The herald., 1896-02-28
AT THE THEATERS

representation Of Richard III had been an
ticipated with much interest. 1t is in this
character that the tragedian is best known
to the public, and large audience wit
messed the production last night. 1t was
distinct disappointment. Mr.. Keene's
Richard is not in the same plane as his
Louis XI. The latter was masterly in
terpretation, but the Richard that Mr..
Keene gives us is not that of Shakespeare,
nor that of history. The grim hIimor, the
glory in his vilainy and the contending
motives and feelings in the character, are
not developed in Mr.. Keene's portrayal.
His Richard is altogether villainous and
vile beside. Shakespeare's development
of tho character is such that one
must almost admire the ambitious
man-devil, who, despitehs violence
and murder, his crafty dupl,cty
and when unhorsed he eallantly fights and
meets the death of a warrior. The actors
fine command of facial expression, of
course stood him in good stead. His act
ing was often powerful, but in comparison
to his Louis XI was not impressive. 1t is
no one part piece, and the actor has to re-
ly considerably on his support. 1t was
absolutely inadequate.
Surely Mr.. Keene, and other actors too,
must realize the shortsightedness IN the
frugal policy of surrounding star with IN
significant lights. Though he may be
Sullivan in strength, it is desirable to have
to play down to filliputians. The weak
ness of Mr.. Keene's company unhappily
was much more pungently demonstrated
than on the previous night. Lawrence
Lowell worked hard to redeem himself from
the charge of mediocrity. The young actor
has much in him to commend, but not a
olo ut "a
demned. The prevailing fault of the COM
pany is a tendency, of which Mr.. Keene
himself is not altogether free, to rant and
be unreal. Those that restrain their lung
power and try to avoid staginess, Mr..
Eagleson in particular, seem to fall
into another extreme, and become $50
faint, 80 spiritless' in the words of the ill
fated Henry himself.
There were many minor matters with
which one might find fault. Does the effect
compensate for the extraordinary ana
chronism of playing the Dead M arch in
before it was written? The stage-setting
of the piece was by no means satisfactory,
but such deficiencies might easily have
been oversnadowed by even interesting
acting. What the actors lacked in natural
ness they made up in noise. The imper-
actress, little Miss Donaldson, was indeed
refreshing, and Miss Baker as Edward
spoke the curtailed lines clearly and with
feeling.
After the fine and forceful performance
with which Mr.. keene commenced his en-
gagement, that of last night was indeed a
dismal disappointment.
4 z y
The ORPHEUM.-The Orpheum presents
bill this week that for all-around excel
lence would be hard to beat in any city.
The program combines some of the very
highest grade musical specialties with a
number of extreme comedy acts. Rachel
Walker, the creole nightingale, seems to
grow in popular favor. Her singing is in
troduced between two comedy turns, and
the audience relapses from a state of up
roarious laughter to one of breathless at
tention. The burlesque act of Walter
Stanton, the giant rooster, is really one of
the funniest sights ever seen on the stage.
Howley aud Doyle add a pleasant variety
with their extremely clever clog dancing.
The Dewitt Sisters are well liked for
their excellent performance on the
violin and cornet. The wonderful
feats of Heeley and Marba, two
acrobatic comedians, are exciting to watch
and are made doubly entertaining by the
extremely funny way in which they are
given. Little Tina Carri, the male imper-
senator and Coincidence, has won her way
into the hearts of everybody with her clever
and vivacious manner. For supreme
ludicrousness the tramp contortionist,
Lorraine of the team of Lorraine and
Howell, carries away the prize. The work
of their two trained dogs shows a remark
| able degree of intelligence and is thor
oughly enjoyable throughout. ....
4 + 4
THE BURBANK-This evening and to-
morrow night, with Saturday matinee,
will witness the last production of The
Fire Patrol, which is being so excellently
rendered by Miss Nannary and the Daley
vorabe recognition, for it is superbly given
in all of it's details and the entire cast does
acceptable work. Large audiences have
justly acknowledged these by unbounded
applause at every performance this week.
Sunday evening Frohman's greatest of
melodramas, Power of the Press, will be
given, with complete scenic effects. The
cast embraces over thirty people and the
rendition will be up to the usual high stand
ard of excellence, as are all of the pieces
given by Miss Nannary and her competent
company.
Los ANGELES THEATER-Trilby will be
welcomed again tonight by her numerous
admirers. The company that produces
the popular play is said to be fully equal
in strength to that which played here
few months ago. q. Wilton Lackaye is not
there, but the gentleman who was his
understudy, and achieved such a success
on the second night of the previous en-
gagement here, will again portray Sven
gall. This is one of the last performances
of Mr.. Paimer's company in this country
before sailing for Australia. Both matinee
and evening performances will be given