The herald., 1896-03-09
AT THE THEATERS

Burbank theater May Nannary and her
company opened the performance with The
Open Gate, a dainty little one-act play of
the pathetic order. 1t is delightful re-
cital of the love affairs of two old lovers
and two youthful lovers. Miss Nannary
appeared as Aunt Hetty, and was an aged
and charming victim of the all-conquering
Cupid.
The Open Gate is pretty bit of realism,
and its deeply pathetic nature does not de-
tract from its charm. While the play is
brief in action, it is still long enough to
run the whole gamut of love and tender
ness and the ideal state of human blessed
ness.
Miss Nannary's ability to sustain her
part in that brief play suggests the propri-
ETY. of her undertaking the production of
some four or five-act drama that requires
the heroine to do the greater part of the
work.
After the Open Gate, Baby, three-act
comedy was siven.
Baby is the ordinary younger SON. VIII o
has wandered far awav from nurseryland
into the precincts of Bohemia long before
his parents could realize the fact. In this
case "Baby" is Adolphus Birkett an incor-
rigible lad of twenty whose chum Is one
Dick Talbot. The two young villains are
too cunning for Mr.. Dawson. Birkett's
tutor. who is separated from his wife,
Madame Poienta, and is obliged to pay
alinony.
A military sporting gentleman. Captain
Me Manus, has n weakness for women in
general. and is endowed with wife who
has convictions of her own. These worthless
pay visit to the BirkettS and discover
that Betsy, a very cunning maid. has de-
cided to make Baby marry her.
BY accident Madame Polenta. Mrs.
McManus and the girls meet in
Baby's study, and. on being dis
covered, are forced into different
rooms. Captain Nc Manus is flirting
with Madame Polenta and is hid
ing from his wife; Baby has kissed
Mrs. McManus and is hiding from the
captain.
The tutor proves to be the ex-husband of
Madame Polenta, IA schemer and a native
of the coast of Bohemia. In the meeting
that ensues many matters require careful
explanation.
The quarrels that follow require the
genius of diplomat to straghten them
out, and, as usual in such cases the diplo-
mat is discovered, and the erring Baby
reclaimed and reiuvenated. and after the
fashion of most men. wicked and other
wise-that is, he is happily married.
The strong minded servant girl who was
the moving spirit of the family of Birkett
W
was done with great skill. Her stage pres
ence and her striking brunette type of
beauty make her faithful dramatic work
doubly effective.
The ''youthful' Baby was represented by
W. Il. Daley. His work in that role was
something entirely unique and was appre-
ciated by The audience and was greeted
with rounds of applause.
The schemes with which Young America
deceives his father and mother we're done
to the taste of George w. Peck himself.
The Bad Boy could do no better. The
tutor who temporzed with the pupil and
deceived the parents was done to life by
w. ID Gleason. n real Bohemian, in very
effective disguise.
Mrs Birkett, the usual doting mother.
was the part assigned to Margaret Mar
shall, and was assigned TO the proper per-
son to do it justice.
Richard Scott as Mr.. Birkett was a
schemng politician of "a very high order.
May Nannery as Madame Polenta was as
versatile as that worthy lady was supposed
TO be, which is saying much
Baby is one of the most wholesome sat
Tres on the "training" of American youths
without training them that was ever dram
atized. and it should be seen by every
father and moiher in the country. espe-
cially by parents who have but one cnlld.
Baby will be given all this week, with a
matinee on Saturday, and cannot fail to
truth and cunning.
s. 4 y
LOL ANGELES THEATER-Tonight at the
Los Angeles theater that bonny comedi-
enne. Katie Putnam, who has endeaced
herself to the hearts of thousands of Amer
lean theater-goers. will appear in Charles
I. Dazey's comedy drama. The Old Lime
Kiln, play involving a story OF intense
human interest and vividly picturesque in.
cidents as follows: The story of the play
springs from a situation creating intense
sympathy and interest. the struggles of n
good man accused unjustly of a heinous
crime. to reestabsh his innocence in the
sight OF the world. Eighteen years before !
the play begins Robert Mervyhn. unable to
win his fathers consent to marriage with
the woman he loved. fled with her. On
that very night his fathers safe is robbed
and all the circumstances point strongly to
Roberts guilt. His father writes him
never to dare show his face III his old
home again or he will punish him as he
would stranger, One misfortune after
another pursues him, until at the opening
of the play, he has become prey to the
opium habit and lives with his daughter.
Nita. in ragged tent in the Yellowstone
park, where he has sunk to the humble
position of guide. How his father. with
other old friends, visits the park aud fails
to recognize him in the wreck he has be.
come; how his true-hearted little daughter,
Nita. inspires him with new hope and a
fixed dissemination TO return to his old
home and discover the man for whose
crime he has suffered: how this is finally
accomplished through Nita's self-sacrficipg
and heroic efforts form the substance of Il
story in which all the strongest passions OF
human nature ara given full play and
scope. and yet which brims over with COM
edy. and has. in contrast with the darker
passions, sweet and tender love story.
,,,,t nf
g,veness which must appeal to everyone's
better nature.
The scenic effects include an accurate
representation Of Old Faithful, the famous
Yellowstone geyser. sight which thou
sands have journeyed across the continent
TO see.
The ORpHEUM.-Taking it as a whole
there never has been IA better bill at the
Orpheum than that which will be presented
tonight. This is saying a good deal. con-
siicring the notable artists who have been
seen at this house, but the repu ati III OF
those who appear this week justi,;es the
statement. Pantzer brothers. The famous
head equilibrists. will give one of the most
marvellous balancing perform: ances that has
ever been achieved. One of the clever
acrobats stands in an inverted position,
with his head resting on his brothers, and
in that attitude the two skip about the
and play on the mandolin and guitar with
as much grace and ease as though they
were standing in a normal position.
Al