The herald., 1898-10-04
AT THE THEATER
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES u

BURBANK.-The reopen.ng Of this house
last night in its altered and renovated con-
dition and under entirely new management
was a gala occasion.
To speak first of the house itself, the new
managers. Messrs. Patrick and Shaw, rec
ognized, with quick business instinct,
| that 1t would be useless to attempt to at
tract large patronage, unless in the first
place they should do something to improve
the acoustic properties of the auditorium.
They have not only done this something,
| but they have done a good deal more, by
means of erecting. in the upper part of the
proscen.um and at the back Of the upper
boxes, what is in effect huge sounding
board, that answers its intended purpose
perfectly. enabling every word uttered upon
the stage to be distinctly heard all over the
house. This addition has been prettily dec
GRATED upon neutral tinted ground, and is
a sight refreshing to the eye. A new drop
curtain has also been put IN, and while this
addition may not rang among the master
pieces Of art. 1t is at any rate a great deal
better than the advertising curtain that is
forced upon the attention Of the audience
between wh.les.
Another great improvement is in the or
leadership Of Dion Romandy. so favorably
known here for his work in this line. Mr.
Romandy has under his baton the best or
chestra Of Its size that has ever been lis
tened to here. The selections played last
night, including. among others. the over
ture to "William Tell" and Gounod's "Ave
Maria,' the latter by Mr. Romandy on the
violin. with harp and cello, by Messrs
Muqao and .
favor, and Romandy's solo was rede-
manded.
The house presented a brilliant appear
ance, every seat being filled and the audi
ence numbering large proportion of regu-
lar "frst-nighters." The attention to the
performance was perfectly sustat ed
throughout, the patrons evidently being ad-
m.rers of refined comedy Of the type pre-
sented in THE Butterflies"
The play Of the evening was written by
Henry Guy Carleton, and was presented
some years ago In this city with John Drew
the brother of the Sidney Drew Of last
night, in the leading part. The plot of
The Butterflies" has been given at length
N these columns, and 1t is needless to refer
to It again, seeing that the little comedy
is not dependent upon plot and situation
nearly SO much as it is upon it's spr.ghtly
dialogue and its opportunities for the deline-
alton Of types of character.
These types are not particularly stunning
on account Of their novelty or their asso-
citation, but they are cIeverly drawn and
well acted. Mr.. Drew Is an excellent light
comedian, with face resembling that of his
brother and with a few of his mannerisms.
but at the same time with an ability and
manner entirely characteristic Of himself
and OF no one else. HIS work is crisp, clean
cut and clever, having that certain finish
that distinguishes the born comedian from
all others. Mrs. Drew Is not so we'll ca ct
IN THE Butterflies" as she Is In the after.
piece, but she IS nevertheless a charming
actress. handsome, refined and with an in
teli.gence which enables her to convex to
her audience without apparent effort the
full effect Of the character she represents
The supporting company is very fairly
equal to the work 1t has to do Mrs. F. M
Bates lends her experienced aid and pre.
sents one of the best character bits Of the
play. The ingenue by Miss Verne Castro
deserves praise for a certain breeziness
which certainly found favor with the house
The men of the company, aside from Mr.
Drew, are adequate supporters of their va
r1ous roles. The full cast was as follows.
rreoenck Osslan............ Sidney Drew
AnoreW Strohs. s................Bert Morrison
rliram Green.'. n.'..............W William Brewer
6arIIhston George W. Ryan
NatnaMel bllSer... Lionel Clarke
Noouie .'..... .....................W, c., Hands
Mrs. Beverly Stuart Dodge. ....,....
'''.''.. ..................Mrs. F. M Rates
MRS. Ossian.............. Miss Grace Pierce
suzanne: e:................Miss Verne Castro
Miriam Stuart Dodge. Mrs. Drew
The performance concluded with a III
tie farce played by Mr. and Mrs Drew en-
titled when Two Hearts Are Won" which
was received with laughter and applause
from beginning to end. The same BIZ, viii,
be presented every night this week.
ORPHEUM.-The bill at the Ornheur,
last night entertained an enthusiasts a,,-
ddence OF the usual proportions.
Favor and Sinclair give a sketch en+;+,od
cupid In the Park" which serve. n.
vehicle for their songs and Joke. some ~
the latter being trine past their nr,st,na .
youth. ''''e
Like true violin virtuoso Miss Ieanne
Franko plays over the heads Of {. large part
OF her audience. but was given a warm re-
ception. or her selections, Schuma nns