The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-30
AT THE THEATER
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

l@ y
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. q
ORPHEUM.-The new bill last night con-
tained preponderance Of high class amuse-
ment, and to such an extent that the old
familiar faces were conspicuous by their
almost entire absence. Certainly there
were O'Brien and Buckley. the black-faced
team of instrumental performers, but their
advertised "cyclone of fun" was missing,
much to the advantage Of their act. The
| influence of refinement even extended to
Mr.. Thornton, philosopher and satirist,"
who jollied his audience successfully with
out having recourse 10 the barroom jokes
Of last week. He has evidently discovered
that the influential Orpheum patrons In
this city prefer good clean work and he de-
serves credit for his perspicuity.
Madame Tavary, the operate prima DON
ma, was the first Of the new arrivals to ap-
pear and she made an instantaneous hit
This was not only because Of her charming
voice but also by reason Of the selections
given. Her first number was the polonaise
''Titania" from "Mignon," after which she
sang the AVE Maria" which was specially
arranged by Mascagni to the accompani-
ment Of his famous intermezzo from the
"Cavalleria Rusticana." Her closing selec-
ton was the "Fadette" waltz by Tito Mattel.
Madame Tavary was in splendid voice and
to say that she.did full justice to these num-
bers Is but small praise. The audience rec
cgnized her vocal efforts by their applause
and the first attempt here TO put recog-
nzed prima donna upon the vaudeville
/ ha ~.
cess.
| Felix Morris and his clever support ap-
pcared In little comedy-drama entitled
1.-THE Old Musician" in which there Is a lit
tie more of pathetic interest than was
found in his sketch of last week. The old
musician is a Frenchman who talks de-
lightful mixture Of broken English and pure
French. In appearance he suggests one OF
| the German composers, say Beethoven. and
in his acting he evinces his mastery OF the
finest details of dramatic characterization.
The interest of the little sketch is capitally
sustained and the curtain falls unexpectedly
at a point where the audience Is left to
figure out quite easily what the denoue-
ment will be, and is spared the elaboration
Of the conventional finale upon the stage.
The dramatic work of Mr.. Morris is one Of
those rare treats that afford complete en-
joyment not only to the veteran theater-
goer, but his art is Of that kind that finds
response among the unsophisticated. and
so he manages to please them all.
Lillian Burkhart, with the assistance Of
Carl Wilbur, presents a little dramatic
sketch entitled IA Passing Fancy" which
she plays In a very dainty way, touching
the salient points with excellent discretion
and managing to amuse without losing sight
of the character she sustains at the begin
ming of the piece. 1t is the well-worn story
of a woman disseminating an admirer by
pretending. for the time, to be something
that is exactly opposite to her real nature.
I. was done with fine effect and In an ar
tistlc manner deserving Of high praise.
The three Macarte sisters do an aero
battle turn on the wire, balancing them
selves all al one time in a manner appar-
emily defying the laws Of gravitat!on. and
| for final feat one sister balances herself
on a wire the ends Of which are held in the
teeth Of the two others as they are sus-
pended head downwards, all three mean
while playing mandolins as If this were
little exercise for their own pleasure. 1t Is
wonderful performance and the saucy-
looking little sisters deserve all the applause
they receive.
valbon and Anthelmins open the pro-
gram. The lady dances and wears a new
costume They both sing new selections
and are evidently favorites with the audi
ence.
BURBANK-Sp strong play as "Cap-
tain Swift" presented by the Bacon COM
| pany at the Burbank last night deserves
| a more generous reception from the mouse
| and more attention in learning the lines
| from some Of the actors than was accorded
to 1t at Its repetition before Los Angeles
| audience.
| The play is a domestic drama, simple
enough in its construction. The part Of
Mr. Wlding taken by Mr.. Nicholson gives
chance for the adventurer, horse thief
| and bandit, after he has secured his booty,
| to return to England from Australia and
| be new man." But unfortunately he
visits at the house of testy, f1dgety old
| dotard, whose wife has secret In the form
| of an abandoned son by former marriage.
| The Australian guest is no other than her
| son, whom she recognizes by resemblances
| she traces to his father. Just how Mr..
| Gardner, another Australian (Mr. Stanley
| j. Ross) should be in London does not ap-
| pear, but he's there all right and recog-
nizes Mr.. Wilding as Captain Swift, who
stole his horse in the bush. Mr.. Gardiner
does sthe friendly act by refusing to betray
the adventurer, which kindly offer is cold
1y rejected by the would-be reformed high
| wayman. The whole play hangs together
on the fate Of Captain Swift and gives but
few opportunities for special work. It Is
relieved from monotony by the scene be-
tween the mother Cdiss Edith Lemmert)
and Wilding.
The manner in which the mother ac-
knowledkes her cold seTfishness and cru
| city in deserving her child to an unknown
fate and then admits what she has suf-
fered because Of 1t. gives Miss Lemmert
an opportunity to show her emotional pow
err; and the manner in which her feelings
are received by her son only illustrates the
truth of the old adage, BLOOD is thicker
| than water"
Miss Rozilla Rice as Lady Staunton
looked and acted the part Of cold woman
| Of the world.
The bit of love and color to the play was
carried Off as usual by the young ladies.
Miss Violet Dole and Miss Mignon Mare
chal. who did what all young ladies like
to do, fall in love and get engaged
With another performance Captain
Swift will have eliminated few little de-
| fects and for the rest of the week Los An