The herald., 1897-04-16
~ s3'H&e2sasFs&''2' s2F'3'Sz.'2' r \
-
+ AT THE THEATERS J
% Is
T%TSJssF.5s.SssSsSs.ts.SsSTj j

LOS ANGELES THEATER.--Mr. ant
Mrs. Russ Whytal made their appear
ance last night for the first time here II
a four act romantic drama entitled
For Fair Virginia." Mr.. Whytal being
also the author of the piece.
The action opens with the outbreak OF
| the civil war in 1862 and the curtain de-
scende upon its close In 1865. The story
is the usual one of family differences
caused by the conflict of opinion upon
national issues; there is great talk about
the blue and the gray; there is the usual
! love story, this time with the northern
girl as the heroine. the usual southern
damsel being missing quantity and her
place supplied with a southern wife
whose husband is of opposite proclivities.
| Mr.. Whytal plays the villains part,
| namely that of a Confederate officer, a
Scotsman by birth and resident of
only ten years standing in Virginia, but
who has, nevertheless, acquired a very
strong case of southern dialect in his
pronunciation.
The plot is ingeniously worked out and
the piece is acted with great amount
OF vim, the parts being filled by people
who are well fitted for their delineation.
The compactness of the cast is especial
ly noticeable, the war effects being pro-
duced with fully as much satisfaction
as when large numbers Of people have
been employed in such plays as Shen-
andoah and similar plays.
Mr.. Whytal does not have a very diff
cult character to portray and 1t must be
said that there is more of the Virginian
in 1t all than of the Scotsman. He Is
alert, dramatic and intense enough to
satisfy the exigencies of the part, which
is something more than can be said of
the Dunbar of Mr.. Doane, who is very
agreeable in the earlier scenes but hard
ly sufficiently in earnest in the latter
part Of the play. He should also remove
his hat when in the reception room and
addressing ladies. The sight Of man
making love in parlor and keeping his
head covered is not exactly in accord
ance with southern breeding.
Mrs. Whytal as Nell Esmond, the Yam
kee girl, makes charming picture and
acts with a certain unconventional grace
and naivete that gives her performance
an individual touch which it would be
hard to duplicate She has rich voice,
with vibrant sympathetic tone that
is a pleasure to listen to. She has that
quiShhSSS vi dStioh dao ldplu CndHSe OI
expression which to certain extent
make her acting elusive in the earlier
scenes. but even then the impression she
gives out is highly pleasurable one and
that Is deepened as the piece goes on.
The cast is also greatly strengthened
by Mabel Bert in the character of the
southern woman. Miss Bert acts with
a quiet strength that gives the idea of
much reserve power, and she carries her
self-control to the extent of avoiding. the
heroics which the part would apparently
give license for. here and there.
Even the old darkey, by John Wood
ard, was kept in subsection, so that he
should not mar the harmony of the
scene. Seldom has better bit of quiet
acting of its kind been seen than that of
Uncle Zeb as the faithful old "nigger" OF
the time before the war.
Little Lottie Briscoe, as the young son
Of the Eemonds, also does some very
clever acting much above the average
of the ordinary stage. phenomenon.
AS whole the piece is a capital one
and deserves strong recognition wher-
ever 1t may be presented. The patronage
last night was not nearly so large as the
merits of the piece warranted.
1t will be repeated tonight and anyone
who likes good clean play with a strong
dramatic interest in the plot and capt.
tally acted and mounted should not
miss seeing For Fair Virginia"