The herald., 1896-02-18
AT THE THEATERS

| Los ANGELES THEATER. - Frederick
Warde received last night the welcome oi
an old friend, as indeed ig is, though the
youth and vigor of his Belphegor the
Mountebank made one forget that it is ter
years since he first visited Los Angeles at
star. Mr.. Warde comes to us this season
with his own tine talent fortified with the
best equipment, both in support and scene
ry. 1t is but rarely that one finds in an
actor of such rare ability a man who SO
thoroughly understands not merely the de-
tails of stage management, but the require
ments for excellent scenic production. MIR.
Warde never allows the acting TO become
subordinate to the scenic effects, but Uses
pains and purse to insure surroundings
worthy of good acting.
The play presented last night, The
Mounteback, is aptly enough described a.
romantic drama" There is romance
enough in the story of high-born maiden
who does not know her station, being wed
though he is. The dilemma that presents
itself to The poor woman, to desert her hus-
band that she may save her sick child, the
bereaved husbands mad sorrow for the
loss of his wife, his thirst for revenge, and
his tender care for the child that is left
him, these are features that supply plenty
of dramatic scope. The play, it must be
allowed, drags a little at times--never,
however. when Mr.. Warde is on the stage
and the dialogue is often weak.
Belohegor is a part that is we'll calculated
to display Mr.. Warde's strength and versa
tili,y. by turns he is boisterously gay,
pathetically tender. tragically revengeful,
and finally triumphant in his honesty and
manl.n The actor received last night
sufficient evidence of his popularity here,
so much so that his heart was warmed to
deliver feeling and telling little speech
at the fall of the curtain on the third act in
response to the entreates of an enthusias-
tic audience. Incidentally, Mr.. Warde
made a graceful allusion to his friend and
comrade, Louis James, and expressed q
hope, which all playgoers will echo, that
they may yet be- together again.
Outside of Mr.. Warde's performance, al
though the general support was worthy of
the reputation of his companies, there was
really not much that calls for very special
notice. Miss Fanny Gillette. undoubtedly
an accomplished actress, was disappoint-
ing at times as the distraught wife, Made
Inc. The actress was by no means with
out moments of power, but sometimes was
stacy and unreal. The part of Henri, the
elder child of the mountebank,
was excellently entered into by Miss
Lucia Moore, and tine innocence, the affec-
were so well brought out as to thoroughly
deserve the plaudits of the audience. A
clever piece of comedy was seen in the
fooling of Fanfaranade, II. D. Byers.
Ernest G. Warde gave proof of hereditary
talent in the part of the Due de Montbazon;
Miss Craig Garrick made a sprightly Mile.
Flora, lately from the Paris opera, but now
the dignifed mistress of chateau near
Bordeaux, and the other parts, of which
there are a large number, were all very
satisfactorily essayed.
Tonight Mr.. Warde appears in Sheridan
Knowles tragedy, Virginlus, as the noble
Roman, in which part Mr.. Warde is per.
haps best known and SO thoroughly de-
serves his reputation.
q = r
THE BURBANK-"Wife for Wife, was
given at the Burbank theater last night by
Miss May Nannary and her company.
"Wife for Wife" is one of those purely
modern and realistic domestic dramas that
appeal 10 the average man and woman
with more than physical power. A promi.
nent southern planter named Walton is
married to a northern beauty. They go to
their southern home with their retinue of
servants. including one George who has
been Walton's closest friend. Sometime
previous to Walton's marriage a rascal
named Singleton had fallen in love with
the young lady who afterwards became
Mrs. Walton, but his suit was rejected be-
cause he was believed to be the downfall
OF Georges wife. George believes that his
master was the cause of the destruction of
his home, and he swears vengeance upon
him, George secures message from a
young lady and changes the address of the
envelope to make it appear that Mrs.
Walton has invited Singleton to visit the
family, herself especially.
In the quarrel that results Singleton
shoots Walton in the head and the injury
results in insanity. While Walton is CON
fined i'll an asylum George plans the alb.
duction of Mrs. Walton. The insane hus-
band escapes from the asylum and wan
ders away to the scene OF Georges treach-
cry. and finds his wife in the arms of Sin
gleton. The shock restores his reason and
he kills Singleton in a duel. George at.
tempts to poison his master, but by mis-
take he himself drinks the poison. When
he thinks his master is dying he gloats
over his supposed revenge, but dies in ag-
ony and with curses upon his lips. The
startling situations follow each other with
great rapidity and there are many side
plays full of subtle wit.
Miss Nannary depicts all the varying
phases of emotion with infinite skill.
In rapidty of utterance, grace and tender
ness of tone she has few equals on The
American stage.
As Edith Walton she has many opportrl-
greatest emotions of the human heart.
Her daintily tender and infinitely touch
ing love making in the first act is no act
ing, it is living as it is given to but few
people to live. ~ lr
The part of Edward Walton, the South
ern gentleman, is peculiarly fitting for Mr..
Mortimer Snow. The fiery spirit and
chivairous bearing of Mr.. Snow make him
an ideal gentleman of the old Southern
school. In the scene in which he ia
deceived by the servant and made to be.
lieye that his wife is false his wavering 10y
atty is depicted with very great skill. The
villainous Singleton is cleyerly represented
by Mr.. Clyde Hess.
Miss Mollie stockmeyer as Martha. the
colored servant, is excellent. The change
from the gay fortune hunter to the old
slave is great. and its successful perform
ance is strong proof Of Miss Stockmeyer's 8
versatility.
Hall dozen good songs are introduced
in the play, in one of which little baby
Mildred appears 10 great advantage.
AS Euphemia, the uucanny old maid
with love-mak:ng tendencies, Margaret
/ Marshall was inimitable.
t. T. Nannary. as the impecunious
author, and Frank Cleaves, as the French
doctor, were also excellent
TIE play was we'll staged last night anG
the time between thu acts was short.
its success is assured. 1t will be given al
this week with matinee on Saturday.
| THE ORpiEUM.-Th Creole nightingale
was greeted by 4 splendid audience las
night at the Orpheum, and before she hat
sung her first song she had captured every
al, tI<,d ont n