Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-06
PLAYS AND PLAYERS

There are. some little matters OF the
ethics of management which the the
atrical men of this city are not exigent
about. One Of these is the formation of
sort of clacque by the attaches of the
house.
One night last week it was noticed
that after the patrons of the house had
expressed their appreciation by liberal
applause, the employees Of the place,
who form quite q large body, took it up
and really forced another recall. This
is in bad taste and is not calculated to
please the real audience.
x*x
Mr.. Frederick Warde turns up his
nose at newspaper writers, it is said.
This is all right on his part, for they do
not reciprocate in kind. If they did
we'll, Mr.. Warde would soon have more
respect for them.
The purpose of and power of news
paper writers on dramatic matters is
greatly misunderstood. The critic has
not the power to down good actor more
than temporarily, nor can he make the
public believe poor performer is an
artist. He cannot make or mar dram
attic fortunes at q writing, but if he
knows his business and is conscientio
he becomes indirectly a tremendous
power in advancing or retarding careers.
He does this by seeing faults and ex-
cellencies that the casual theater-goer
is not apt to observe at once. He fur
ther can put into language what he ob-
serves, and, if he is correct, then the
public sees the fault or the excellence
which they ignored before. That is all
that the most powerful newspaper writer
can do. Mr.. Sarcey. Mr.. Sala, Mr..
Stephen Fiske, Mr.. Willie Winter, Nym
Crinkle, all combined, could not drive
Mr.. Warde off the stage, because he
has many points of excellence,
and is a good actor, and the public
would at once see that they were perse-
cutting him.
But any one of the writers named
-CouId see Mr.. Warde in any role, and
could write of it so that the public
could better understand what they had
seen and heard OF the reading; and Mr..
Warde himself. if he needed what they
said would be benefited.
The critics place is by no means an
executive one any writer who imagines
he has such power is not fit to be trusted
with a pencil, but an actor who claims
that they serve no purpose may be as
Mr.. Warde is-an excellent artist, but
shows that he has neglected his many
opportunities ior observation.
COMING COMPANIES.
Almost every one who is fond of spec.
tacular and pantomime art will turn out
on Tuesday night to see Superba, the
latest effort of the far famed Hanlon
Brothers.
The school OF spectacle for which the
Hanlons have earned an amiable popu.
larity, was originated by themselves,
and their success has been such that no
one has had the temerity to contest
their individual control.
The plot upon which all the mythical
showing in Superba is built is utopian
enough. Superba is supposed to be the
queen of the good fairies, and Wallalia
the wicked queen, who presides over the
powers OF darkness. Two very romantic
lovers, Sylvia and Leander, are alter
oueenly beauties, and as in all panto-
acy of the good genius and the annihila-
tion of her rival. OF course the scenic
and mechanical embellishments make
the story of secondary importance and
are as intricate and involved as almost
to defy analysis. The lovers come in
contact with hobgoblins and spirits,
pretty nymphs and dusky African ogree.
They are accompanied by poor Pierrot,
the clown, the life of the spectacle, who
gets into all sorts of humorous entangle-
ments. Nothing is too improbable but
that the Hanlons have utilized it.
Although it is a myth and freak of the
Imagination, it is said to be frolic of a
most amusing description. There is no
effort to interest the reason, but rather
to defy it. The effect is said to be that
the spectator gives up the, attempt to
find what it is all about and loses him
self in the pretty transformations and
mechanical magic.
There are number OF pretty ballets,
but they are modestly costumed and are
not OF the extravaganza order. A capa-
Bile company render the various roles,
tae moet prominent names being Miss
Mildred Holland, Miss Maud Midgely,
Miss Jessie West and Mr.. William
Schrode. Among the various specialties
with which the play is replete are the
Fillippi brothers, grotesque dancers, and |
the Schrode family OF acsobats.
wv
At the Los Angeles theater Manager
Wyatt will open with Mr.. Leavitt's
Spider and the Fly company on Thurs
day. Judging from the posters the COM
pany consists mainly of ehapely girls.
The management claim great things for
the troupe in the way of rich costumes
and the completeness of the company.
There are number of novelties prom
ised, including the sensational gavotte
and tarantella dances by sixteen beauti-
full English dancers, led by the staI dan
Beuse, Minnie Thurgate, from the AL
hambra palace. London The Tandem
and On the Roof, late successes from
the Drury Lane, London; marches,
groupings and ballets without number,
and really funny comedians.
Mr.. Barry, the able manager of the
has been here during the past
week working hard to perfect all the
necessary preparations, and promises a
that will delight everybody.
His company contains forty members, of |
whom thirty are capable young women
and the balance are funny men. The |
show ought to be success if half what |
is promised about it turns out to be
fact.
IN CrnSou oxnnipn oaxyl OF T,,rpor