Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-19
AMUSE MENTS.

Mr.. John Dillon, in Wanted the Earth,
at the opera house last evening, beat the
record OF causing laughs to the minute
The play, as play, is nothing, but as q
vehicle for his talent as a comedian
could hardly be better. His part
as J. d. Smith, the Jersey farmer
who evolves into Jason De Smyth,
the capitalist, is essentially farcical
role, but while he preserves all its
absurdest features, his unquestionable
ability enables him to give it the dignity
and the finish of character picture.
Besides the broad fun and occasional bit
! OF horse play there is the completeness
of detail work which always marks the
artist. Mr.. Dillon to a great many in
the audience last evening was an un-
known quantity, this being his first visit
here; but in five minutes he had COM
pletely won the good will of the spec
the end Of the second act, but as is his
habit he declined to appear before the
curtain.
The soubrette OF the company, Flaxy,
Ida NJ. Blake, ably seconds the stars
woman, and acts with vigor and orig
inality that is most enjoyable. She has
avoided many of the traditional features
of a soubrette's makeup and action, the
result being that her work has about it
a most pleasing freshness.
Miss Engel Sumner, who plays fer
vid widow, is Los Angeles young
woman who has been on the stage for
but short time. She is Junoesque,
with a semi-tropic beauty OF form
and face, which perhaps explains why
she did not make up to appear as old as
the lines of the piece would indicate her
to be. Miss Irving, the Gladys Ken
ward of the play, is also a tinelooking
woman and an easy, pleasing actress.
OF the men of the company
little can be said in praise. Mr..
La Croix does some clever work
in the parts that he plays. Mr. Herzog
pictures william with some effect, but
he should not say ''pardner" for part
ner." Mr.. Floyd, ga watery- minded
young mao," as Frank Smith decidedly
overdoes the part; Mr.. Evans, as Judge
Jenning, and Mr.. Corus, as Thomas, are
acceptable, and Mr.. Gregory as police
man was successful in winning ap.
proval.
No claim is made for the play other
than that of being laugh creator, and
the company makes it succeed in that
feature. Judged from the standpoint of
ite purpose the performance is decided
success. The matinee today and to-
nights performance close the engage
ment.
Xxx
Tho Do,o1J Dor-,;o ;Il,, +oI IL
on Napoleon Bonaparte drew a packed
audience at the Los Angeles theater last
evening. This evening the lecturer will
take his audience on tour around the
world. A feature, also, will be local
scenes from the city OF Los Angeles and
California. The entertainment, last
evening, was the most successful of the
present series. The views were es-
pecially good and everybody went home
pleased.
The Chicago Evening Post of Febru-
ary 18th said OF the lectures of Mrs.
Annie Jenness Miller: "To a large
number of interested ladies Mrs. Ami e
Jenness Miller explained her ideas on
dress reform, at Central Music hall.
Lady Henry Somerset and Miss Frances
| Willard were prominent among the
guests. The lecturer was practically
aided in presenting her views on health.
full and artistic dress by several cos
tunes to be utilized by women in the
various walks of life. Mrs. Miller ap.
peared before her admiring audience
attired in an exquisite costume just re.
ceived from Europe. 1t is of Louis
XIV. style, and was embroidered by the
women of Constantinople. During the
course of her lecture Mrs. Miller showed
her hearers several gowns made by
Liberty of London, maternity dress
afternoon, reception and carriage cos
tune, walking suit. rainy weather dress
business woman's dress and complete
outfit of infants garments, ETC., ETC."