The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-22
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LOS ANGELES THEATER.-What-
ever complaints the management may
have been justified in making at the in :
dlf1erence shown by the public to good
performances for several weeks past.
there was complete revolution in the
atrical patronage last night. Theater-
goers had awoke from their sleep or re-
turned from the seaside; at any rate.
they filled the house, and it is a remark
able fact that the gallery was also
crowded. The Prisoner of Zenda" has
been played here before. and almost
with the same cast, the most important
difference on thisoccasion being thesub-
stitution of Mary Mannerlng for Isabei
Irving in the leading part of Princess
Flavia-an alteration that is vastly to
the benefit of the representation.
James K. Hackett playe the dual role
CT Rossendyll and the king. Ru-
dolf with all his old fire. en-
ergy and humor. The latter quail
ity shines particularly in the eero-
nation scene, in which also the fine mil
itary figure of the actor was admira bly,
shown off and would have been improved
# he had put on his gorgeous helmet at
one point of the scene, as he did before.
Mr.. Hackett is an actor not onlyof great
promise, but of very considerable per-
torrance even now He displays a
range Of talent in the course of this play
that is unusual and far beyond the pow
ers of the ordinary leading man whose
experience is mostly confined to society
plays. In the prologue he has delight
full and appropriate German accent.
just sufficiently marked to be true and
pleasing. In the play he is nonchalant
and even fippant at times, remember
ing, however, the royal part he has to
play, checking himself in time to pre-
VENT being betrayed. The passion he
feels for the princess and the cruel posi-.
ton of the real king awaken in him deep
er feelings and it is in the display of
theGa emotions that the actor excels.
Beyond this, however, he develops a re-
markable power in the dungeon scene
in which he is for the time the real king
Here the situation is so painful that IL
evokes the deepest sympathy, and it is
rendered tense indeed by the actors
strong handling of the various moods,
of the unhappy prisoner, reduced almost
10 idiocy by the fortunes of his impris
'iiiiiNie' thC liiSllt 1i anu DDulIy dnSu
caused by the acts of his cruel jailers.
Mr.. Hackett does not appear to have
been accorded the credit he deserves for
slngularly pathetic Interpretation OF
this scene, his acting in it proving his
ability to compass a wide range in the
gamut of human emotion.
The play also went better in the third
act, where Flavia is called upon for a.
strong display of feeling Here Miss
Mannering rose to the occasion and
made of the opportunities afforded near
ly all that could be desired. She lis very
happy in portraying the tender depths,
of the passion of love-the only line In
which she seemed to miss, to some ex-
tent the significance, being The one she
utters in the betrothal, where Rudolf
places the ring upon her finger, and che
says Whatever else l wear, this will |
wear until 1 die-and after" Tenny-
sonian line, the fine meaning of which
is concentrated in its last two words.
In the trying denouement the fair
young actress was as consistent as the
strained conclusion allowed her to be-
and she moved through the play, from
her first entrance, with "a, grace and
dignity that were highly becoming to
the character. She is both sympathetic
and intelligent, in addition to being
blessed with an endowment Of good
looks, and easily won the plaudits of
the admiring audience. Her costumes
are marvelously pretty and effective,
and she changes them at every oppor-
tunity. 1t is rather puzzlng, however,
to know how she manages to change be-
tween her visit at Tarlenheim castle in
the evening and her appearance at
Zenda a few hours later; not to mention
that the change was very elaborate,
involving the arrival of the princess at a
late hour in the night clad in eort of
ball costume, white accordion plated
skirt with sky blue trimmings and an
ample gorgeous silken wrap of the same
sky blue hue. The description may not
be technically correct, but it is near
enough)
The other parts in the cast were ade-
quately sustained. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Wolcot were excellent, as usual, the
former in his Bismarckian makeup and
the latter in a toilette that was resplend-
emit Edward Morgan, as the Black Duke,
played a thankless part well, and Maude
Odell, with an equally thankless role,
acquitted herself admirably.
The audience had the curtain rung up
six times a the end of the third act, and
then called MI Hackett before the cur
tain for a speech-Los Angeles audi
ences always want speeches. Poor Mr..
Hackett was not prepared but his rather
bungling attempt was applauded be-
cause he evidently meant what little he
said. An audience has no right to eX-
pect or to demand speeches from actors,
and if the actors make them badly it is
not fault to be laid up against them.
4 \ isr fo
Tonight this excellent company will
present THE Mayfiower," an idyllic love
story by Louis N Parker. The piece
no historical characters, and
the scenes are laid in Plymouth, Eng
land, Plymouth, New England, and New
With the fine mountings
that the Lyceum company carries for all
it's productions, there is no doubt of
brilliant performance.
4>e--
Karnival de Kommerce
The. three prizes to beNpiven at fh,,