Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-29
IN SAN FRANCISCO.
News of the Theaters and Their
Attractions.
Mansfield Scores Hit in Beau
Brummell.
He Is a Master of Stage Technique.
Agnes Huntington as Paul Jones.
Other Intere sting Theatrical
Events ChrOnicIed.
Special Correspondence to the HERALD. /

Special Correspondence to the HERALD
SAN FRANCISCO, April 23.-The pace
has been set and it will be kept up for
all summer. We have had, are having
and will continue to have some very fine
attractions on the coast, and you will
see nearly all OF them in Los Angeles.
We are having particularly rich feast
in San Francisco just now: Richard
Mansfield, Agnes Huntington, Mr.. and
Mrs. Sydney Drew, Hallen and Hart
and Joseph Grismer and Phoebe
Davis. Mansfield is at the Baldwin
and is giving Beau Brummell
this week, and is arousing vast deal
of interest. There is no question but
that he is one of the greatest of living
actors, and that his Beau Brummell is
remarkable creation. He is an absolute
master OF technique and his work is su-
premely artistic. His reading is fine,
and his performance polished to de-
gree. His Beau is not quite true to his
heart which redeems his snob.
bishness, but in outward ap.
pearance, in manner, in sublime
self-assurance, he presents just about
such a man as the real Beau must have
been. Almost any other actor would
have made the character ridiculous, but
Mansfield makes the scenes seem real,
and at times the assurance of the Beau,
so far from having comical aspect, al
most takes ones breath away. For in
stance, when walking with Sheridan in
the Mall he meets the prince of Wales,
whom he has offended. The prince
gives good-day to Sheridan, but cuts the
Beau. Brummell puts his glass to his
eve and says to Sheridan so that the
prince may hear: "Sherry, who's your
fat friend?" The audience catches it's
breath and then breaks out in applause
at his magnificent etfrontery, it seems
so real.
Beau Brummel is a comedy of man
ners, but there is a certain amount of
plot to it which it may be we'll to give.
The Beau is deeply in debt, but the
princes favor keeps him out of jail
He sues for the hand of the daughter of
wealthy merchant in order to obtain
the means to pay his debts. 1t hap
pens, that unknown to him, his nephew
is in love with the young lady, and she
with him, but through the treachery of
her maid their correspondence is inter
rupted and she thinks him false. In
order to obtain preferment for her father
she accepts the Beau, who when he sees
her graces of person and manner,
really falls in love with her.
He introduces her and her father
at court. The merchant, through an
egregrious biunder, offends the prince,
who orders him out of the house. The
beau interferes, and the princes wrath
is turned against him. His creditors
learn OF it and put the bailiffs on his
track, who see the prince cut him in the
Mall and pounce upon him. He slaves
them off by telling them of his
approaching marriage to the rich
merchants daughter, but it is re-
vealed to him that it is she whom
his nephew loves, and he joins their
hands and resigns himself to
the bailiffs. In the last act he is
found at Calais, starving, but hiding
his condition from his friends. The
last scene is beautiful one. The poor
Beau is in his garret, almost in rags, at
tended by his faithful valet, who will
not desert him. His mind wanders,
and he imagins himself in his apart
ments in London once more, with the
prince and the people of the court about
uiW' liz SiCotS odcH imakiuary per
son with kindly courtliness and
his head sinks on his chest-he is al
most unconscious. It is extremely
pathetic. Then the prince and his
friends do actually enter and the valet,
thinking the shock may be too much for
his master, disposes them about the
room as the Beau had imagined them.
Brummell looks up, opens his eyes and
rubs them, in doubt as to their reality.
Then the prince tells him he has come
to take him back to court. The Joy is
too much for the Beau, who knew how
"to starve like gentleman" and he
falls back into the arms OF his friends
as the curtain falls.
~
Agnes Huntington is at the Grand
Opera house and this week is giving
Paul Jones, in which she plays the
name part. The opera is by Planquette,
who composed the Chimes of Normandy,
and is effectively staged. Miss Hunt
ington is superb as a sailor and is max
ing splendid impression. She plays
the part in dashing and spirited
fashion and appears to great advantage
in male costume. She is tall and has
remarkably fine figure and dresses go as
to look as much like man as possible,
wearing a loose blouse waist and
low-heeled shoes, and copies
mans manner of walking and
standing very. closely. Her voice
is a rich and powerful contralto,
and she uses it with great effect, both in
singing and speaking. She is probably
the best exponent of this sort of role
now before the public. You will like
her in Los Angeles. Paul Jones had
long run. in London; and the story of
Miss Huntington's connection with it is
a rather odd and interesting one. When
she went to London the manager heard
her sing and told her he had no con-
tralto part. good enough for her as PAUL
Jones was already cast, unless she was
minded to take the title role, which, by
the way, was written for tenor. She
took 1t, some songs were added for her,
and everyone knows what hit she
made. The opera ran for three hundred
and forty-six nights in London. The
company now supporting her is
one she brought from England,
but she is an American and an
honor to her country. Her company
is a very good one, and her comedian
is wonder. His name is Hallen Nor
tyn, and he portrays an old sea dog very
effectively. You may not take to him
at first, but before the evening is over
you will. And it is much the same way
with the opera. The first act is little
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