Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-16
ADJUSTMENTS.

actress. 1t will not do to play it exactly
to the life, for no American audience
would stand it; neither is it permissible
to idealize it, for then all OF the men and
many of the women in the audience
would find the part ridiculous. The
play is absurd in itself, as every man of
the world knows, as far as it's truth to
nature is concerned, and if the senti-
ments were not appealed to by the
ghastly death scene, and the dread fate
impending over Camille from the
beginning, it would not be toll
Grated. A play in which the
career of a successful cocotte was pic
tured true to life, and with no tragic
semi expiation as the curtain fell would
be termed indecent. Camille suffering
and dying, is poetic and sympathy cre-
ating. The Camille that is fat on diet
of champagne and truffles, who robs
those who fall into her clutches, who
knows no modesty, no shame, whose
affections always belong to creatures
even more desrrrayed ..ss,.a herself, whose
one idea Is to gain gold from her caresses
is unpoetic in character, is repulsive to
contemplate in work of art, vet she is
the real Camille. The Camille Alexan-
der Dumas created does not exist more
than once in O thousand years.
The cast last night was:
Armand Duval. ....... Mr.. Clarence Handyside
Monsieur Duval. ....... Mr. Chas; H. Mestayer
Count DeVarielle . Mr.. A. III. Hastings
Messenger ............,.M Mr. Frank Andrews
Nine Prudence M;:. Miss Miss LEA h Michael
NAnlnA Jessie
Camil e.. -........-.......... Miss Granger
Miss Granger in the title role displays
remarkable flexibility of her powers of
expression. In the first act she comes
very close to picturing Camille of real
life. CLARA Morris until she reaches the
third act is an absurdity; Miss Granger
throughout the play plays the role as
naturally as is safe. She sacrifices as
little as possible to the demands of o
conventional audience, and at the same
time avoids more than a suspicion of
possible grossness. Her art is finely
showed in the picturing of Camille's
gradual realization of the fact that she
has a. heart, that she is capable of
an affection inspired by something
other than gold, and in the final asser-
ton of her power of affection; the final
Transformation of the declassee into a
woman with all woman's wealth of
affection, and power TO patiently
accept the inevitable.
Mr.. Handyside is far from being ply
sically the typical jeune premier, but he
played Armand with the requisite delics-
cy Probably there are few harder roles
than this. While the audience may
give Armand a modicum of sym
pathy, every man and woman in
the house mentally marks him as
fool; particularly is this the case out
side of Partisan atmosphere. Mr..
Handyside gives the part touch of ro-
business and straightforward manliness
which is novel and not unpleasing.
Miss Michael's MADAME Prudence"
was lacking in the indicating of the
selfish, reprehensible traits which belong
to the character, but she made very
interesting character study.
An innovation was the introduction of
comic song at the supper table by Mr..
Hunt. If he would sing it with aban-
don and less self-consciousness it would
be very effective bit of business and
would lend color to the scene. "
Miss Thompson made very attract
i've looking Nichette, and Miss Wyatt
deserves commendation for her Nanine /;
II llttie more SuoWlHx Ol sOpulSCicaUlOH
would add effect to the part.
At the matinee today Miss Granger
will be seen in Inherited, and this
evening in The Creole, which is but an
other name for L'Article At.
~
U and played to big audience at
the opera house last night. 1t is a
rattling good performance of the kind,
and just the thing for those who edjoy a
hearty laugh. The matinee this after
noon and tonight's performance will
end the engagement.
x*x
Beginning with Monday night next,
w. 7. Carleton's Opera company will
give four operatic successes, viz
Strauss Indigo, Gilbert and Sullivan's g
The Gondoliers, Genee's Nanon, and
Alfred Cellier's Dorothy. The latter is
a sweet little bit OF melody, full OF rustic
simplicity, and teeming with delightful
music. Indigo and The Gondoliers are
said to be ell that can be desired. They
have never been produced here before.
The scenery and costumes are said to be