Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-30
ohilds Opera House.

The third night Of the Rhea season
was signalized by the same large
and fashionable attendance which
has characterized the week thus
far. The Unequal Match" held
the boards and was a marked sue
cess. bringing out the full strength Of
the company. 1t afforded tue star an
ample opportunity to display her excep-
tional histrionic gifts to the best advant-
age. 1t is a society play with strong
dash Of melodrama. The dialogue is
sparkling, the action rapid aud sufii-
GENTLY varied and a pleasant deaoaement
is reached after series of adventures
which afford the heroine, Hester Gray
brooke, ample opportunities Of showing
capabilities ranging very pleasingly from
grave to gay. Sir Harry Arncliffe. who
had won the love of Hester, the
daughter Of the village blacksmith. as
simple artist, is loyal to his pledges up
on learning that he had become W, althy
and q baronet, and marries her,
In the exclusive circles OF
the West End of London the husband
becomes ashamed Of the naive and coun-
trified ways Of the Yorkshire lass whom
he had elevated to high social station,
and the crisis is availed of by Mrs.
Montressor, an old fame, to assert
her empire over him. Sir Harry is
ordered by his physician to q German
Spa for his health, and by contretemps,
stratagem which Hester had con-
trived TO send Lady Montressor, who is
q little Of a"hyppo.' to Germany. brings
them together. Lady Arncliffe also
opportunely appears upon the scene.
Pride and the energy born Of love. trans.
forms her into o finished woman Of the
world, she meets her rival on common
ground and reconquers the love Of her
husband.
Madsmoiselle Rhei throughout the
whole evening was charming and artis-
tic. From the opening scenes. in which
she figures as the beautiful but rustic
daughter of the uncouth Yorkshire
blacksmith, to the finale, the most ex-
acting criticism could demand no grace
or aptitude which she did not display
from any woman whose native tongue
was not glish. Her lines seemed to
be exactly adapted to developing her
great wealth Of expression and variety
and grace Of action. Her toilets were
superb; and, in the last act especially,
where she dazzles her husband by the
splendor Of her assumption Of the role of
lady Of fashion, the resources Of the
milliner's art were carried to climax.
Her rich robes and princesse train lent a
grace and dignity to her really fine elo-
cution which were delightfully."- apparent
and were warmly applauded.
We have been at pains in previous ar
ticles to say that the Rhea company is
really very sterling one. In fact with
the exception Of the Diplomacy Combi-
nation, when it comprised Montague,
Mand Granger. Jeffreys Lewis and other
superior artists, it is the best we have
seen nn the Pacific Coast since
the breaking up of the original
and unrivaled California stock company.
We are not captivated by Mr.. Arthur
Elliot. ani we admit it. II, later, we
shall have occasion to change our views
as to his merits we shall do SO cheer
fully and warmly. Nevertheless, he is
a capable man and acquitted himself ac-
ceptably as Sir Harry Arncliffe. MIR.
Re.ert G. Wilson is very superior char.
acter actor, and his John Grazebrooke is a
carefully elaborated rendition. He
gave the Yorkshire dialect deliciously,
and without OVERRIDING it. There are
wells of comedy in Mr.. George Wood
ward, and his DR.. Boerhave Botcherby
was finely done-done to perfection, in.
deed. The combination abounds in low
comedians Of capital grade. amongst
whom we ought to particularize Mr.
Owen Rrres, the Sir Sowberry Honey
wood. Mr.. Leo Cooper. the Blenkinsop
Mr.. John T. Sullivan, the Capt. Chill
lingham, and Mr.. J. r. Amory, the
Tofts. of the "Unequal Match" cast OF
last night.
Miss Eugenie Lindeman. as Mrs
Montressor, confirmed the very favorable
impression she has made upon her Los
Angeles audiences. Her cnunciation is
singularly sweet and pure, her toilets
are characterized by exquisite good taste,
her elocution is natural and unstrained,
and she is altogether a most charming
artist. As ssubrette Mrs. Ella Wren
deserves oil the praise attached to spe
cially high rank in her profession. She
is good 10 all she attempts. but she was
superlatively thorough as Bessie Ebble-
thwart last night.
Take it for all in all, the production
Of the "Unequal Match" in Los Angelo,
was an emphatic dramatic triumph.