The herald., 1896-08-29
AT THE THEATERS

LOS ANGELES THEATER-Pinero's
women are always good portraitures be-
cause they are so wondrously and withal
charmngly inconsistent. In none of
the productions of this facile playwright
is this fact so strikingly demonstrated
as in The Benefit of Doubt, produced
last night for the first time here, by the
Empire company. The women are most
subtly drawn, showing a degree Of in
Prospective analysis that reminds one
OF the marvellous mental ratiocinations
of a Bronte. The inevitable story of
conjugal fidelity forms the groundwork
for much smooth and lucid diction in
this comedy. In fact. its moral purpose
and its words are the main springs of
whatever force the play possesses be-
cause it is surprisingly deficient in
action In other terms it is a cosmc
story told by many people, and depends
or its elegant flow of verbiage to appeal
to the emotions and arrest the fancy.
Two women are compromise by a
platonic friendship, and the other filed
with the fury of jealousy constitute the
central figures, around whom are group
ed clearly delineated types of men and
women. OF this latter it must be said
that they exact treatment by only ac-
complished players. and this was had in
admirable measure at the hands of the
ladies and gentlemen of theEmpire COM
pany. The tide of interest in this story
steadily rose from act to act, despite the
absence of active plastic elements in
the portrayal There are no high lights
| and shadows, but wonderful manpu-
lation of the neutral tints in painting
this picture of some phases of the life
of today in social spheres. Viola Allen
as Mrs. Fraser appeared to better ad-
vantage than in any characterization
she has yet given us. The strength OF
the work was in its we'll sustained CO.
herency, and the exquisite play of the
, emotions, truly a psychological revela-
/ ton. Ida Conquest as Mrs. Allingham,
the jealous wife, was equally apt in the
! presentation of some strikingly vivid
points of view in the study of femin ~
/ ity. Mrs. Whiffen as the Bishops wife
/ gave us one Of those truly delightful
! characterizations of old women, now so
rarely seen on the boards through grie-
: vous lack of competent players. Mr.
! Faversham as Ailingham and Mr.. Ede-
/ son as the Scotch laird gave two ad
mirably drawn pictures. Mr.. Dodson
! deserves high cOmmendation for the
really excellent hablitation Of rather
eccentric Englshman that he presented
with such forceful skill. Jane Harwar
! as Justine Mr. Gottschalk as Claude and
| Miss Robson as Mrs. Emptage also did
! their work well, and Mr.. Crompton's 8
bishop lent charming bit of color to the
! closing scene.
THE BURBANK-Tomo Sun
! day, evening the AlcaZar Ideal comed-
ians with Leonard Grover, jr, and
! Oracle Plaisted at the head, open at
the Burbank.
The initial performance will be
I Coynes' delightful comedy, Everybody's
Friend, which Leonard Grover has re-
arranged II is held to be one of the
most entertaining and pleasing of mod
| ern comedies.
The story is one of domestic infelic-
/ ity; it is of a truant husband brought
! back 10 the fold by ingenious complica-
| tions and a sweetly pretty plot. Major
| Wellington de Boots ranks as one OF
| Leonard Grover, jr. S, very best charac-
| teriZations.
(, OF the performance in San Francisco
the Call said: Nothing better has been
seen in many seasons"
The comedy will be, followed by a
| roaring farce comedy in one act entitled
Little John L., which is described as a
shrek of laughter from start to finish.
! These two plays will constitute the
evenings program.
Orpheum-The matinee at this house
today will afford an excellent oppor-
| tunity for the ladies and children to see
exercise of his wonderful power over the