Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-16
Impressions Made by the
Lyceum Company.
Their Engagement a Success in
All Particulars.
A Budget of News About San Fran
cisco Theatricals.
Alabama, Which Should Have Been Seen
Here-Features Of the City Direc-
tory-News Notes and Per-
sonal Gossip.

again been more than we'll received
Artistically and financially their visit
has been an unqualified success, and af
forded great satisfaction.
The three members who made the
most impression were Mr.. Radcliffe, Mr.
Ormonde and Miss Crossman. The
former is possessed of personality and
method distinctively his own; there il
nothing reminiscent about his work
nothing but what is novel and forceful
Mr.. Ormonde showed remarkable virility
in all his acting. He seems to be full oi
vitality which invigorates his style and
gives tone of perfect naturalness to all
he did. Mr.. Kelcey little affectations and
very artificial enunciation, serve as adj
mirable foiis to Mr.. Ormonde's easy,
vigorous delivery. Miss Crossman
played several roles exactly opposed in
conception, and played them all we'll.
She is capable OF portraying the tensest
emotional scenes, and is gifted with a
decided comedy talent. In fact she
rather overshadowed Miss Cayvan,
beautiful and finished as she is. Time
is dealing very gently with the latter
lady, but her figure gives her matronly
appearance, and her methods begin to
lack the elasticity and spontaneous ease
that is part of youth.
To the whole company Los Angeles
audiences are thankful for an elevating
pleasure. The appreciation OF their ar
tistic worth is universal and is deserved.
May they coon come back.
SAN FRANCISCO NEWS.
Special correspondence to the HERALD.
SAN Francisco, August 13, 1891.
Alabama is an exquisite idyl, pic
ture of life in quiet county of the
south, where, as one of the characters
says, the people have "never seen a
horse-car.' 1t is one of those rare
plays which make one forget the world
and make the people on the little stage
seem real. Such is the effect of Ala
bama, and to q greater extent than
those who have seen it ever experienced
before. One does not see the audience
world is revealed to him, simple,
natural and pure. This, think, is the
secret of the wonderful success of Ala
bama. 1t is not great play, play of
titanic passions for Salvini to render,
nor play for the acute analysis OF a
Booth, but just homely bit of life
which reaches out and holds your heart
with an irresistible charm. There is
nothing unreal about it. You laugh
and you cry. But the comedians are
not telling you funny stories; they eeem
to be leading real lives, and you laugh
at their little oddities and at their
quaintness. The pathos is not a play
upon your emotions, but seems as
natural as do ones own personal griefs.
This is Alabama, natural and exquisite
XIV
Alabama will be given next season in
Los Angeles in just as perfect manner
as it is being given here now. will
wait until next week to speak of the
people in the company.
This is Lewis Morrison's last week al
the Alcazar. He is giving the Galley
Slave to crowded houses.
This is also the last week here of The
City Directory. You will have the
pleasure of laughing at it in Los Angeles
next week. It is the most enjoyable
show of the kind that has visited the
coast for a long time.
George HI. Murray, manager of The
Dazzler, which comes to the California
next week, is in town. He will drop in
on his many friends in Los Angeles be.
fore long.
The autobiography of Karl Formes
the great basso, is to be published in
this city in few weeks.
Modjeska will tour the coast again il
the near future.
Colonel Ayers witnessed the perform
ance of The Idler at the Baldwin last
Friday night.
Nat Goodwin comes to town in 8
couple of weeks with The Nominee
George Osborne is in the city.
HENRY L. MERRITT.
THE CITY DIRECTORY.
rhe City Directory will be at the
opera house for three-nights' engage
ment, beginning on Thursday. John F
Thrum, the San Francisco dramatic
authority, writes to the News of the
company's performance in the California
theater:
The California is doing good bust
ness with the revised edition of The City
Directory, which has twice before been
successfully presented here. The value O
all directories is the continual change
and addition of names and addresses
and Manager John H. Russell has evel
been alive to this fact, as each time his
City Directory has been revised and s
new lot of Smiths added. Great
interest was manifested in the appear
ance of the minstrel favorite, Willis P
Sweatnam, in white-face and farce
comedy, and the house has beer
Mr.. Sweatnam seemed to. realize the
Importance of his position more thar
any of the others, and his anxiety was
apparent; but his droll humor and in
'terpolated witticisms and anecdotes
took so we'll that he gained courage, and
each subsequent performance added to
his popularity as Smith, the detective,
Another popular innovation
was that of Luke Schoolcraft, as black
face janitor, instead OF the heretofore
young-lady messenger boy" Mr.
6choolcraft was identified with every
scene, having more to do than an5
other member; but he was always
humorous and welcome, and the recon
.struction Of the role proved decided