Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-13
SAN FRANCISCO PLAYS.
DRAMATIC GOSSIP FRESH FROM
THE GOLDEN GATE.
The Lyceum Company in the Charity Ball.
The Same Old Third Act Features.
Notes About Dramatic Matters.
Special Correspondence of the HERALD.


company is back here again, after an
absence of two years, and everybody
who is anybody was at the Baldwin
theater on Tuesday evening to see the
opening performance of the company
in The Charity Ball. Whatan audience
it was, the auditorium crowded in every
part with familiar frst-nighters, many
of whom had left their summer retreats
at Santa Cruz, San Rafael, ct al, to wit
ness the most notable theatrical event
in several moons. The man about town,
whom everybody knows, was there, and
so was the journalist, equally we'll
known, and the tinker, the tailor, the
candlestick maker. But the last sat up
in the gallery, and were not seen, only
heard, where all joined in the applause.
KY
Everyone of the company received a
heart-warming welcome when he or she
oh, for universal pronoun-made his
or her first appearance before the
footlights, dear old LIE Movne getting
perhaps the best OF it, but no one
could grudge him that. How good it
gelefos, congratulate yourselves that
pany again in the very near future.
Nearly all your old favorites are still
with it, and some new ones whom you
will take to your hearts as readily as
you did the old. Herbert Kelley, Mel
son Wheatcroft, w. J. LIE Moyne,
Charles Walcott. Georgia Cayvan, Mrs.
Charles Walcott and Mrs. Thomas
Whiffen are those who were with the
company on its last visit. Grace Hen
derson is replaced by Henrietta Cross
man and Louise Dillon by Effie Shan
non, good actresses both. Other new
members are Walter G. Bellows, who
was here last with Ned Sothern, Charles
W. King, Fritz Williams, Charles Rob-
inson, Eliza Logan and small boy with
the somewhatimposing name OF Vaughn
Gregory.
x*x
One only has to see The Charity Ball
to recognize the hands OF lBelasco and
De Mile in the treatment of the story,
and it is equally apparent that it was
written around the members OF the
Lyceum company, so perfectly are they
all fitted. 1t is not great play, by any
means, but it is good one,
and presented by Cayvan, Wheat
croft, Kelcey, lie Moyne and
the rest of them is thoroughly
better even than The Wife. The third
act in the hands of these people is very
fine; it almost makes the play great.
1t is stirring and goes right to the
heart, and it is splendidly acted. 1t
hos ,,a1o IN ,1pOnoli6aI bi+ hara o,,J
could easily run out the whole of the
five weeks engagement.
x*x
Speaking of the third act of The Char
ity Ball, l am reminded of the pr edilec-
tion which Belasco and De Mile have
for certain effect at that interesting
portion of their plays. Every one will
remember the third act of The Wife.
Scene, the library of Senator Ruther-
ford. Time, shortly after midnight.
The stage darkened, the room suffused
by rosy glow from the fireplace. The
action, the strongest and most intense
OF the whole play. Then, too, you re-
member the more recent production of
Men and Women. Scene of the third
act, the bankers library, little after
midnight, darkened stage, fireplace
glowing redly, intense and absorbing
action. And now again in The Charity
Ball, we have the pastors study at the
same late hour of the night, with the
same darkened stage, the same rosy fire.
light, and the same culminative action.
x*x
The Twelve Temptations is at the Cal
ifornia, hodgepodge of spectacular
scenery, glittering costumes, ballets and
specialties. A contortionist, who dresses
like frog and moves like frog, does
some of the most remarkable feats ever
seen in his line. The Grab Bag, which
you have already seen in Los Angeles,
is at the Bush street, with A Royal Pass
coming for next. Frederick Bryton is
playing in The Mask OF Life, at the AL
cazar, supported by the stock company,
and they are giving The Bohemian Girl
at the Tivoli.
Daniel Frohman, manager OF the New
York Lyceum theater, is in town.
Harry Warner, one of the best men on
the road, who was in Los Angeles two
years ago ahead of the Lyceum company,
is with the company this year and will
visit Los Angeles in charge.
Charlie Cook will probably be in Los
Angeles before very long with an attrac.
tion.
M. B. Curtis, of Sam'l OF Posen fame,
will take to the road in the fall with
new play.
suppose the California theater is|the
best paying house in the country. 1t is
very rarely you see it anything but
crowded. Up to three weeks ago, when
it was closed week for renovating, it
had been closed only for one night DUR
ing the two years of its existence. That
one dark night occurred about year
and half ago, when Roland Reed was
stuck in Los Angeles on account of the
washout.
James J. Brady, who was in Los An
geles in advance of All the Comforts of
Home, will manage Hallen and Hart
in Later On next season, and will
take the company to California.
Everybody is looking forward to the
coming OF Alabama, the American
play which has made such decided
impression in the east. Augustus
Thomas, the author, is collaborating
with Sidney Rosenfeld on play for Nat
Goodwin, and has some other pieces
under way. Mr.. Thomas, you know,
was the author Of The Burglar and
''The Man of the World"
James O'Neill will produce The New
South next season.