Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-04-28

The Grand Opera House was crowded
to its utmost capacity last night by a
fashionable and appreciatiye audience
to enjoy the mastery rendition of Boz
ker's exquisite play, Francesca da Ri
mini. The piece is one Of the most
effective in the repertoire Of the actor,
and last night II was mounted fairly and
interpreted very acceptably as whole,
| allowing for the absence OF the drilled
supernumeraries who can always be
found in large. and who are never pre-.
sent in small city.
Every one is familiar with the story
of the Guelphs and Ghibellines, and Mr..
Boxer has taken phase of this deadly
and interminable struggle which has
been celebrated by poets without num-
Der, including even the illustrious Dante.
No more melancholy or sensational cpl
sode ever furnished material for the pen
OF the dramatist than the loves of Fran
cesca aud Paolo and the heroism and
wrath of the dwarfed but, as Boxer re.
produces him, almost God.like Lanci.
otto. In enacting this character Mr..
Barrett positively reaches the sublime
in tense, emotional and vehement decla-
nation. Through six acts the story is
developed with consummate skill, and the
interest never flags for moment. The
character OF Lanciotto in the hands
OF an artist less completely equipped
with all the subtler arts and graces OF
elocution than Barrett might weary one
and the interest Of the audience might
halt. But from the opening to the
closing scene last night there was
breathless interest in every detail of the
drama. In some respects Boxer makes
Lanciotti tread very closely upon the
heels of Richard Ill. 1t is possible that
if Shakespeare had not written that
Tatchless play Boxer might never have
peuned Francesca da Rimini; Just as ii
the same great poet had not written
Henry VIII, Bulwer might never have
caught the idea of his Richelieu. As
Barrett presents Lanciotti, it is an intro.
versive study of captivating power and
interest He succeeds in crystalizing
and sending to the remotest quarters OF
the house an ideal of wounded love, out
ragged pride and masculine thirst for
vengeance which has not been surpassed
by any actor of the day in any role. His
powers of defamation in parts suited to
him are phenomenal, his facial express
sion is mobile and sympathetic and his
ability to interpret the most acute phases
of human emotion is unsurpassed. He
was greeted at appropriate stages OF the
evening with storms OF applause.
10 h., ha
play is the jester, which was personated
by the leading man of Mr.. Barretts
company, Mr.. j. Newton Gotthold.
The writer last had the pleasure OF
meeting this gifted gentleman when he
was manager of the Pittsburg Opera
House. He is an actor of exceptional
qualifications, and he performed the
role of the witty and malignant court
fool to perfection. Mr.. Louis James,
when Mr.. Barrett sometime ago pro-
duced Boxers play in San Francisco,
enacted the character of Beppo, and he
established a very high standard for the
part Mr.. Gotthold was fully up to its
requirements last night, and woA fair
need of recognition from the audience.
During the course of the week this
highly accomplished artist will unques-
tionably endear himself to the Los An
geles public. He possesses histronic
qualifications of high and quite extend
ed range.
The Paolo of Mr.. F. C. Mosley was
highly effective and meritorious per
Torrance. He made up the part of
Lanciotto's handsome and misguided
brother in very attractive manner and
acquitted himself very cleverly in his
quite exigent cast.
The francesca of Miss Minnie X.
Gale was very winning impersonation
This young lady adds to great beauty of
face and graces of person clear and
persuasive elocution, captivating arch
ness and sweetness as the occasion
called for either, and capacity to re-
feet the graver passions which have
made her great favorite with our
amusement.goers.
Tonight Julius Cesar will be given,
with Mr.. Barrett in his great role OF
Cassius.