The herald., 1897-01-24

6
Strangers to our city seem to be sur
prised that the theaters are doing sucf
q big business while the cry of hard
times Is abroad In the land. It is need
less to say that the wondering ones are
generally people who hail from the
east, where the hard times specter has
a very palpable existence, and they
have not yet had time to discover tina,
Californians are never likely to under.
stand the meaning Of the words hard
times" as they are understood on the
other side of the Rockies. Then, too
our pereptual sunshine has knack OF
creeping into the heart, and we ore, In
consequence, little inclind to take des-
of which may be adduced In testimnoy
the happy, smiling faces that nightly
crowd our theaters. And when one
comes to consider the subject seriously,
how could 1t be possible for the grim
skeleton of care to stalk abroad in a
land where the sun shines, the fruits
grow and the flowers bloom all the year
round at the base of the grand old
mountains, whose snowy caps are the
only reminder of the discomforts to be
fund on the other side?
Why are out theaters filed nightly ?
Why. because, having no real cause for
care, we enjoy congregating together
in the realm where Momus is king, and
laughing at the quips and jests Of the
passing hour, we'll content that we are
residents of the sun-kissed land where
1.-The varying year with blade and sheaf
Clothes and reclothes the happy plains; |;
Here rests the sap within the leaf.
Here stays the blood along the veins"
The Grau Opera company has main
tained a uniform standard of excellence
In each opera presented during its en-
gsgement. In these days of star-cursed
attractions, where none but the much
advertised constellation is allowed the
exhibition Of even one small sparkle
of talent, we have become so accus-
toned to the circumlocution office
methods Of how not to do it, en-
ployed by companies struggling under
the weight of the stellar incubus that
IT Is pleasure to come across so we'll
balanced an organization as the Grau
company. where everyone is permitted
the free display of his talents. and
where all are possessed of high order
of ability.
Miss johnson, of the Grau company,
Is woman who manages to infuse
large amount of originality into even
the most hackneyed part, and leave
strong impression of her personality
upon 1t. Aside from her cleverness in
her profession. Miss Johnson is a very
pretty woman, and like most pretty
l. l. lac
of her good looks as is evinced by
series of little poses which are gone
through with view to calling attention
to the best points in her personal ap-
pearance. Each pose lasts but a moment
or two-just for the space of time that
marks the line between being
affected. and they do great ex-
ecution among the suscepti-
bic young men in the audience. They
little poses. and prove that Miss John
son picked up few other wrinkles
during her stay in Paris other than the
art Of using her voice artistically.
At the Orpheum last week there was
an almost entire change of bill, and d
most excellent and entertaining per-
formance was the result. Among the
new comers were Mr.. Frederick Hallen.
SO long and so favorably known on the
legitimate stage in comedy roles, and
Miss Mollie Fuller. sister of La Loie who
has been shining somewhat in the lat
ter's reflected light. Miss Fuller, how
ever, really needs no such assistance,
as she is quite capable of holding her
own as a comedienne without any help
but that of her own talent. Mr. Hallen
and Miss Fuller have a musical sketch,
wherein they display two pleasing
voices, some unusually clever dancing,
good deal of figure on the part of the
lady, and a talent for repartee. With
regard to the latter, and including one
or two of the songs, one might say, in
the slang of the day. that they were
pretty 'close to the line" at times, and
1t is to be feared that the cheek of Mr..
Podsnap's young person" would have
mad some cause to glow in the course
of the performance of this sprightly
pair
Mr.. Charles Wayne seems to have
won the heart of Orpheum audiences
py MS eccentric comedy work. Albeit
the hoary moss of ages has taken deep
root on some of his witticisms, yet the
audience seems to like his style Of de-
livering them so we'll that the circum-
stance escapes notice. There is a good
deal of horseplay about Mr. Wayne's
turn that delights the gods, and to which
they insist most emphatically on de-
manding an encore.
TIE Rostons, whose stout, healthy
appearance alone would suggest an in
innate acquaintace with the roast beef
OF old England did not their accent
and their peculiar trend of humor pro-
claim them as subjects of the redoubt-
able John Bull, are favoring Orpheum
audiences with turn which has many
original features in it. While the hu-
NOR Is a little thick" perhaps, yet the
turn itself suggests some admiration
for the fertility displayed by the human
brain IN the evolving Of some new con-
ceit that shall cause poor, bored human
nature to laugh for one little hour.
The Burbank theater Is making quite
a successful feature of Its elaborate
stage setting. The Midnight Alarm
which was the bill for the past week
gave great scope for prodigality IN the
matter of scenic effect, and its possibil-
tiles In this direction received every at
tenton. fine scene was the reprodI1c-
ton of Brooklyn bridge, in the firsr
act. while the brilliantly lighted citv
in the distance and the ferryboats ma Sc.
Ing and repassing on the river. wni,e
in the second act the interest was cen
tered in swinging bridge. over which
O train OF cars dashes in q highlv real
istic manner. In the fourth act there
is an engine house set, which upon an
alarm being given, instantly changes
to an open street, with the engine and
horses making all speed to the scene Of