Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-05
PLAYS AND PLAYERS
The Liliputians This Week
at the Opera House.
They Will Be Seen in the Pu-
pill in Magic.
An Outline of the Play and Some
thing About the Players.
A Version of the Old Faust StOry-The
Scenic Effects-A Novel Produc-
tIOn-News Notes and Gossip.

Great expectancy is felt regarding the
appearance of the Liliputians at the
opera house, beginning on Tuesday even
ing.
The following statement is made to
the HERALD, regarding the players and
the play:
According to the unanimous verdict
OF the entire press OF the east and west,
these wee actors are really wonderful;
despite their small stature, they are
highly accomplished artists.
For many days a full army of carpen-
ters, electricians, machinists and other
mechanics have taken possession Of the
stage OF the Grand opera house, to pre-
pare it for the presentation of The Pupil
in Magic, the spectacular play OF this
company.
The plot OF The Pupil in Magic is a
very simple yet interesting one. 1t is
new version OF the old Faust tale. The
hero, represented by the soubrette, Miss
Selma Goerner, makes a contract with
Puck little Franz EherD whereby he
will enjoy all the pleasures of life if he
will promise to be inconstant in hisfove
affairs. Faust agrees to this, but begs
to except his mother, whom he loves
dearly. But Puck does not even allow
this affection. Finally Faust agrees to
be led by Puck through a life of 10y and
merriment. He wanders through Ger
many, enters the gay city of Paris, sees
the Italian carnival, and finally finds
himself in beautiful landscape near
the north pole. His diversions are many,
but the old love for his mother is
still in his heart. He cannot abandon
the nope that he may see her again ,and
highly dramatic scene ensues, when,
in the last act, he meets her again, but
is commanded by Puck not to recognize
her and to deny his identity. The last
transformation scene brings Faust to
the automaton shop of his uncle, where
the play commenced in the first act, and
not until then does he ascertain that all
the adventures he has gone through
were but dream. He is overcome
with 10y to see his mother again, who
has travelled far to see how her son was
prospecting in his new occupation as a
pupil in magic.
This play, it is asserted, gives full op-
portunity to all the Liliputians to show
their talent as actors, singers and CO.
medians. 1t is successful because it is
so bright, clean and wholesome, because
the ballets are brisk and graceful, be-
ians with the background OF exception
ally elongated humanity is in itself ex-
tremely comical. 1t is claimed to be
something new, and that at time when
the people are craving for something out
of the usual style, and when theater-go-
ers are over-fed with farce comedies and
other light entertainments OF the same
kind. 1t is distinguished merit of this
performance to be so odd and new, so
clever and bright, so clean and enter
tanning.
Besides the small actors, much at
tractiveness is added to the play by
scenic embellishments and the presence
of a large, we'll trained ballet corps.
The name of the Liliputians has been
bestowed upon the company by the en-
peror of Russia, before whose court
they appeared in March, 1889. All of
the midgets are less than three feet tall,
with the exception of Miss Minchen
Becker, the leading lady, who rises one
inch above the enormous height of three
feet. She is thirtyseven inches tall
and seems to tower far above her col
leagues.
Mr.. Ebert is one of those natural
comedians who can set an audier ce
laughing with a single wink. He is a
born comedian whose talent is IN inverse
ratio to his physical proportions, and
his diminutive size gives to his natural
drollery of word, gesture and look an
effect that is irresistibly comical. He
will introduce scene in which he ap-
pears to be slightly gay, the consequence
OF light spree, and his quaint, whim-
sical acting in itself is one OF the most
clever things ever seen ON an American
stage.
Among the scenic effects are the auto
maton shop, Eifel tower, illuminated by
thousands of electric rays, the palace Of
games and the wandering woods. The
ballet is said to be composed of young
and good looking dancers, and is in no
wise conventional. The marches and
other features of the ballet are said
In the first act the ballet
represents the night revels Of the auto
mata, while in the third act after the
sylphs have danced a gavotte, all the
various kinds of games, chess, cards,
ninepins, dice, billiards and other popu-
lar pastimes are represented by young,
good looking females.
The full grown actors who support the
diminutive stars are exceptionally clever,
though of course their task in this play
is limited one, as the heavy dramatic
burden rests entirely on the shoulders OF
the midget actors.
NOTES.
1t is said that both Barnum & Bailey IS
and Forepaughs circuses will be in
this city this summer.
The latest theatrical expression is
'ssitting on ice," and means an audience
that does not applaud.
The Grab Bag was pronounced sue
cess. Mr.. Mestayer should find it full OF
money every time he opens it.
Mr.. Frank Conant has left the Cooper
Fauntleroy company and is now mana
ger of the 81 Plunkard company.
1t is rumored in the east that Billy
Emerson and Jack Haverly will send
out big minstrel company next season.
A farce comedy is to be written
around" Carmencita's dancing for next
year. 1t will be in two whirls and q