The herald., 1896-10-25

els on the Brocken, the descent into
hades, the flight Of the angels into par
adise, all go to make UP series of beau
tiful iictures. Mr.. Roberts gets far
without losing that which interests the
spectators. His. reading indicates in
tellectual penetration and grasp. He
COPIES no ones mannerisms, but tries
|, to make his Mephisto as close to Goethe's'
ideal as his conception will allow. No
student Of the master stroke Of human
genit,s can afford to let pass Mr.. Rob-
erts' profound and comprehensive study.
The opera of Maritana, is we'll known,
so also is the drama of Don Caesar de
Bazan. Mr. Roberts has written a
version of this romantic play, which is
said to be much better than any yet
produced. The theater-going public
will have an opportunity Of witnessing
Mr. Roberts in his own version, COM
mencing Thursday, october 49,
The Frawleys' engagement here has
not been so profitable financially as it
would have been at any other season
of the year. OF course it is generally
recognized that the month preceding a
presidential election is the worst period
for theatrical attractions. As to the
artistic merit of the productions which
this excellent company has given us
there can be no question. Their work
has been on a very high plane, and the
patrons Of the Los Angeles theater have
enjoyed themselves to the full. We trust
Manager Frawley will bring his fine
company of players back to the city
of the Angels at no distant date when
the whole population is not absolutely
absorbed in such an interesting prob
lem as the making of new president.
Frank Cotton, young black face
comedian was substituted in the bill
at the Orpheum for Lew awkins, who
was temporarily under the weather.
Mr.. Cotton gave us one of the best negro
acts we have had here this season and
made big hit with the patrons of the
Orpheum, who are more than usually
discriminating. Cotton is full of unc-
tion, and we predict successful future
for him on the vaudeville stage.
The average theater goer does not ap-
preciate the immense amount of work
necessary behind the scenes in order that
they may enjoy to the full the delights
of the drama. In these modern days
when playwrights usually write scene
to an act the work falls lighter on the
stage hands in the legitimate theaters,
save when some big scenic production
comes along. The stage attaches who
get their fill of work these days are
those employed in the vaudeville the
aters, and the Orpheum in this city is
a fair sample. The smoothness with
which everything moves back of the
footlights at this popular theater is in
great measure contributory to the
success which has attended this house.
Here night after night, seven to ten
different sets are made, and the work
is done so quickly and smoothly that
there Is absolutely no hitch. AS mat
ter Of fact, so dexterous is the staff
Of the Orpheum that they will make
a full change in one minute by the
watch and not be particularly rushed
either. 1t is all a matter of system
and Stage Manager Rush Bronson is
a general in this respect. He has only
three assistants to run the entire stage
and they run it WELL They are Mike
Cullen, props" Fred Getze, stage car
penter, and Clarence Dodge, flyman.
The whole stage work Is handled by
Stage Manager Bronson. by system Of
electric signals and when the boys
start in on set they know Just exactly
what to do and do it in the quickest
possible time, without spoken word.
The work of the stage force at the
Orpheum has ever attracted the COM
mendation of travelling artists, and
there would be no difficulty in raising
purse to back them in a contest against
the stage hands Of any vaudeville the
ater west Of the Rockies