Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-26
In SAN FRANCISCO.
THEATRICAL MATTERS IN THE
METROPOLIS.
All Kinds of Fare Being Provided at the
Theaters-The L ceum Company-The
City Directory-Notes.
Correspondence of the HERALD.

SAN Francisco, July "a, 1891.
All kinds of fare are being provided at
the theaters this week, and new bills
have been offered all round. People are
coming back from the seashore, and thew
are finding an abundance Of good enter
tainment. The greatest interest has, of
course, centered IN the production of The
Idler at the Baldwin, by the New York
Lyceum company. 1t is not at all over
stating the matter to say that it is a
great production; doubt if any com
pany could do it better. The Idler is a
strong play, and is decided advance
upon Mr.. Chambers fret noteworthy
effort, Captain Swift. 1t is unique in
many respects, and the author has dis
played much originality in his concep-
tion and working out of situations.
XIV
The story of the play is simple and
straightforward. Side issues in the wav
OF comedy are introduced to some ex-
tent, which serves to tighten the play
and make it attractive as we'll as inter-
esting. The interest is strongly sus-
tanned throughout, circumstance due
to actor and company alike. I will
not spoil their pleasure for Angelef1os
by relating the story here, it is not one
which can be told and Justice done in a
few words. 1t is the strongest play the
company has yet appeared in, and gives
splendid opportunities, of which splen-
did advantage is taken. Nearly every
member of the company has sur
prised us by revealing unexpected
strength. That is, unexpected by the
majority, for there have been those who
have suspected the existence of latent
possibilities in several of the company.
Herbert Kelcey plays the Idler, and it is
a novel role in which to see him, We
have been so accustomed to see him as a
truly good man, and now we have him
as man who, though finely organized
and possessing noble impulses, vet
plays villains part and nearly wrecks
two lives besides his own. Mr.. Kelcev
himself assures me that he likes this
sort of thing the better. He plays the
character finely. The Idler is not a real
villain, that is, not real stage villain
that individual whose sole purpose in
life is to be bad he does wrong and |
comes near to doing dastardly act
through the overpowering influence of a
passion for woman. He does what he
can to atone afterwards. Nelson
Wheatcroft represents rising. states
man, a noble man, loving and
being loved by beautiful wife, but a
man with past, past which rises up
and well nigh crushes him. He gives a
great performance. I consider him one
OF the strongest men on the stage.
Eugene Ormonde, a member of the COM
pany new to us, does some exceedingly
good work as man bent on vengeance,
which he terms justice, and who falls in
love with the eister OF the wife of the
man whose destruction he seeks. It is
difficult role to play, calling for both
emotional and light comedy work.
Georgia Cayvan is perhaps the greatest
surprise. She plays. really superbly. a |.
woman who, trying to save her husband.
is wronged by the Idler and misiudged
by her husband. w. j. LIE Moyne gives
a delightful performance of light
comedy part and Effie Shannon plays
The. ingenue deliciously. Mrs. Charles
Walcot plays the mother of the Idler.
The City Directory is at the California, (
.evised and with practically new COM
,any. The City Directory is enough to ,
make Shakespeare turn in his grave, but
t is awfully funny. 1t was in Los An {
,eles about two years ago. but you would
hardly know it down there now. There
8 no plot to it, which is fact which the j
candidly admit. 1t is [
imply succession of incidents, sand
yiched with songs and dances. The in
idents are funny, and the songs and
lances, to use slangy expression, are {
great" The company by which they
ire presented is the best ever organized I
or anything of the sort, especially I
IS regards singing and dancing. !
Willis P. Sweatnam does Charlie
Reeds old part, the detective ,
Who never detects anything. 1t is his
irst appearance in white face, but he is
qual to the occasion, and he is good 9
niger. Dan Daily is making tremen-
lous hit as the Stage Manager. His
eccentric dancing is treat, he is so
limble and 80 graceful with those long
egs of his, and everything is done in +,
uch perfect time. He has no superior
s an eccentric dancer, and he is also a
omedian and good singer. Joseph G. !
diron plays A Bunco-Steerer, and we'll, q
90, and sings songs with magnificent
oice, which he brings up from some
where down in his boots. He
Ised to be with grand opera un-
il recently, but money will get
ven such man as he for
arce comedy. Luke Schoolcraft wears
black face as janitor and as call-boy at ! !
he theater, and is very funny. He
ings plantation song and does darky
7alk which are immensely fetching. l.
'urt Haverly is banker with virago
4 wife and a fondness for the society d
4 theater, girls, combination which
eeps him in hot water. Another good +
niger, Charles V. Seaman, is one of the
nost artistic singing comedians and $
ancers have ever seen.. He is very
riginal. julius P. Whitmark is young \
elbow with marvellous baritone voice. {
Imelia Glover, the little fawn, is with
he company. She is an American
ancer, and in my opinion, is the
est on the stage. Lille Eldridge is Il
he bankers domineering wife, Bessie T
cleveland is the prima donna of the q
iaiety, and Maym Kelso, Kate Uart
nd Marion Weller are three buds. Kate :
TART used to be considered the hand
omest Amazon march leader in the +
ountry. Then she went into comic
pera, and is now with farce comedy. ]
III of the ladies can sing, and sing we'll. q
he Directory is to be at the California
f~,, he Dck