The herald., 1897-01-12
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! At THE THEATERS !:
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locker that will always hold them dear
to the musical mind The Beggar Stu
dent has stood prominently to the fore
in all the essentials of comic opera, save
that its nbretto, from the comic point
Of view, Is q trifie too GermanesQue In
its habiliments to suit the quick. incis-
i've sense of humor characteristic of the
American people. All this aside. the
waltz movement which is the central
theme in this musical embroidery can
be classed as typicaily beautiful in its
harmonious suggestions and its free,
sensuous rhythmic swing.
Comic opera at reasonable prices drew
large audience at this theater last
night to hear Jules Grau's company
give the Beggar Student and they gave
the opera in an acceptable manner.
While there were some elements that
married the symmetry of the cast. yet
they were overbalanced by the thorough
work of others In the leading roles.
There We're interpretations. but they
were pleasing ones. The song. THESE
Words Shakespeare Never Wrote which
found currency in The Kings Fool,
song by Alice Johnson. and song and
clever recitative by Alice Carrie, with
ludicrous medley accompaniment. MT
Alice johnson. always noted for her
beauty. invested the role of Laura with
the double charm of her pleasing per-
sonality and voice of singular sweet
ness and artistic cultivation. Alice
Carle, who seems to be filled whit dra-
matte impulses. alike in voice and ac-
tion. made a remarkably good Bronos
lava. In fact, we have seldom seen the
role in better hands. Gertrudge Lodge
gave the necessary dignity to the role
of the Countess, and Robert Dunbar, or
Bob. as he was called In the days of the
Little Tycoon, sang the role of Simon
with a mellowness and lyrical quality
that made him an ideal Beggar Student.
Mr.. Lauglois as Janitzky deserves es-
pecial commendation. His impersonation
ranks as one of the- signal successes of
the performance Robert Lift as Ollen-
dorf and Stanley Felch as Entevich were
only fairly good.
The chorus ia musically strong, and
was a decidedly noteworthy element
in the production. The work of the or
chestra at times was rare-in fact. raw.
Altogether the Grau opera company is
deserving OF good patronage The compa-
ny is unpretentions but they give more
than good value The Beggar Student
will be the Wednesday matinee bill and
tonight Fra Diavolo with the finale
from Donizetti's Lucia will be given.
BURBANK.-In the staging of H.
Rider Haggard's weird story the man.
agement Of the Burbank theater has
scored an artistic and financial success,
for the first representation of She last
evening was greeted by large and en-
thusiastic audience, and as a compli
ment to the Native Sons, who, with their
wives and sweethearts, formed so large
a part of the audience. The proscenium
arch displayed a large California flag
flanked on either side by the Stars and
Stripes.
No such ambitious attempts at scenic
effects have before been made in this
theater and the transformation scenes
introduced in the performance of She
are exceptionally good. The work of
those who acted the living characters
of the drama was fully equal to the work
of the scenic artist, and the play from
first to last was stirring and full of
startling situations with enough com
edy to keep the spectators in continu
Gus good humor. The prologue to the
play. laid at period 440 years before
Christ, introduces a beautiful stage pic
ture and some good acting. of the trag
cal type appropriate to the age and
subject With the first act of the play
the modern era begins. The comedy IN
this act pred'ominateS, but James T. Nc
Alpin as Ted is just funny enough to
strike popular chord and not too funny
for the situation. j. j. Morris as Had
ley and James Gordon as Professor Deep,
with w. ]. Jossy as Leo Vincent. the
sixty-eighth lineal descendant of KILL
krates, all maintain their respective parts
In a manner showing careful study. In
the second act the Englishmen are out
numbered by the Africans for the scene
has changed to the swamp of Zanzibar,
and cannibals serve to introduce more
interesting character of that region. In
this act Leo is married by the native
custom to Ustane. who is charmingly
personated by Miss Katie Pearson love
able enough to captivate any and all
men. The scene where the savage ma
tives undertake to kill their patriarch
Rillali (Von Bert Adams) is thrilling
one.
In the third act. at the ruined city of
Kor, She first appears, and her appear
ance and subsequent denouement.
when she suddenly discloses to Leo all
her wondrous beauty, are startling. She,
whose other name is Ayesha, is ably i'm
personated by Miss Jessie Welburn, who
possesses a charming face and figure
and a queenly demeanor. In the last
act. when She smites to death her only
rival, Ustane, and makes love to Leo,
she displays much dramatic art. Her
the fire of immortality and is suddenly
changed to the wrinkled bag, her beauty
withered by thousands of years, is sufii-
GENTLY striking to please even Raggard
himself
The story is too we'll known to require
even a synopsis. It is weird enough to
maintain the spectators interest
throughout. and the transformations
are surprising. The music added much
to the performance, the violin solo of
Arnold Krauss being so enthusias stically
encored that the orchestra leader re-
sponded with another selection as good.
She holds the boards all the week.
ORPHEJM-The immense throng
that crowded this theater last night is
accounted for by the splendid show
promised. Ii was nothing but mirth ana
iollity from the time the curtain rose
/ until the last act
Kaoly. the man Of elastic propersities.
who does a number of statuesque tricks
opened the ball and kept the audience
agape with wonder, as one difficult feat
succeeded another.
The three saucy Dunbar sisters
whirled out a vision of flouncing laces.
pretty faces and lively caperings. a BIZ
cycle song and dance in boomers r.
ceived its share of salvos; a weli-chosen
costermonger soEg was given next, and
frally bewitching skirt Gancc.
The ever-humorous monkeys of Ga
letti were the next to make their bow.
Their ludicrous antics, without the ex-
treme cleverness of their training, Is
sufficient to make theirs a generous con-
tribution to the evenings run.
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