The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-12-07
q Observation-Disclosures:
AT THE THEATER
Observation-Disclosures .
THE BURBANK.-The Henderson COM

THE BCRBANK.-The Henderson COM
pany opened its season last night under the
personal direction of David Henderson, the
well-known Chicago theatrical manager The
piece chosen was the four-act comedy, The
Crust OF Society,"" which is one of the social
problem plays that were SO much in vogue
few years ago and are not quite discarded
yet, although they have declined from their
former engrossing prominence on account
of the prevailing fad among theater-goers
for the romantic drama.
The piece in question is an adaptation from
Alexandra Dumas, altered to fit the sup
posed manners and customs of English So
ciety. The plot deals with the endeavor of
Mrs. Eastlahe Chapel to entrap young
man into marrying her The young man is
quite willing, hut his friends are not, and
as Mrs. Chapel is woman with a very
shady past and is, i'll fact, a regular cigarette
smoking stage adventures, she has need Of
all her wits to accomplish her object. She
fails in the end chiefly through the counter
plotting OF Oliver st. Aubyn (variously pro-
nounced "Aubin,' ''Orbn" and auburn"
by the company. The social question salts
factorily settled is that good young man
must not be allowed to marry an adven-
turess if his friends can help it.
The entertainment afforded in a play of
this kind is i'll following the dialogue with
its quick fencing and often witty speeches
and to enjoy the delineation of character IN
the hands of each member of the cast. There
is no action of dramatic kind in the sense
OF sensationalsm, except once where gen
tieman wrestles with a lady to tear a letter
from her hands, but for the most part draw
ing room manners prevail, dress clothes are
worn and elegant furniture is shown in
every scene.
The piece was listened to very attentively
by goodsized audience and the general YER
dict was undoubtedly one of approval. The
company contains some very capable people
and some who are not so capable as might
be desired. The fine finish and society
polish that is exacted for the proper repre-
sentation of plays of this character are rot
readily found on the stage of today. Ed
ward Nj. Bell has the most to do as st.
-Aubyn, the man who, although he has a
past of his own and wants to marry an
ingenue, is violently opposed to permit
ting the converse Of his own case to happen.
Mr. Bells ease of manner and charming
familiarity put his fellow actors much at
ease while ne is on the stage. He is capital
representative of the man OF the world who
knows it all, and is therefore anxious to
prevent the happening among his own peo-
pie OF the very things he haas himself done
among others. If Mr.. Bell had been well
supported by the victim whom he was saving
from the slaughter all would have been well,
nf lamb.l;ko innooonoa oho,,t ou1s 81 'i.an
fuss was taking nloce ros +r,,th - al y
very st;cl, and van ri, oh,- 81 w sH, q
Of nronortion 70 ewerr o+bo, an ~ 40 t tuo
comnanv The mart with y oanah,o ao t,1r
playinr # would have mada a cpns;do mo hIo
difference in tba success Of +bo uiooo
On the ladies' side Misc FitzaIie e ,,,,,d
tba rnor, +ef,,I nov. IS NJ. f%., pay gu