The herald., 1896-01-05

ena, the title role of Sardou's great play,
which will be the bill on nexC Tuesday
and Thu, sday nights.
The greatest curiosity regarding the
plays in Mr. Dnwning's repertoire is OF
course being evinced about Helena, his re-
cent acquisition. II is essentially ~ardou
pl, built much on the lines of GismOnda
and La Tosca. 1t was first presented in
English by Mr. Downing last September,
but, under il French title, La Haine, it is
now being rehearsed fer an early produc-
| ton at the Odeon theater, Paris. The
action of the play occurs in the trouble
some times of the Guelph-Ghibelline strug-
giles during the epoch of the free Italian
cities. The motive turns on the hatred OF
/ wronged woman, and it's sudden meta
to have in Orso, the leading male part of
the play, a role that is dis'i city in his line
and one that fits him as we'll as the Gladia-
| tor.
At the Wednesday matinee Mr.. Downing
will appear as Mare Antony, in his produc-
! ton of Shakespeare's great play Julius
, CPser.
On Wednesday night Saumets famous
! tragedy, The Gladi ,tor, will he given.
This is the play which Mr.. Downing, early
in his career, purchased from the elder
Salvini, and which, since its acquisition.
has proven a favorite, as affordiDg the
actor fitting opportunity for the display of
| those characteristics of art and person
which have made him chief figure on the
! heroic stage of our time.
Mr.. Downing's company is large one
and includes such we'll known artisls as
Edwin Ferry, Charles M. Collins, }. Il.
Amory, Wal er Burton, Alexander McKeE-
zie, j. Ii. Kolker, Geo ge Buckler, G. Dus
| tin, Samuel 5 eele. William Frederic,
Helen Budd, Nettie Baker and Mrs. E. n.
Bates.
| Los ANGELES THEATER-The attraction
for next Friday and Saturd ~ evenings
and saturday matinee, January 10Th and
1th, will be that immensely popular COM
| med,enne, May Irwin, in her new farce
comedy The Widow Jones, by John j. Nc
| Nally, which comes to this city fresh from
a series of phenonenally successful en-
| gagements in the east, and two weeks OF
| crowded houses at the California theater,
San Francisco. Miss Irwin is one of the
most brilliant and entertaining stars on
| the farce-comedy stage. That she will be
| enthusiastically welcomed at the Los An
| geles there is no doubt, for her reputation
as a remarkable fun maker is wei known.
She is a comedienne of delightful person.
| alty and rarely humorous qualities. and,
even in farce-comedy, never feels the need
of resorting to questionable methods to ex-
| cite the rislbilities of her audiences to a
hilarious degree. In comedy, song and
dance she is equally captivating, and
possesses INC faculty OF investing all HOT
work with her own individuality, She has
made such striking hits IN A Country Sport
and A Straight Tip, two of McNally's pre-
vious farcical conceits, that it il reasonable
to suppose that the author could equip her
thoroughly with a suitable vehicle for her
first starring tour. That he has done so is
said 10 be an assured fact, inasmuch as re-
ports from elsewhere indicate nothing but
success of the most flattering nature. Miss
Irwin, in fact, is said to have been pro-
vided with congenial role, which fits her
like the traditional glove, brings out her
best qu alities, and enables her to be more
entertaining than ever
Her new negro melodies, The New Bully
and Wan Yer, My Honey, have created a
furore. The Widow Jones is said to have
very funny basis for its plot, and to be
fiji ed with numerous complications and
the requisite bright dialogue to give them
the full value. Scattered through the
piece are new songs, dances and special
ties, which will undoubtedly be capitaIy
done by a remarkably strong company of
farce comedians. In the supporting COM
pany are such well known favorites as
John C. Rice, Jacques Kruger, Joseph M.
Sparks. George W. Barnum, Richard J.
Jones, Roland Carter, Ada Lewis, Anne
Sutherland, Sally Cohen, Kathleen War