The herald., 1894-10-02

Los ANGELES THEATER.-From floor to
dome the thsater was filled last evening
with fashionable audience, gathered
to witness the initial performance of
Charley's Aunt, in three acts. From
the rise OF the curtain to it's fall at the
end of the third act the audience was
kept in an almost continuous convulsion
OF laughter, and the curtain calls at the
end of the fret and second acts gave ad-
ditionsl force to the favorable verdict
passed upon this sbsurdly humorous
play.
While Chsrley's Aunt, in this city ss
elsewhere, may prov oke unlimited
laughter and fun of thoroughly clean
kind, yet it is impossible that she be
submitted to any ordinary process of
criticism. Tho play throughout Is
simply one series of most exeruciatingly
funny situations, enlivened by brisk
and In aome instances witty dislogue,
held togetser by the merest apology for
plot. Staged and oostumed with that
nice attention to details that distinguish
all the Frohman productions, ii can bs
readily understood that Oherlsy's Aunt
will be we'll entertained while here.
Jack Chesney (Raymond Cspp) and
Charley Wykeham George H, Trader)
are two Oxford dons onamorsd OF two
charming girls who are about to leave
town before any opportunity has been
afforded for any love declarations.
Charley's aunt, who years before the
opening OF the play had married Bra
lillian of immense wealth and after his
decesse returned to England, sends q
telegram to her nephew which proves
opportune, inasmuoh as she intimstes
her intention OF being in Oxford the fol-
lowing day, and thereby affords the col
leaians a chance to mature a scheme by
which they may declare their vows.
They invite the girls to luncheon on the
day set for Dof1a Lucia's (Grace I.
Coulter) arrival. trusting to her to play
the part of ohaperon. Unfortunately
Dofia Lucia is delayed en- route. A
companion-Lord Fancourt Babberly
George III. Truder) is impressed into
their service. He is prevailed upon to
impersonste the absentee relative, and
the complications that arise may in
some measure be conceived. Overcome
by constant fear that his deception ia
about to be discovered. and yet, en-
dowed with the love of fun and deviltry
which is not the least marked feature of
the college youth. he receives the girls
condolences aud kisses, and enjoys to the
full the sweets of his perilous situation
while being forced to encounter the
more dissGreeable features.
Della Staley as Kitty Verdum, the
daughter of cantankerous lawyer, and
Frances Stevens as Amy SpSttgus, his
ward, were played with delicate shad-
ing that, with the character of Doi1a
Lucia. formed strong contrasts with the
absurd positions in which they were
compelled to be prominent, if uncon-
scious participants. The minor char
acter OF Ella Delayhay (Millie James)
was gracefully taken, and the austere
dignity supposed to mark the English
aristocrst added rather than dstracted
from the interest attaching to the part
of Col. Sir Francis Chesney Brian Dar-
ley). The imperturbable character of
the average college scout (Jscoues Mar
tim was we'll exempli6ed. and Stephen
Spettigue (Owen Fsucett) the obdurate
lawyer, while cleverly portrayed. again
illustrates the fact that sometimes q
lawyer even may be outwitted by
clever woman.
In the second act and again at the end
of the third touch of eeD Dtiment is
apparent, but no prominence is given to
it; and. indeed, the fun is of such
wildly rollickiDg order that these shades
of feeling were regarded last evening as
somewhvt retarding the action of the
play.
Taken altogether. the play is we'll
worth the seeing. Oharley's Aunt is a
parsonage of consequence, for she, as
she herself declares. is mo ordinary
woman" and can assuredly drive away
care from the most wrinkled brow.
BURBANK THEATER.- Manager Cooper
inaugurated the second season of his
thester last evening. The attendance
was very large. despite the counter
attractions, and proves that the Bur-
bank has lost none of its popularity. A
Dark Secret was the attraction; it was
well played by Oooper's New Stock COM
pany. the principal mem bers of which are
all artists of marked ability in fact, the
company will favorably compare with
any similar organization ever seen in
this city. The scenic and mechanical
effects OF A Dark Secret eclipse all for
mer productions at the Burbank. The
great tank scene was the most realistic
ever witnessed upon this stage there is
au immense body of water 65 feet long.
20 feet wide and feet in depth, and in
places feet deep, steamboats, and all
manner of pleasure craft ply upon its
surface as easily as they would on the
river Thames, which it is built to rep
resent, and graceful and beautiful water
fowl give a charm to the scene. The
regatta at Henley was very exciting and
the enthusiasm was great when Edward
Hanlan rowed acrosa the stage in his
paper shell, an easy winner, but the
climax was reached when the villain
tries to murder the heroine by throwing
her in the river-just as sbe ia about to
sink for the last time the hero comes to
the rescue, and when he rose to the
surface with the unconscious lady in
his arms, both dripping wet, the large
audience fairly shook the building with
their tumultuous applause. The swim
ming races were animated and amusing,
and the involuntary bath OF the dude
and the policeman threw tho audience
into paroxysm OF laughter. The most
beautiful scene OF all waa the Thames by
moonlight, with the illuminated church
upon its banks.
The vaudeville features of the per-
formance were exceedingly good. Kay
Burton is wonderful performer on the
swinging wire and his feat OF shooting z
glass balle while standing on his head
approaches the marvellous. The Ameri-
Gus comedv ursrtette caught on at once