The herald., 1896-01-01

year, when many people prefer nome or
church to theaters. This syllabub is un-
doubtedly the best burlesque that has been
seen here. Bessie BonehiH is a charm and
a delight, and would alone warrant attend
ance. The living pictures are really of
artistic merit and are beautiful. Mr.. Har-
lowe is a study of grande dame. and in
fact there is not dull feature in the whole
performance.
There will be matinee today.
y x =
1.-THE influence of the drama on modern
life is subject that disturbs the thought
of n good many people," said George
Bowles, Robert Downing's manager, who
is here preparing for the engagement of
the distinguished tragedian at the Los An
eeles theater next week. "They often, in
the discussion, forget that there are as
great differences in the drama as there are
in literature, philosophy. in character; that
there are good and bad; that there are
plays which float along on the current of
contemporaneous thought and influence,
and that there are other plays which are
above the ordinary thought, and which, by
their influence, keep the general tone of
the drama from sinking lower. That class
of plays which are known as "the legiti-
mate" the works of shakespeare and
other great minds of classical periods,
and others moving on the same lines. are
those to which the stage owes its mental
and moral health. 1t is this class of
dramas to which Mr.. Downing has devoted
his professional life. Aside from his great
abilities, the public owes a debt of graft
tude to Mr.. Downing, and to all
actors who firmly adhere to the
same class of plays. The public
is paying this debt, too, for Mr.. Downihg's
business is large everywhere. often look
at the figGres of his receipts and wonder
what those people would say who proclaim
loudly OH every possible occasion that the
serious drama has had its day and that
Shakespeare is played out. Farce COM
edies and circus PLAYS and other fads of
frivolty may have their day, but the serious
drama has had all days and wi | continue
to have all days. 1t has never failed to
have at least one worthy exponent in each
generation and it has never failed OF
patronage. Modern life is hum-drum and
modern plays are many of them hum-drum
or false. Noble impulses are nursed by
high art, and high art and noble impulses
are found in the serious drama, in the
Othellos, the Ingomars. the Marc Antonys,
the Damons and The Gladiators. 1t is be-
cause he has kept alive such stage charac-
ters and has made their innate nobility
comprehensive to modern ways of think
ing that Mr.. downing deserves so we'll
from his generation. But, even aside
from that consideration, he would deserve
well. for he is great artist, viewed merely
as delineator of character"
Z =
The attraction at the Los Angeles theater
for Friday and Saturday evenings, January
10 and l, will be that undeniably popu-
lar comedienne, May Irwin, in The Widow
Jones. the latest farcical conceit by John
J. McNallv, author of a Country Sport, A
Straight Iip, and other successful pieces of
similar nature. May Irwin comes to the
city fresh from phenomenally brilliant en-
gagements in the east and in San Francis
co. Ia tine latter city she has just COM
pleted a two weeks engagement which
tested the capacity of the theater at every
performance. Her popularity everywhere
is extraordinary. She is an actress of rare
personal magnetism, with a thoroughly
keen sanse of hutnor and "a comedy talent
which is exceptionally entertaining. La her
first starring tour she has achieved a verit-
aole triumph, and The Widow Jones comes
to this city surrounded with the prestige of
success. The story of the piece is based
on the experiences of an heiress, whose life
is made miserable by a couple of. presum-
ably, fortune hunting suitors. To escape
them she flies to a village in Maine, and
there passes herself off as the widow of
man who was supposed to have been
drowned in the locality year before.
AS a result. everything which
he left behind him, consisting of a II.
year-old daughter and an avalanche of un-
paid bills is saddled upon her. Not only
this, but shortly afterward the dead man
himself appears and displays a tendency
to make things lively. AS one of his nu-
merous wives has collected an insurance
policy on his life, the position is exceed
ingly awkward to the pseudo widow. Then
begin the complications which afford no
end of fun during three acts. Incidental
to the comedy will be introduced the usual
budget of songs, dances and specialties,
and Miss Irwin, in particular, will be heard
in several characteristic negro melodies,
notably The New Bully and Want Yer,
Ma Honey, whose popularity is already
eclipsing that of Mamie, Come KISS Your
Honey boy. ditty she brought into popu-
larity last season in A Country Sport. Miss
Irwin is surrounded by probably the
strongest organization OF its kind yet seen
here, including John c. Rice, Jacques
Kruger, Joseph M. Sparks, George w.
Barnum, Roland Carter, Ada Lewis, Rich
ard j. Jones, Anne sutherland, Sally Co.
hen, Kathleen Warren, Lillian Heckler,
Agnes Milton, Mabel Power, Margery Teal
and others.
4 4 4
ORPHEUM-The matinee today at the
Orpheum will be a feature. This is the
anniversary of the opening OF the most
popular vaudeville resort in Southern Cali
fornia. The management has given the
public great show for the money and
richly deserves the liberal patronage that
the pubic has bestowed upon the enter
prise. The full bill will be produced today
with few extras on the program. Dion
Romandy, the popular leader of the Or
chres n, has prepared some special mu-
steal features, and great time is assured
to all who attend the New Years day mat
inee at the Orpheum today. The bill is
the most complete vaudeville show ever
presented in Los Angeles. Every act is
presented by artists and there is no dead
wood in the bill.
THE BURBANK.-From Sire to Son as
presented by Milton Mobiles has made u
hit, and the piece certainly deserves the
favorable recognition that is being ac-
corded it. Dollie Mobiles is doing some
most acceptable acting. She is a clever
actress. There will be matinee this
afternoon at 2 O'Clock. and the same hour
Saturday. From Sire to Son will be pro-
duced the balance of the week. The
scenery is unusually good, and the stage
mounting most complete,
Exhibits for the Chamber
A. j. Sanders of Mcpherson, Orange
county, has placed very fine exhibition of
raisins in the chamber of commerce. The