The herald., 1897-11-02
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5 AT THE THEATERS 8
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BURBANK THEATER.-"AH the
Comforts of Home" belongs to class Of
farce comedies that requires the most
rapid action and at the same time the
most clear-cut work on the part of each
individual performer. These desiderata
are not to be attained without, first,
company thoroughly fitted to the re?-
spective parts; and, secondly, efficient
and sufficient rehearsals.
The piece above-named has been seen
here good many times and it has al
ways proved a good laugh-maker in
spite of, or perhaps because of, it's wild
absurdity and impossible complications.
AS presented last night it was evident
that some Of the performers were suf-
fering the usual first night" chills, and
the snap with which the piece should be
given was wanting. 1t was also easy to
be seen that with company containing
so many good people as this one does, the
rendition will vastly improve with each
performance, and this may safely be
prophesied, even though two or three Of
the people are playing characters out
of their best line of work.
The new leading man, Maurice Drew.
is about as untitled for the part of AL
fred Hastings as was Henry Miller Of
lugubrious memory, but he looks it bet
ter than did Miller. and will probably
gain in the lightness of touch required
for comedy part of this kind.
Miss Truax as Fiji Oritanski, is lady,
like, which the character is not The
part is an impossible one for an actress
with a temperament that fits her only for
the display OF refinement and grace.
The piece is amusing enough for an
evenings entertainment, and the per-
formance Of it will improve with each
rendition. OF the work done by the other
performers something may be said later
in the week.
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ORPHEUM-The big crowd last night
laughed heartily at the funnyisms of
Press Eldridge, who made his first ap-
pearance in this city and received an en-
phatic endorsement of the favorable
verdict pronounced upon him elsewhere.
He is a "black face" comedian of the
same type as Lew Dockstadter, and rigs
himself up in similarly grotesque attire.
There is no attempt to do "coon act"
on the part Of Mr.. Eldridge, and it may
be assumed that he blacks his face for
the same reason that he goes off the
stage at intervals, in obedience, that is
to say, to the tradition of the theater, as
he frankly explains. A vaudeville art
list, as Mr.. Eldridge parenthetically re-
marked, used to be called a variety actor
and it is the artists duty to sing three
songs, retiring from the stage between
each one, and these are termed "en-
cores;" but the artist has to sing them
whether the audience wants them or not.
In a similar satirical vein he contin-
ued, creating much amusement, and as
his songs were many times redemanded,
he and the management must have been
well satisfied.
Another new feature, the musical COM
edians, Weston and Herbert, who play
on great variety of instruments, mu.
sical and unmusical, scored hit
O'Brien and Havel repeated their sue.
cess of last week. and John j. Welsh
having dropped his funereal attempt:
at being funny, brings down the house
in loud applause for his clever dancing.
The worlds greatest double cornetist
got into trouble with the orchestra
which failed to follow his meanderinss
oiA tHC hCy nIlu " hScP pace Wllu his
peculiar time. Miss Eleanor Montana
sang with great sweetness "Our Old
Kentucky Home" and Come to Me, My
Love-"
The entertainment wound up with the
clever trick bicycle riding of the Smith
family, in which they were assisted by
f. J. Baisden, graceful and daring
rider. who did some wonderful work III
his line.
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LOS ANGELES THEATER.-The
much advertised melodramatic play