Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-28
SAN FRANCISCO LETTER,
A BREEZY BUDGET FROM HENRY
L, MERRITT.
Gossip About Plays and Players-R Recent
Productions at the Frisco Thsaters.
Comic Opera, Melodrama and Comedy.
San Francisco, Dec. "a, 1891.

SAN Francisco, Dec. "a, 1891.
was very much surprised at an ar
ticle which appeared in one the Los An
geles dailies recently, rejecting on
young actress. Ruby Illidge. Why this
little woman should have been made the
subject OF attack am utterly at loss
to understand. She is one of the sweet
est and most talented girls / have ever
met, and desire to correct some OF the
msstatements which are made. In
stead of being a raw amateur of one
years experience, Mics Illidge made her
first appearance ON the stage when only
3 years of age and has had an almost
continuous stage experience since,
for several years playing child's
parts at the various thea
ters here. She played Little Eva in
Uncle Toms Cabin for quite an extended
period. In fact, she was in Los Angeles
less than two years ago as member Of
the Great Metropolis company. Her
father is connected with the Tivoli, and
she Joined the Sullivan Harrison combi-
nation with the consent of her parents.
She resided with them before going to
Los Angeles with that company and did
after her return up to the time of the
company leaving for the east today.
Furthermore, she possesses decided abil-
ity and will surely distinguish herself
some day. These are the facts of the
case, and it would have been we'll if the
writer and publishers of the sensational
article referred to had taken some pains
to get at the truth of the matter
before committing such an outrage
against decency and gentlemanly cour-
tesy.
am glad that you will have an op-
portunity of seeing Willard. He is now
at the Baldwin, with The Middleman.
l consider him one OF the finest actors l
have ever seen. He is very different
from the general run, as he is not a bit
STACEY or theatrical, and resorts to no
tricks to win applause. He is simple
and natural, and he is an artist to his
finger-tips. Every look, every gesture,
every intonation of the voice is just as
it should be. He never Sights his work
for an instant, and gives everything its
full and true value. He has
splendid role in The Mid
dleman, that of Cyrus Blenkarn,
the old potter, studious, unworldly
chap, heart and soul absorbed in his
experiments and in his children. The
other characters are interesting, and
there is a good deal of human nature
displayed. Marie Burroughs as Mary,
his daughter, almost shares honors with
him. She is sweetly dignified and
strong. Lef1ie Pilbury, who is daugh-
ter of Lydia Thompson, by the way,
plays her sister, and is jolly, vivaclous
soubrette. Royce Carleton plays the
Middleman, the owner of the Tetlow
porcelain works, and Louis Massen his
son, f. II. Tyler, whom you will remem-
ber as member of the Palmer company
which visited Los Angeles year ago
last summer, is delightful as Jesse Pegg,
a British workman. The other charac-
ters are in good hands and the stage set
tings are perfect.
x**
The DEVILS Auction is at the Califor-
MIA. 1t is an old spectacle, with rather
good scenery, ballet, and some excel
lent specialties. 1t seems rather tame
after such a gorgeous extravaganza as
Sindbad, but it is a fair average specimen
OF its class.
John P. Kelley is at the Bush-Street
with U and |. 1t is funny concocton
and is made very entertaining through
the efforts of company of clever peo-
pie. John p. Kelly is the best Irish
comedian on the stage. His manner is
inimitable and his brogue is perfect. A
good deal OF bis work is purely legiti-
mate comedy, but of course in piece
of the kind much OF it is broad farce.
And he is very, very funny,
Dutch Daily plays Gus Williamss old
part. He makes his greatest hit with
his concertina speciality, which is really
marvellous. Imagine man initiating
on that much-abused instrument the
grand notes of a church organ or the
chimes of New York's Trinity. But he
does it, and finely. Fiorrie West is
very jolly English soubrette, and little
Aimee Angeles is a wonderful child
dancer. The remainder OF the company
are good, and the piece is enjoyable.
Xxx
The Christmas production at the Al
cazar is piece OF a spectacular nature
entitled Afra. The scene is laid in the
Alpine Tyrol. 1t is an adaptation from
the German, made tor Augustine Daily
some years ago, but which he never
produced. Ethel Brandon is playing
the part originally intended for Ada
Rehan.
NV
Frank Burrill's New York Opera Com
ique company is catching Oh at the Or
pheum. They give really excellent per-
for it is a fine company. |
They are giving The Mikado this week. |
Charles II. Drew is the Koko, and there |
is none better in the country. George
Olmi and Henry Hallman, late of the
New York Casino, play Pooh-Bah and
Nanki- Pooh respectively. Charles Flint
is fine Mikado, Tellula Evans is the
Yum Yum and Bebe Vining, one of the
brightest soubrettes in existence, is the
Pitti-Sing. The company is building up
a fine clientele and will, l think, be a
Notwithstanding the hoodoo
hanging over the Orpheum.
x#x
The Island of Zenobar is the holiday
attraction at the Tvoli. 1t is spec-
-acular production OF an adaptation
rom an old farce, The Illustrious
stranger. The scenery and costumes
sre pretty, but the piece is rather dull.
S*x
The attractions at the San Francisco