Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-02
How They Hold the Mirror
Up to Nature.
The Weeks Bills at the Local
Playhouses Set Forth.
Madam Hermann Wants the Steen
Combination for Her Circles.
Points on Plays and Players from Many
Places, With a Few Notes on Music
Thrown In.

nights. The house was very good for a
night in Los Angeles, which is
not by any means given to Sunday night
theaters. The show is good one. The
first part is gorgeous in its regal splen-
dor, SO far as plush and silk go. The
various specialties and other business
too are above the average in minstrelsy.
During its short stay here it ought to do
a good business.
Willard Spenser's bright, tuneful
opera, The Little Tycoon, which scored
such hit when presented in Los An
geles last. will be at the Grand opera
house Monday and Tuesday nights,
with a special matinee performance
Tuesday afternoon. The company ar
rived here by special from the north
Saturday, bringing with them all their
magnificent scenery, which will greatly
enhance the attractiveness OF the per-
formance. Of the opera very little can
be said that is not already known to our
theater-goers. General Knickerbocker
will be as funny as ever, and he is armed
with several new topical songs. Dolly
Dimple will be as coy as OF yore, and the
great Tycoon will love as passionately as
in the days gone by. OF course that
ever popular Love Comes Like
a Summer Sigh will be encored
and re-encored, and Managers McLain
& Lehman will be woeiully disappointed
if their standing room only" sign is
not used during the engagement 1t is
pity there are not more operas like
The Little Tycoon-bright, sparkling,
delightful, delicious; pretty girls. witty
sayings, catchy music, pretty scenery,
gorgeous costumes, and withal, whole
some and healthy. The writer has wit
messed the opera a dozen times, and
could do so half dozen more with
pleasure were the opportunity offered.
The Warde-Bowers company com.
mence four nights engagement
Wednesday night, presenting Shake
speare's Henry VIII; Thursday night,
Merchant of Venice and Katherine and
Petruchio; Friday, Othello; matinee,
Henry WILL; Saturday night, Macbeth.
The Sacramento Bee says: The Metro
politan theater was comfortably filled
last night, when the WardeBowers
company presented double bill, The
Merchant of Venice and Katherine and
Petruchio, the latter being two acts
from Shakespeare's Tanning of the
Shrew. Warde makes one of the best
Shylocks ever seen in this city. 1t was
a magnificent representation OF the
greedy, grasping Jew, without rant.
His identity was completely hidden-he
was, indeed, Shylock. The strongest
and most thrilling scene was at the
trial, in which Shylock almost savagely
insists upon the payment OF Antonio's
bond. The acting of Mr.. Warde was sim
ply superb, particularly in the place where
Shylock learns that he will neither get
the coveted pound of flesh nor have his
gold returned. The grief of the old man
was most pathetic, and while there were
story, had fairly gloated over his losses,
to almost share in his sorrow. 1t was
one OF the best things Mr.. Warde has
done here, yet the Sacramento theater-
goers prefer to see him in the more vig-
Orous and romantic roles. Mrs. Bowers
fairly shared the honors of her colleague
last night. She made most charming
Portia, and when she read the equality
of mercy" lines her greatness as an act
ress was fully realized. She spoke like
a trained lawyer and orator, with force
and eloquence. AS Petruchio Mr.. Warde
had an admirable opportunity of dis
playing his versatility. He surprised
his admirers by the brightness of his
comedy. He fairly bubbled over with
mirth and life, but was fully determined
to tame the vixenish Kate. While he
made himself perfect tyrant towards
her, it seemed that his eyes fairly
beamed love upon her, and that he was
l. ~ 81 81 ~
in her presence. Miss Coggswell made
a decidedly pretty and quite shrewish
Katherine, yet there is sort of awk-
ward or amateurish way about her
which prevents her from being thor
oughly good actress.
When the Steens were here medium
challenged them to do her tricks. Then
she took sick, and the wager was not
lost or won. A letter from the medium
as follows is little remarkable:
OAKLAND, Feb. 25, 1871
No. 40S Thirteenth street.
To the Ticket Seller at Box Ofhce Los Angeles
Theater:
l do not know your name, SO you will
excuse the above address. / would be
very glad if you would tell me the COM
bination by which Mr.. Steen and Mrs.
Steen are able to do the transmission
of thought" business. I do not intend,
and, in fact, will agree not to use it in
any hall. I have got two large rooms
here, and am going to give circles twice
a week, and / am going to have a girl
with me, one Della Wiess. She is COM
ing up here from the Painters hotel in
Pasadena in two weeks. With her |
can work the Steen trick easy, and with
a little slate writing, the cabinet tricks,
etc., willbe able to charge a dollar ad
mission to the circle, and | would
rather have circle of ten or twelve
twice week in my rooms than stand
the expense and inconvenience of a hall.
I hope you will tell me, and please don't
tell any one anything except that was
sick, for l am coming back soon. Ii
you should come to San Francisco call
over, and will let you into the circle
for nothing. Very respectfully,
MADAME HERMANN.
In discussing plan to have English
opera in New York, the New York
World has this: But there is whisper
that we shall not necessarily be depriv-
ed of Wagnerian operas, even while
Italy holds the Metropolitan fort. The
Juch Opera company has just concluded
a season in San Francisco, and the
financial salvation was achieved by the
presentation of Lohengrin, Tannhauser
and The Valkyre, in English, Miss Juch
singing the Elsa, Elizabeth and the