The herald., 1896-02-29
AT THE THEATERS


The audience was neither as large nor as
enthusiastic as on the occasion of the pre-
vious engagement some four months ago,
but this was hardly to be looked for. The
personality of the company, with few ex-
ceptions, is the same and the old members
have grown in strength. 1t is unnecessary
here to analyze Paul Potter's dramatiza-
ton, for throughout the country it is now
almost as familiar as Du Mauriers book.
An additional interest in the present visit
OF Mr.. Palmer's company is found in the
fact that they set sail for Australia next
week to conquer fresh fields, in which Du
Maurier's story ahas only comparatively
lately created sensation similar to that
in this country. At one time Trilby threat
ened to become almost religion here, but
the novelty of it has worn off, and we are
now able to judge of both book and play
with perhaps more sober discrimination.
Svengali is, of course, the predominant
feature in the dramatization: Reuben Fax,
who was Wilton Lackaye's understudy
and made such good use of his opportunity
when that gentleman was indisposed at
the previous engagement here, gave a most
vivid and powerful impersonation of the
repulsive character. The awful process of
undue influence, which one of the apostles
uoAOuuCcS as uldDOllcdls Wdb Drought Otlt
in true and terrible fashion. The audience
finds intense relief when at last the fiend-
ish usurper of the charming Trilby falls
into the strong hands of honest Taffy and
gets his soul well-nigh shaken out of him.
Again the audience can fully sympathize
, with the pursuant horror that fills poor Zou
Zou's heart as he endeavors in vain to
Danish the cathode rays Of Svengali's eyes.
Mr.. Fax made a profound impression, nec-
essarily an unpleasant one, and the more
unpleasant the more powerful.
Miss Edith Crane seems to have made
good use of time and experience, and has,
as it were, grown into the part of Trilby.
She is not altogether Du Maurier's Trilby,
and it is doubtful whether that is possible
in Potter 3 version, but she is a loyable,
emotional and charming Trilby. Very
lovely, too, Miss Crane looked in the foyer
scene, and the realism of the closing pa
thetic act was fine piece of acting. Miss
Crane will undoubtedly make great hit in
the Antipodes.
Our old friends, the admirable trio, Taf-
fy, the Laird and Little Biliee, grew in pop
ularity as the play progressed, and they
were warmly welcomed as they reappeared
in the third act. Mr.. Canfield's Scotch has
certainly mproved-possibly he got a
pointer or two up 10 Canada-and it is now
superior to his French. He is sterling
actor and his merits last night were fully
appreciated. The same praise may be
awarded Herbert Carr as the bewhiskered
Talbot Wayne. He made a vigorous and
honest Taffy. The part of Little Billee is
habitually most trying; on the stage he APP
pears to many somewhat a fond prig.
Walter Thomas was an improvement on
the previous impersonator,
Miss Reifferth's Madame Wizard has
won deserved praise from New York to San
Francisco and in many respects it was the
most faultless piece of acting in the play.
The Gecho of Mr.. Morrisol.'was already .
pleasant memory and the character was
portrayed with the same emotional earnest
ness as before. Mr.. Trader has no easy
task amongst those who have seen Martin
etti's Xou Zou. Suffice it to say that the
part was very cleverly done and proved
eminently popular, and the prevalence of
his La, La. Lalala, will be noticed on the
was not an entirely satisfactory Dodon but
the unctuous old parson, the Rev. Thos.
Bagot lost nothing in the hands of Mr..
Keefe.
The name of the lady who sang Ben
Bolt was not mentioned on the program,
but her rendering was received with loud
applause.
There will be two more performances of
Trilby today, after that we can only wish
the capital company bon voyage.
t 4 &
The ORPHEUM.-The bill which, will be
given at the Orpheum matinee today is
brimming full of fun and is without excep-
ton one of the most complete in variety of
entertainment ever seen in this city. So
ciety has turned out every night during the
week to listen to the sweet singer, Rachel
Walker. Theirs never has been more at
tractive singer on the local stage than the
creole nightingale. She possesses a voice
of wonderful fleXibility and great culture.
The emotional quality is not wanting, her
Ix<.x I<..~ e.
choice of songs made by Miss Walker has
met with the heartiest approval of the pub
lie. She devotes her talent almost entirely
to the we'll loved old songs with
which everyone is familiar. Wal
ter Stanton, the giant rooster, gives an
unsurpassingy funny turn in his fight with
his trained game cock. Stanton, as the
chanticleer, reminds one of the eccentric
team, Mason and Healy, the long and short
of it, who had such successful run last
week. Tina Corri, the bright little COM
medienne and male impersonator, who
assists in the giant rooster act, also does
some clever work in q separate role. Lor-
raine and Howell, the grotesque com.
medians, keep up running fire of fun while
they are on the stage. Lorraine is a con-
tortionist, built OH the India rubber plan,
and he makes his feats doubly entertain
ing by performing them in supremely
iuuicTouS IlldIlIleT. Iuo TWO trained OO25
which go with the team, are wonderful ex-
amples of animal intelligence.
A pleasant feature of the program is the
cornet and violin playing by the De Witt
sisters. They are two attractive girls and
tteir music is thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Howley and and Doyle, the Beau Brum-
mels of song and dance, have made many
friends by their clever dancing. They are
artists of the first rank in their line. The
seemingly impossible steps which they
take with greatest ease and grace always
win hearty response from the audience.
They close their engagement this week, to
go back to the eastecn circuit, where they
are always in demand. For rolicking fun
and excitement Heeley and Marba are the
boys. They are both star acrobats, who
combine the skill of the trained athlete
with the art of the true comedian. From
beginning to end their turn is one round of
fun-makng. No one appears to tire of
their efforts, and they are repeatedly
called out for encores until they are them
selves tired. Largo houses have greeted
the performance every night during the
week, and the universal opinion has been
that it was exceptionally good.
4 Z
The BURBANK.--The people who take
amusement of an excellent character at
popular prices are not as critical as those
who pay first-class prices for second-ciass
entertainments. The attraction at the
Burbank this week is unusually gratifying
to the patrons, and certainly so to the
management. The houses have gradually
increased since the May Nannary engage
ment. and the charniny yOuug arnoti1na |