The herald., 1895-08-08
AT THE THEATERS

A very fashionable audience packed the
Los Angeles theater to the doors last
evening for the opening performances OF
the Lyceum Theater company.
Most Of the mem bers Of the company
are so well. and in each case. SO favorably
known here, that more than the mention
OF name would be superfiiity. But it is
a long time since they were here before
and there are so few companies like them
that it was delightfully."- refreshing tO
again see men and women on the stage,
that not only act and dress and talk like
them, but who are ladies and gentlemen.
In The Case OF Rebellious Susan, Mr..
Henry Arthur Jones has either had fun
with society at Its own expense, or he
has tried to point out the vital necessit
OF keeping the eleventh commandment.
or both.
The play is very strong-in spots; it is
full Of doub dged epigrams, keen satire
aud cynical home truths. There are sit
uations all through that onlysa very clever
playwright could make telling. so simple is
their handling and management, and
they would be more than spoiled except
in the hands OF most finished artists.
There seems to have been no prejudice as
to sex in Mr.. Jones' mind; he mas not
taken mean advantage of either, but the
characters of both hurl forth anathemas
at their own and the opposite sex that
are sometimes very funny, some times
woefully. pitifully true, and always
witty. The lines all through are clean
cut, except in one or two places where
jndicious cutting OF scene would add TO
ito ctr nit in
flags, it istall natural, quiet and exceed.
ingly true to life in many ways.
Misss Isabel Irving. as the Lady Susan,
is very charmingly rebsllious at her
young husbands detection. very naive
in her effort to forget her woes by play
gets tiny scotch thereby; and wholly
penitent and forgiving at the last cur
tain.
What she learned by her life experience
was not made Plain, beyond the fact that
a burned child dfeads the fire. Neither
her good uncles nor her good lady
friends hinted to her that there was any
the possible condemnation of Mrs.
Grundv, the heinous offense of being
talked about but that was probably
one of the ways that Mr.. Jones took for
having his fun. Miss Irish, as Mrs. Inez
Quesnel, was captivating widow, with
SOIue VI tHe CleVeroSt lines anu SCeneS III
the play. which she made the very most
Of Mrs. Charles Walcot's Lady Darby
was, like every character she does. deli
ciously natural. Miss Elizabeth Tyree
made an excellent exaggerated and in
famed edition of the ne n woman; and all
the ladies were beautifully, richly and
stylishly gowned.
Mr. Herbert KeIcey has lost nothing of
his attractive personality and has gained
much of quiet strength and reserve force
since he was last here. His Sir Richard
Cato Is a most finished piece of work in all
ways. and he was equally happy in ad-
ministering giandfatherly advice 10 his
rebellIous niece, and words Of worldly
wisdom to the charming widow, with
whom he had one of the most delightful
scenes in the play.
W. }. LIE Moyne as the other uncle Of
the rebellious one. and the unworthy
and conscience stricken husband of his
good. Old fashioned wife, was at his best,
and that is saying much.
Stephen Stratton did what he could
with the rather thankless part of James
Harabin, the rebelllous ones erring hus-
band; Walter Hale made the most of
small scene. and was lover whose ardor
might have deceived any young woman
into thinking him sincere and Ferguson
Pybus, husband of the strong minded
woman, in the hands OF Fritz Williams.
Was so luminous an instance OF plain
idiocy and feeD Dle minded subsection as
to suggest more hippant satire on the
part of MIR. jones.
The stage appGintmen nts were all that
could be desired. and although othe n
plays will be given between. on Saturday
afternoon Susan will rebel abgan.
4. NJ. C.