashion Of Los Angeles were
fully represented and the rich and rare
toilets Of the ladies'. cooperating with
the gariah and opulent ornameniatiou Of
the theater, ablnzs with gas Jets aud
gorgeous chandeliers, male upa scene
TO be long remembered. The last min
ute touches had been given TO the build
ing and stage appointments. and every.
thing went OF like clock work. There
was not the slightest friction TO indicate
that both tbehter aud machinery were
on their trial for the first critical inspec.
iion Of the public.
After tho performance Of M overture
by the orchestra, led by Prof Engel-,
which, by the way. wusrendered with de-
cided skill, as were all the musi ca, selec-
tions Of the evening, Mayor Thorn
appeared and delivered the following
brief address;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Such an
asnemblage Of beauty, culture, g'ace and
fashion, Of lovely women aud brave men,
as confronts mo ut this moment indicates
the presence Of AN event Of
much pith aud moment. The
aesthetic taste Of tho inhabitants Of
this, the city II the Angels, has yearned
with an exceedingly great desire for II
home, consecrated to Cal'iope. Melpom.
one, Eruto aud Thalia, noble sisters.
four of the immortal Muses--nine--.
aud their devotees. for "A tabernacle
wherein art could hold up the mirror TO
nature aud throw back her very self in
purest image. Dreams Of such u con.
summation visited our pillows after
twilight had drawn her sable curtain
and pinned it with star" and hopes Of
fiuition Of tho vision, walked with us
while in the pursuit Of our diurnal
fancies. Great requirements ever bring
to the front the mighty mind, the will
ing hand. the open purse. When the
OCCASION calls, up rises the hero This
one has been met anl answered by our
modest and esteemed fellow citizen. Mr..
o. w. Childs. who. while Supplying
great public want, has here erected last
ing, agrand monument to his generosity,
his taste and his enterprise. Tuin your
eyes in whatever direction you may and
you behold II thing Of beauty, this "joy
forever" that his genius has made tang.
BILE. Long may he live to enjoy his
lovely creation and to read In the eyes OF
appreciative youth. beauty and matured
age, tho depth Of their gratitude. With
heart felt thanks to him, and in his
name, with u united voice which will
sweotly echo along the arches IT coming
time, we do now dedicate the Childs
Opera House, this beautiful temple, to
the Art Histrionic, 10 the purposes Of
the legitimate drama, and to the ediiica-
lion and enjoyment Of all who appreci-
ate II.
After some further music by the or
chestra. loud calls were made for Mr..
o. W. Childs. 10 whose munifcence our
people are indebted for the new theater.
That gentleman stepped to the front Of
the box reserved for his family and
Acknowledged the compliment in u few
words which were quite happy and to
the point. In building the theater he
had aimed, he said, to please the people
Of Los Angeles, and their presence there
in such large numbers aud kind recogni-
ton Of himself showed that he had sue
ceeded. The house next rang with calls
for Mr.. Voegtlin, the artist who had
painted the theatre, who appeared aud
bowed his Acknowledgements. Col. Gray.
the designer OF the ediiice. was next
complimented by II clamorous call. but
his constitu tional modesty doubtless
prevented his appearance. as he failed
to respond.
All the preliminaries usual TO the oc.
casion having been gone through with,
the curtain rang up on a notably mer.
itorious and satisfactory rendition Of
Richard Brinsley She,idan's famous CON-
edy, 1.-THE School for Scandal"
MADEM0IsELLE RHEA.
Perhaps in no more decisive way
could Mademoiselle Rhea have chal-
lenged the criticism of an intelligent au.
diencs than by her assumption of the
role Of Lady Teazle. 1t would bs quite
natural to look for effective acting from
her in passionate lines, like those of the
Dame Of the Camelia. or Adrennc lie.
couvreur. which admit of much decla.
nation. but this exquisite inlividualiza-
ton OF Sherdan's calls for tho light and
glancing dialogue in which the incest
inllexions Of the iiioms of tho English
language would seem to be essential.
The charming actress who held the
boards last night approached her task,
to begin the summary Of her defects and
excellences. with personal attractions Of
a high order aud an absolutely inimita.
BILE stage make up. In movement and
attitude atd archness of intonation she
was grace itself. Beautiful and spirit.
uelle, she is also vivacious and sprightly
to the extreme, Her action, as in dane.
ing the minuet in the first act, is the
very poetry of motion; and, from
the glean of her diamond earrings
to the mnsterly manipulation Of her train,
the woman of fashion was disclosed in
the most alluring manner, and this con.
summate fascination was maintained by
her to the end. She unquestionably
ditcloses a pronounced French accent
IL is quite as decided AZ that of Madame
Janauschek, and Is more apparent than
that of Modje.ka. During the first act
this popularity undoubtedly initiated
against an instant rendition of verdict
OF the audience, which afterwards crys-
tallized in her favor. and to an enthus.
iastic extent. What was at first re.
garded as defect soon came TO be ac-
cepted as a charming characteristics; and.
long before the second act had drawn
to close, Mademoisells Rhea had car.
ried her audience by storm. In the
finesse and chic of a dashing and i'm.
pulsive woman of the world she dis.
played histrionic resources which are
priceless. Enough has been indicated
during the first night of her engagement
to make patent the fact that our people
may look for week of exceptional en-.
jOYment and for perfection OF acting
which has certainly never been paral-
leled in Los Angeles.
During the second act mammoth
floral horseshoe, from the center of
which depended basket of rare exotics,
was presented to Miss Rhea NV Mr.