Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-29
SAN FRANCISCO THEATRICALs.
,ecial Correspondence to the HERALD.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26, 1891.
You are to see Mr.. Potter, of Texas,
which is now at the California, in Los
Angeles, and 1 think you will enjoy it
| very much. The play is rather inter-
esting; you all know about what it is
from the book, for nearly everybody has
read Mr.. Potter of Texas. The play
follows the outlines of the story very
closely, although there is no attempt
made at the spectacular, for the bonn
bardment OF Alexandria is not shown,
the action of the play beginning in
Venice after the return from Egypt.
Joseph Wheelock gives an excellent
performance of the Hon. Sampson Pot
ter. He portrays admirably the sturdy
manhoodiand independence of the Texas
cattle king, and is finished and artistic
in everything he does. But the honors
of the performance are carried off by one
who, from the character played, one
would naturally suppose would be Sec
ondary. Jeffries Lewis is magnificent as
Lady Sarah Annerly; magnifcent-that
is the only word which will describe
her and her performance. She has re-
gained all her old power and. is now as
she was when at her best before, peer
less in the Interpretation of characters
with something of the devil in their ma
lures. You know she made a tremen-
dous nit as Zicka in Diplomacy few
months ago in Chicago, when she played
it with Frohman's company in place of
Sidney Armstrong. She is now as re-
gally beautiful as she ever was, and looks
like queen among the other people in
the company. If she should star now
with good company in strong play
and under good management, she would
sweep everything before her. While she
is on the stage in this production we are
talking about she holds the audience
breathless, in rapt attention. 1t is a
long time since have seen such pown<
exerted by anyone but Bernhardt. If
her performance was the only thing in
Mr.. Potter of Texas worth seeing, it
would still be a great attraction. The
remainder of the cast is of varying abil-
ity, and ranges from satisfactory, SO to
speak, to good. The stage settings are
unusually good, and add materially to
the general effect.
x*x
Rosina Vokes is in her last week at
the Baldwin. Her business has been
very good, and there have been number
of crowded houses. This week she is
giving two bills, one composed of Game
of Cards, The Circus Rider, and the
Rough Diamond, and the other OF The
Old Musician, The Circus Rider and The
Double Lesson. She is just as charm
ing as ever and just as captivating.
Felix Morris is doing wonderful work.
In my opinion he is the finest character
IT, <x1, 1E- l. oto
support all round is good, and the enter
tainments she offers delightful.
AK
A Fair Rebel is on at the Alcazar for
this week and next. 1t is a war play of
considerable merit, although some peo-
pie have made the mistake of comparing
it with Held by the Enemy, the best
American war drama ever written. A
Fair Rebel makes capital of a
noted escape from Libby Prison
and has a number of very eff
fective hits. Ethel Brandon plays the
leading female role, and she has made a
pronounced hit. In one act she wears
the costume of confederate soldier.
The cast is uniformly good, and the
piece will undoubtedly be one of the
successes of the company on its short
road tour in the spring.
x*x
Skipped by the Light of the Moon is
at the Bush Street. 1t has been in Los
Angeles SO recently that there is no oc-
casion for writing anything about it..
The Musketeers is being given with sue
cess at the Tivoli. The Oriental Opera
company has bobbed up again, and
gives performance on Sunday night at
the Powell.
The Elks gave their annual carnival
last night at the big Mechanics pavil-
ion. 1t was aery successful affair.
The evening was opened by sort
of variety entertainment consisting
principally of gymnastic feats.
which was followed by the grand
march. There were number
of floats bearing some very handsome
tableaux and then long procession of
maskers. Then began the dancing. The
big floor was filled completely with
masquers innumerable, light haze of
smoke hung over all, and when colored
lights were thrown by calciums over the
scene the effect was very beautiful.
There were between seven and eight
thousand people in attendance.
NV
Frank Burrill brings another opera
company to the Orpheum. Rosina
Vokes goes to Portland from here and
then jumps straight to Boston. Yon
Yonson did a tremendous business at
the California, and will be out here
again next year. when it will visit Los
Angeles. Alma Aiken, the daughter OF
Frank Aiken, who used to play the Earl
in Little Lord Fauntleroy and is now a
member of the Potter of Texas company
had benefit at the Powell-street last
Sunday which was not benefit, as it
netted loss.
x*x
At the San Francisco theaters for the
week OF November 30th At the Bald
win, Thos. w. Keene in Richelieu
Louis XII, Richard III and The Mer
chant OF Venice at the California, Mr.
Potter of Texas; at the Bush-street
Duncan B. Harrison and John l.. Sulli
van in Honest Hearts and Willing
Hands; at the Alcazar, A Fair Rebel a
the Tvoli, Donna Juanita; at Metro
H. -