The herald., 1897-02-11
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!: At THE THEATERS ;
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LOS ANGELES THEATER-The
German playwright who evolved the
title of Heimath for the play called
Magda in its English form, must have
been moved by spirit of irony, for the
home he pictures is sad indeed. The
life in 1t moving sluggishly from day to
day, domineered by an aged, crippled
martinez under whose orders wife and
daughter bow with trembling reverence,
brings to mind tale that is old, no part
Of which figures in the scheme Of things
according to the up-to-date reckoning
of the young idea of today. All the same,
the picture of German home life that
Suderman presents, has a truthful as
pect and it's narrowness and petty
pleasures and obligations are brought
out in strong relief by the daughter
Magda on her home coming, after twelve
years of absence, during which she has
graduated in the Bohemian world and
has become a singer whose name is
famous.
The story Is cleverly focused in the
events of two days which take place in
the old fathers l. use,, and the whole
gamut of human emotion is sounded by
the dramatist, beginning with the light
tones of Magda on her return home,
deepening when she meets her former
paramour, and coming to tragic cli-
max when the old father dies from the
excitement caused by his attempt to
save the honor of his family name.
Modjeska's personation of the famous
but unhappy Magda is so perfectly i'm
agined and SO completely portrayed, that
ii cannot but carry conviction to every
listener In her fine carriage and de-
meanor and her rich costumes she salts
fies the eye before word Is spoken, but
when that we'll trained voice with its
tones now delicate and now strong, but
always full of meaning, falls upon the
ear one recognizes inStinctively the
presence of queen of her art, whose life
like that of the Magda she impersonates
may be conceived of as devoted to its
chosen cult.
The play has been seen here before
and its repetition last night but deepens
the impression then made of the power
and charm of the woman who ipterprets
1t. There was perhaps, in her hrst scene
not so strong an accentuation or the
lines as to some might have appeared
desirable, but in the later acts the en-
ergy, the fire and the pathos were all
sion to the toprote of scorn, reproach
or agony as the situation demanded.
The well-known scene with the Coun-
cillor Won Keller, where he proposes
marriage, was brought to superb cli-
max by the indignant Magda when she
orders him from the house
At the same time it is also in the
quieter parts of the play that Modjeska
shows the consummate talent of the true
artist. Not an opportunity is lost either
in action or expression of voice to give
color and force to the Characterization.
Whatever may be thought of the play
itself, and of its pessimistic tone, the
originality, excellence and force of the
acting of the chief character must be
conceded, and it would be hard for the
most inveterate faultflnder to suggest IN
what way it might be improved
George Osbourne Is an actor of ex
perience and acknowledged talent. He
appears to understand the part of Coun-
cillor Won Keller, but he Is temperament
ally unable to assimilate it. The kind
of Gentleman Jack, which he furnished
in it's stead was to a certain extent an
injustice to the author whose concep-
tion of the phlegmatic, priggish, narrow
! minded and conceited bourgeois, rapt
| in contemplation of his own eXcellencies
and blind to everything but his own
future prospects, was belied by that
alert and sensitive American smooth
scoundrel portrayed by Mr.. Osbourne.
The Major Schubert of Mr. Haworth
was played with great feeling and With
q grasp that strengthened with each
successive act His death scene and, in
fact. each incident of the last act was
worked up with great skill and ELECTED
an applause that was only Subdued by
the painfi.- nature of the scene itself.
Mr.. Lonergan as the rector was clearly
out of his proper line, and he had char
nf a nj nr.fi innC hDf
failure in any part was failure altogeth-
er. 1t must be confessed that he was
very bad indeed. Sympathetic express
sion is evidently not his forte in dra-
/! matte work
Outside of the leading characters the
women of the cast are somewhat color
less as sketched by the author and the
players did not succeed in improving
on the text. Miss Joliffe was pleasingly
ingenious as the sister of Magda, and
acts as If she might do better with q
better part The mother as represented
by Mrs. Levick was unobtrusively prop
er and powerfully weak. The slender
soubrette part played by Miss Alice Per-
kins was unexpectedly good and life
like.
The house was crowded to the ceiling,
the audience was attentive, applausive
almost to enthusiasm; flowers were
passed over the footlights and the re-
have gratified her every WISH
Tonight Mary Stuart, in which part
Modjeska is without rival, will be
given.
FANNY RICE-The sale of reserved
seats for Miss Rice's engagement opens
this morning at the Los Angeles theater.
She will present the new version of At
the French Ball, and her new musical
comedy, Flower Girl of Paris
BURBANK THEATER.-A RunaW av
Wife continues to draw good houses.
ORPHEUM.-Alcide Capitaine in her
graceful trapeze act is the chief attrac-
tion this week. Crowds flock to see her
shapely form and watch her daring per-
fcrmance.
AN DISSATISFIED THIRST
william Vincent Steals Bottle of Vermuth