The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-24
. y y y y u y . y
p
! AT THE THEATERS !;
p II
rsS TsTsT.e'SEsfs.T.r.Ss.SssSs.Tsi

----------- 70 3 u
LOS ANGELES THEATER'l One
must admire the courage of the lady who
wrote Little Lord. Fauntleroy,'" when
she afterwards undertook, in her admir-
alton of British aristocracy, to write.a
play with the prince of blackguards for
hero, who, by reason of his royal posi-
ton was styled the First Gentlemafl.of
Europe. tsA, 5
Mrs. Frances Hodgson. Burnett AMI
her cola borator have turned out play
which for feebleness of plot, weakness of
action and imbecility of purpose issa
monument of amateurish presumption
If THE First Gentleman of Europe is
intended to show anything at all, it is
that prince may be an utter scoundrei
up to the last moment, and then, when
he has the game in his hands he may
throw down his cards and decline to take
the stakes. The Prince of Wales under
an assumed name vainly tries to cap
ture the affections of the pretty daugh-
ter of a city goldsmith. Finding that
the girl has an honest lover, he has the
young man throwr into prison and kent
there while he himself tries to prosecute
his suit. The girl being still obdurate,
the royal rake reveals his rank and
threatens to have the girls betrothed
sent to what is equivalent to penal serv-
itude IL she will not consent to purchase
/. his release at the price of her honor
1t is evidently the opinion of Mrs.
Frances Hodgson Burnett that a Gill
thus situated, being pure girl, brought
up and still surrounded by home infiu-
.ences of the tenderest kind, and not be-
ing of weak disposition, would sur
render herself under such pressure as is
here brought to bear, in. order to save
her lover from transportation ophis ma
jesty's service. The heroine does so sur
render herself, so far as giving her con-
sent is concerned, and the actual sacri-
flee is only averted by an unaccountable
access of remorse on the part of the
royal profligate, which repentance IS
dragged ip in the most artificial and
theatrical manner.
This is the kernel of the whole story
and the climax of the play arrives at the
moment when the girl gives her consent
to the shameful bargain proposed by
the prince There is something so false
in the ring of such dialogue; it strikes
such q Earring note in the chord of hui
man sersibilities that 1t is difficult to
conceive that woman would, asa writ
er, place such an estimate upon the
worth, the strength and honor of her
own sex.
Whatever purpose may have animated
the writing of this peculiar play. it is
evident that the intention must have
BEEN primarily, to show the baleful eff
fects of vice upon virtue, ard also 10
make it appear that person of royal
blood may suffer an occasional and
spasmodic attack of virtue which will
neutralize, for the time, the effects OF
his pursuit of vice. 1t is very tawdry
stuff rank and fulsome to degree, ami
leaving a dark brown aftertastet of dis
gust. 1.-The Mayfower" is weak play,
but it is a tower of strength compared to
the number one gentleman of Europe.
So far as the acting was concerned,
there is very little fault to be found.
Mr. Hackett's Prince Of Wales was of
course good looking and was full of fine
poses-he uttered his lines with as much
sincerity of tone as could be expected
from the character he represented, and
while he was unable. owing to the linz
itations laid down by the authors, to
make any attempt at thorough charac-
terizatiop, he yet assumed the required
dignity on occasion, and when he was
lying he did it charmingly. .Added-to
all this his costumes were of the most
stunning kind.
Miss Mannering was delightful in this
piece, and, slight as the character Is,
she gave it all the force ard freedom
possible. She appears at her best in it.
and the costume suits her style of beau
ty to admiration. Miss Mannerings
beauty has been the subject of so much
advertising by keen-eyed managers and
callous press agents that one might be
pardoned for suspicion that the lady is
not an actress. There is no ground for
any such superstition, as last nights
performance would amply prove. = Miss
Mannering did her best work in this
piece, and mapaged to portray the de-
voted daughter and the ardent lover in
captivating manner. The forced nature
Of her surrender at theHlast o;.tire will
of the prince was fault of the authors
and not of the actress. '"'
The remainder of the Frohman COM
pany appears and disappears at inter
walls Mr.. Morgan is somewhat. persist
ent as the legitimate lover and he is
chiefly peculiar for the fact that he is
on high strung tension with every line
he has in the piece. He is ready to crack
at any moment, and the wonder is that
he survives the continued strain. The
value. of repose as contrast even in the
very tempest and torrent of his words
is something that Mr. Morgan, who IS
a x,a11a hle actor all the same has vet to
learn.
The other characters are all we'll per-
sonated-Maud Odell and Mrs. Thos-
Whiffen fulfill their parts extremely we'll
and the play was elegantly staged. The
audience was large and enjoyed the per-
Torrance.
At the matinee today 1.-THE Prisoner Of