The herald., 1893-11-08

! Los ANGELES THEATER.--A play whose
lines sparkle with wit and which de-
pends more OF it's brightness than on
situations and pictures, is so re-
markable now -a-days that ones pen
falters in seeking the unsccustomed
phrases necessary to give voice TO the
| pleasant astonishment that 1t evokes.
Such production is Friends, play
that is not in any point lacking in the
! practical dramatic requirements for a
stage production, yet one that ia bright
with epigrsm, abounding in humor, pic
turing faithfully the better and the
worse phases of human nature, and go
skillfully and artfully constructed that
the discerning auditor has the pleasure
of discovering its points. Most play
wrights are so spprehensive that q spec
tstor will fail to observe some good line
or strong situation that they will label
it, throw the cslciums on it, 40 to
speak, and go surround it with E& o
as to lead self-respecting people TO mold
the idea that the public are considered
little less than obtuse. pachydermatous
creatures by the dramatists. MIR. Royle
in writing this play has gone on the
supposition that such indicative meas-
urea are unnecessary, and the result ia
most pleasing.
While there is an abundance Of natu-
ralness there is necessarily some
strained sentiments and few cases
where the conventional, the tradition
ary is unreservedly followed. The pro-
posal by ''Paden ST." to Marguerite" in
the last act is piece of farcicallity un-
worthy of the play, and the repulsive,
unnecessary imitation OF a man in the
last stage of the d. t's. in the third act,
gives Mr.. Lyons an opportunity to do
successfully difficult piece of work,
but one which dietgures the play in the
minds of the class of people to whom
its other excellent features are 30 salts
factory.
But on the whole Friends is the beet
modern play that has been produced
here. 1t excels in ali points anything
that Belasco and DeMille or any of the
other American plsywriters have ever
produced.
OF the actors little but what is pleasant
can be written.
The Marguerite Otto" of Miss Selena
FetterRoyle is disappointing at first,
but she plays with an effect OF great re-
serve power. and with the expression OF
repression that wins warm recognition
of her sbility before she has been long
in view.
Mr. .Royle, as "Paden, jr.," uses the
same methods of delicacy, represeed
action, and readiness. He produces
moet charming Characterization, one
which will not soon be forgotten.
The only overacting done by any one
is that by Mr., Bergman aH the villain
Hunting" but it would be too much
to expect an avoidance, in such role,
OF the ime-honored traditions of the
stage as to the way. in which
he should walk, talk and look
Real villains seldom look like
villains, but dramatists are So afraid
that the audience will not recoguizs the
bad bad man of a play that they always
plainly mark him; his other good
things, Mr.. Royle omitted to label, but
his villain he made as orthodox as the
Westminster catechism, and Mr.. Berg
man is obliged probably as result to
act it as he does-well but artiticially.
Mr.. Henderson as -"Karie," acts with
vigor and does some excellent piano
playing in the recital scene.
Miss Wakelee, who year or SO ago
was roseate little girl st Long Beach,
has small part with no opportunity OF
showing how much ability she has. She
presents most attractive appearance,
and on the authority of one of the
company is said to be Miss Royle's
understudy, having successfully played
Marguerite" several times.
The play is good one, we'll played
and is in all its features to be commend
ed. 1t will be repeated this and to-
morrow evenings.
THE CAST.
The cast is as follows;
Marguerite otto, OF the Metropolitan opera
mouse. e....................ee eelena I Sltel- -R0yle
Hans Otto, her father. ..............b u. ID. Lyons
Harold Hunting, director of the Metropo-
Titan opera house. ..........H Henry Bergman
John Paden. sr. a business man. Harry Allen
John Paden, jr.. a modern poet: :.............
Observation-Disclosures. Eo win Milton-R Royle
Adrian Karje, a pianist. Lucius Henderson
Jenny Merryweather ........... Carrie Bei g
Miss Wolf and Miss Hartman. OF the Met
ropolitan opera house Recommendations.
......... Louise Wax elee and Nellette Reed
Henry. R. F. Chandler