The record-union., 1891-02-14
ADJUSTMENTS.

The Metropolitan Theater was crowded
last night by representative audience to
welcome Lotta. The play, "Musette," is
pretty little drama by Fred. Marsden.
1t is not novel i'll plot, but is a well told
story and sparllles with witticisms and
epigrammatic wisdom. 1t does not
impress the auditor deeply, but
serves to amuse and sustains the interest
well. The supporting company is an ex-
cellent, one throughout-there are no
weak people in it. AS for Lotta, she is
the Lolita of old, but naturally samewhat
subdued; she is the mature woman Lotta,
not the girl Lotta of the palmy days of
early California. She is tieshier than
when she danced and sang to the delight
OF San franciscanS years ago, and made
her clogs rattle upon the boards OF the
pioneer theaters. Bat she has not lost
the charm of the old time. Her
features glow as of old with
,mirthfulness half suppressed her
voice is that of the Lolita who created the
role of the '.Soubrette Starr that hum.
dred have initiated, but which none have
improved upon. She did not give in
"Musette" any exhibitions of the hard
work dancing of earlier years, but more
graceful without being less nimble, she
here and there took steps that proved her
ltOl " lidNt tDdiluOlicd IfGI StNlC. -IOE S&-
amples of which crowded houses in
the sixties used to clanor. She
is better actress than the
younger Lotta. She has refined
her methods so much that old admirers
were just little disappointed. They
wanted to see Lotta with her stout shoes
on and the banjo upon her knee and hear
her voice once more in the plantation
melodies. But she did better, she
gave an old-time lullaby with charming
effect, ana in a voice that test fed to
training and musical knowledge: and she
sang also quaint refrain to quartet, sus-
tanned by concealed singers, and in both
cases was called TO repeat the airs again
and again. Her act in ''Musette' is that of
the true artist; it is the presentation
of character for which no one
could be better adapted than
Lotta, that of big-hearted, romping,
gleeful, neglected, girl, whose sense of
humor is so great that it is constantly
overtlowing and biossoming into dancing
and bubbling mirth. Lotta,s soubrette is
model, because it is so clean, so free
from grimace, suggestive motion or vul-
gar high-klcking that it amuseS without
provoking a single coarse gGifaw from
those who may have attended TO crafty a
taste for music-hall antics. In short,
Lotta's soubrettc has the finish that might
well attach to acting in the high
est walks of the drama. Tonight in
Ina" she viii be seen in part that inn
poses less restraint, that is more musical,
and. gives her better opportunity to
manifest her distinctive personality and
varied talents. 1t was her best drawing
piece in San Francisco. In it she as
sumes the character of street singer,
and during the play appears in several
disguises-or distinct characters-for her
versatility is marked. But the public can
rest assured that while she will please
thoroughly and entertain satisfactorily
there will be the same cleanliness and
neatness and finish that she gives to all
her acting.
The attraction at the skating rink to-
night will be mile race between Arthur
Crozier, the local champion skater, and
William Knapp, who has the reputation
of being the fastest short-distance bicycle
rider in America. The race promises to