Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-11
AT THE BAY CITY.
SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC NEWS
AND GOSSIP.
fective Chorus Work-Other Engage
ments Being Played-News Notes.
Special Correspondence to the HERALD |


will be for another week after this,
and they are still playing to crowd
ed houses at every performance. This
week they are presenting three operas,
Carmen, Fatinitza and The Bohemian
Girl. You have seen their productions
of these operas in Los Angeles during
previous seasons, but there are some new
features. They are splendidly staged
this season, for which great deal of the
credit is due to John Nash, the new
stage director. The work of the chorus
from the standpoint of the histrion is
remarkable. No files of brigands and
villagers UP and down stage as is so
common, but gathering of people NOV
ing about and grouping as gathering Of
people in real life would be very likely
to do. The innovation, for it is such to
certain extent, is very welcome. The
two new prime donn@ give good ac-
count OF themselves in the repertoire.
Caroline Hamilton is charming as
Michaela in Carmen and the Princess
Lydia in Fatinitza, and Camille DAT
vile is revelation as Airline in The
Bohemian Girl. She played it last night
for the first time in her career, and
made hit. She gives better perform
ance of the role from a dramatic
standpoint than l have ever before seen.
OF course, when l speak of the dramatic
features of the performances of these
people, it is understood that they sing
their roles admirably. That goes with
out saying. Eugene Cowles, the basso,
. is singing the Count in The Bohemian
Girl this season, while w. H. Macdonald
is doing Devilshoof, each doing the part
the other used to de. Cowles sings The
Heart Bowed Down magnificently. Last
night he was encored again and again,
people clapping their hands and cheer
ing. Flora Finlayson sang the Gypsy
Queen last night for the first time in
this city, and did very well. Otherwise
the casts have been the same as when
the operas have been given in Los Ange-
les at the previous visits of the Bostoni-
ans.
No one who has ever seen Jessie
Bartlett Davis as young Lieutenant
Vladimir in Fatinitza would care to see
anyone else in the role. 1t is one of the
most dashing impersonations upon
the light opera stage. Then Barnabee's
Izzet Pasha is something that one
can never forget. Eugene Cowles as the
gruffold Russian bear, General Kautchu
koff, and Edwin w. HGff as the war cor
respondent, are as good as ever, and it
almost seems as if the roles had been
written for them. Jessie Bartlett Davis
in Carmen is thorough gypsy and plays
the part with much spirit. Macdonald
as Escamillo, the toreador, presents one
OF the handsomest stage figures have
ever seen, and Tom Karl and the rest
are all good. Sam Stedley is still the
musical director and is still doing
wonders. know you will use the Bos-
tonians splendidly in Los Angeles, for
you always do. They have been very
popular with you and you with them
ever since their first visit, and they de-
serve every bit of popularity to which
they have attained.
NV
Marie Wainwright is giving Amy Rob-
sart at the California to large houses.
The production is very praiseworthy
one. Miss Wainwright is an admirable
actress and she gives beautiful per-
formance of the name part. She is very
apt at expressing tenderness and pathos
and is charming in manner and beauti
full in face and figure. Blanche Walsh,
remarkably handsome girl, plays
Queen Elizabeth very effectively.
AS far as appearance goes
she perhaps bellies the reputation of the
virgin queen on the score of comeliness,
and she may not be shrewish enough,
but her performance is very interesting.
Barton Hill does great work as Vamey,
and the rest of the company are efficient.
The production is staged in superb
shape. The costumes are exceptionally
handsome and historically correct, while
the scenic effects are grand and truthful
both historically and architecturally.
1t is notable production and most de-
cidedly worth seeing.
W.
Corinne is still giving Carmen up to
data at the Bush and to large houses.
The dialogue is the supreme climax, so
to speak, of inanity, but the chorus is
bright and the costumes handsome, and
there is something about Corinne show
that never fails to attract audiences.
Xxx
Joseph Grismer and Phoebe Davies are
giving The Merchant this week at the
Alcazar. The play is a good one, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Grismer do excellent work,
the latter being particularly strong.
You have seen them yourselves in Los
Angeles 30 recently that I will not 90
further into details regarding them.
x*x
Bluff King Hal, the Stewart Con
nell opera, is in it's second week at the
Tivoli, and is doing an enormous busi-
ness. 1t seems to have pleased the
public, albeit there is very little COM
edy. There is plenty of melody to the
music, but hardly think the opera will
ever make a great success throughout
the country in general. Still, no one
wishes it that success more heartily
than l.
x*x
The United States Marine band has
made big sensation here and general
regret is felt that the splendid aggrega-
tion, under the direction of John Philip
Sousa, cannot stay longer. The band
does wonderful work, and in addition
there is Marie Decca, fine soprano.
The San Francisco theaters offer fine
line of attractions for the week begin
ming Monday, April 11th. The Boston
ians, at the Baldwin, will present Doro-
thy and Robin Hood; Marie Vain
wright will continue in Amy Robsart at
the California; Mr.. and Mrs. Sydney
Drew will appear in In Honor Bound