The herald., 1896-03-18
AT THE THEATERS

The BURBANK.-The Carletons made
many more friends last night, and the sue
cess of their fortnight's engagement seems
thoroughly assured. Last night at the pro-
duction of The Bohemian Girl there was
not vacant seat, and the efforts of the
principals were received with enthusiastic
appreciation. There was an attractive
significance in its performance on st. Pat.
rick's Day, for Michael Balfe was born and
bred in Dublin.
was, did not, with the exception of the
work of the principals. rise above medi-
ocrity. The chorus had much more to do
than in Fra Diavolo. and their deficiencies
were discovered; much might have been
hidden or relieved by a competent orches-
ira, but the conductors left hand on the
piano can never be regarded as a satisfac-
tory accompaniment to opera. The Or
chestra opened up in much better form
and had evidently been at some pains with
the overture, but subsequently their en-
deavors, when they did endeavor, were
productions would be invaluably increased
could the present orchestra be reinforced
by two or three capable musicians.
Miss Rena Atkinson, Jay c. Taylor and
W. T. Carleton were all in good voice, and
their fine renderings of the gems of the
soprano increased her reputation. AS an
encore to l Dreamt 1 Dwelt in Marble
Halls, The Last Rose of Summer was in
troduced. and the rare sweetness of her
voice found excellent expression in the
Irish air. Mr.. Carleton was little husky
Bowed Down with the finest feeling and
finish. 1t was loudly re.demanded.
The tenor, Jay C. Taylor, as Thad-
deus. won the most generous applause of
the evening in the solo When Other Hearts
and Other Lips. Another most pleasing
number was the duo with Airline. The Se-
cret of My Life. The comedian. Tom
Ricketts,, was in fine fettle. and his Dew
ilshoof. difficult enough not to overdo, was
a very characteristic impersonation. Miss
Clara Wisdom made an imposing enough
Gypsy Queen. George W. Campbell also
did very we'll with the part of the inane
dude, Florestan. The Bohemian Girl will
be repeated tonight, and at special matt.
nee today the pleasing production of Fra
Diavolo will be repeated.
4 = Il
COMING ATTRACTIoNS.-To the present
generation of American playgoers, the
character of Virginius is forever associated
with the figure. the action, the voice, the
whole personality of John Mccullough. To
a generation that has been privileged to
witness the work of the greatest persona
tor of. Roman characters since John Phillip
Kemble three has been but one Brutus, ,one
Coriolanus, one VirRinius. Indeed, in
these days there are very few who can
enact Virginius at all. 1t is a crucial test
of any actors claim to play legitimate
business
Mr.. James O'Neill is said to enact Vir-
ginius with a strong and intelligent grasp
of the great traditions of the character and
with thorough skill, grace and sympathetic
power. This becomes all the more cret-
table to Mr. O'Neill when it is considered
that the essence of his power has always
been considered to lie in the emotional and
melodramatic school, as far removed as
possible from the line of tragical work.
Mr.. O'Neill will present Virginius at the
Los Angeles theater on Friday evening,
and Monte Cristo on Thursday and Satur-
day evenings of this week.
The sale of seats opens today for the
evening of harmony to be presented at the
Los Angeles theater on Sunday next, March
%. Franz Ondricek, the Bohemian violin
ist and Materna, the representative
Wagnerian artist from one of the strongest
musical organizations now before the
American people. Henry r. Fink, the