Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-07-17
ADJUSTMENTS.
Fanny DavenpOrt's ssFedoraO at
the Grand Last Night.


the Grand Last Night.
A frst-class attraction never fails to
draw fine house at the Grand Opera
House. The appearance of Fanny Dav-
enport as Fedora in the play OF that
name by Victorien Sardou last night is
a case in point. Brilliant, sympathetic,
but critical to the last degree was the au-
dience, which greeted this gifted daugh-
ter of America.
Fedora is an excellently constructed
play. 1t is full of move
ment1 of fine points, of thrilling lines
and exciting situations in all its acts.
The opening act is particularly striking
for it's rapid movement, it's crowded in
cidents and its telling climax. Another
characteristic OF the play is that while
the cast is very large there are no dummy
roles therein. The leading roles are
all exigent and demand at al
most every moment the strongest
kind Of work at the hands
of those cast to them; and the least
prominent parts demand intelligent
study and a good deal of artistic treat
ment at the hands of those who essay
the work.
Miss Davenport has surrounded her
self with strong company. They are
all we'll versed in their roles and pro-
duced most artistic combination at all
points.
In these least prominent roles the act
ing of Theo. Roberts as the "Coachman"
is very neat. In the "double" as "Pierre
Borof, he displays much discrimination,
too. He is not stranger here, and he
has amazingly improved.
Chas. j. Edmonds is also we'll known
here. As the ''Chief of Detectives" last
night, he displayed much of that high
order of talent and painstaking acting for
which he is known.
Mr.. Melbourne Mcdowell, in the ext
gent role of "Louis Ipanoff," discovered
talents of very high order. His ply
sique is strikingly manly. His portrayal
of deep emotion in both voice and face
is perfect. He loves "Fedora' like a
god and he throttles her like lion. In
this last act one is really solicitous for
the neck OF the fair creature
he seems 80 earnestly intent on
numbering. His recital OF the
causes which lead to the murder
of VLADIMIR, and of the incidents attend
ing that act stamps Mr.. Mcdowell as
most accomplished declaimer.
Miss Davenport is too thoroughly we'll
known by American play-goers to leave
much to be said of her. This is her first
appearance in Los Angeles, but most of
those who sat spell-bound by her mas
terly acting last night, have seen
her elsewhere, and the deep and
crowding emotions which stirred
so many hearts on this occasion were
only the repetition of such as they had
often felt before. Miss Davenport has
all the qualities that 60 to make great
actress. In form she is statuesque,
queenly; in movement she is grace it.
self; fair of face and gifted with a sweet
ly melodious, powerful but nicely modu-
lated voice, and then gifted with rare in
telligence and accomplished in
all the finest points OF her pro-
fession, by close study under the
best masters, there is nothing left to
desire. She has studied and played
Fedora until the part has become in
some sense herself. Her passions as
developed by the requirements of the
play discover the tender love of Venus
commingled with the bitter hate of fend
and the ferocious anger of tigress.
Fedora holds the boards tonight and
tomorrow night, and there is no risk in
saying the house will be filed at both
performances.