Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-01

~-~-~- -
up at home.
PLAYS AND PLAYERS.
The Grand opera house will open
Monday evening. DR.. Bill, a comedy
that has been received very favorably,
will be presented for three nights. The
company, it is said, will be the same as
seen in New York. This famous COM
edy ought to do large business here.
The .story OF DR.. Bill is briefly as fol-
lows: DR.. Brown, g young doctor with
hosts of friends and large income,
throws up his practice; his father-in-
law, Mr.. Firman, desiring fame for him,
scatters circulars broadcast, and fixes
gigantic plate on the door inviting con-
sultation to DR.. Bill, as DR.. Brown is COM
monty called. Mr.. and Mrs. Horton live
opposite. Horton is chief of police !;
Mrs. Horton, a woman of the world,
sends for Brown in order to ascertain his
tendencies for the gentler sex, which she
intends to report to his wife. Brown
transfers her to his friend Webster, who
calls on the lady and personates the doc
tor. Another caller being announced,
she induces Webster to retire to her
boudoir, which is unlighted, and sends
for the Doctors wife, who calls and is
told where she may find her husband.
Webster in the darkness mistakes her
for Mrs. Horton. A cuff on the head
breaks the stiffness. Mrs. Horton locks
the door and places the key on the table.
In few moments the real doctor APP
pears, and Mrs. Horton recognizes him.
Surprised, she faints in his arms,
and to restore her the doctor drops
the key down her back. This revives
her quickly. She tries to get his wife
away without his knowledge, but where
is the key? Amid the confusion the
Jealous superintendent of police enters.
How the tangle is Strengthened out need
no be described. Of course the ending
restores harmony all around. The piece
is crowded with awkward and absurd
complications, and from first to last the
fun is either artistically droll or furiousy
diverting. The kangaroo attitudinous
dancingis quite feature in the perform
ance.
~
Young women and men who are anx-
ious to appear on the stage will have an
opportunity to assist Fanny Davenport
in Cleopatra. Something like 100
'.supesv are wanted, including fifty
men and women of color. The men are
to be slaves and eunuchs, the women
simply slaves. The girls, both white
and negroes, are to dress in tights, with
drapery fore and aft. so to speak, but
which will be slit from each side Of the
waist down, so symmetry of legs will be
something of consideration. Two or
three high-rolling youths about town
have signified their intention of enter
ing the ranks for the experience and the
Irritation possibilities of brief exist
ence behind the scenes.
There is large colony of Afro-Ameri-
cans in the city, which should be able
to furnish its quota of plump slaves and
massive soldiers, not to speak OF fal-
setto-voiced attendants.
x*#
Painters, decorators and carpenters
have been at work for some time on the
opera house. The improvements are all
real improvements, except perhaps In
one or two details. The effect will be
to make the place much lighter in tone
than heretofore, while not detracting
from the effect of richness which has
characterized the house. Something
like 284 incandescent lights will be used, !,
the general arrangement of lights and
decorations being similar to that used
in the California theater.
NV
Francis Wilson and his company OF
popular comic opera artists will con-
tinue their performance at the Broad
way theater, New York, until May,
when their Pacific coast tour will begin
under the management of Mr.. AL Hay
man. Mr.. Hayman has made special
contract with this celebrated comedian
for specified number of performances,
covering period of nine weeks, dur
ing which term they will appear in
Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake, San Fran
cisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and per-
haps Tacoma and Seattle. This tour
will be the most ventiresome one ever
made to the Pacific coast, SO far as the
risk of transporting such an expensive
organization to only the most important
cities in the far west territory, without
regard to the long jumps is concerned
but it is believed that the elaborate
productions given to comic opera by
Mr.. Wilson and his unprecedented
popularity as comedian will fully ano
most proftably repay Mr.. Hayman fol
his enterprise in inducing Mr.. Wilson
to enter that section of the country.
NOTES.
Maggie Mitchell's new comedy, Littl
Miss Maverick, is an emphatic hit.
The Country Circus promises to b.
one OF the greatest productions OF tn
season.
Lolita and her mother, Mrs. nj. A
Crabtree, will spend the coming winte
in this city.
Richard Mansfield is soon to produc
new tragedy by T. Russell Sullivan
entitled Nero.
Maid Marian ia the title given by tn