The herald., 1898-02-23
1T THE THEATER
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LOS ANGELES THEATER.-A crowded |
house was present last night for the pur-
pose of enjoying the fun and whatever
naughtiness might be found in the farcical
eccentricities of 1.-THE Girl From Paris.
The popular idea is that anything from
ia belle France" must be tinged with
certain amount of piquancy, not to say
warm flavor, and whether it is novel, a
poem or play, every one understands
what Is meant when 1t is described as
quite Frenchy, you know" Expectation,
therefore ran high last night, and some-
thing real devilish was expected by an
eager audience from the antics of the Pa
risan girl and her numerous aiders ana
abettors Every one present was appar-
emily prepared to be properly shocked,
and some specially new and enticing forms
of modern operatic farce-comedy exag-
gerations were anticipated, illustrated, OF
course, with the usual display of female
form and punctuated with swear words
and other funnyisms of the kind.
But '"rhe Girl From Paris affords no
shocking example of that kind. 1t would
| be impossible to preach sermon upon 1t
after enjoying it's looseness, because there
| is nothing in it to raise the blush of shame
| or shock the delicate sensiblities of the
| most fastidious habitual patron of faroical
| shows. In the matter of costume, the
girls, who are both numerous and pretty,
wear either gowns that touch the floor or
| bicycle costumes of striking originality,
which would be not only tolerated but ad-
mired in any public park In fact, there is
| no undue and familiar display of the kind
| usually found in such shows, and the man
agement makes the proud boast that there
is not a pair of tights to be seen upon any
! lady in the company.
/ Such respect to the prejudices of those
who have got somewhat weary of the
stereotyped padding of the human form di-
vine is deserving of recognition, and it must
be added that the dialogue of the piece is
conceived in a similarly proper strain.
With the exception of one or two allowable
liberties with the English language, there
is nothing to be heard that is in the least
degree calculated to make a purist shud-
der or to set on edge the nerves of an adj
mirer of Websters Unabridged.
Edgar Halstead and J. C. Marlowe, with
the assistance of Harry Hermsen, carry
, most of the fun-making responsibility on
the mems side. Halstead Is a good low
comedian, and, as Mr.. Honeycomb in the
first act, was really artistic The second
act gave him but little opportunity of the
kind, the part being entirely farcical.
Marlowe was bluff, peremptory Major
= Fossdyke, with an amount of energy and
go in his characterization that the other
members of the company ought to envy
while Hermsen makes good sketch of the
i German innkeeper.
, The chief attraction is naturally on the
feminine side of the company, and here
Mamie Gilroy, as the girl from Paris, had
, an excellent opportunity. She is not unlike
jeanette Bageard, seen here lately in a
similar piece, and her second, in the per-
son of William Blaisdell, as Pompier, the
French spy, was played with much anima-
tion and saltatory ability.
Carrie Behr made the real hit of the
evening as Ruth, the slavey, her song
SISTER Mary James Top Note" being re-
demanded several times. The duet between
Honycomb and Bon-Bon, entitled '"Twee-
dledum and Tweedledee," is a much better
song, but did not catch on SO well with the
house last night 1t takes a Los Angeles
audience at least two hearings to get ac-
quainted with new piece, and, though the
applause was neither boisterous nor eff
fusive, yet it is safe to predict that 1.-THE
Girl From Paris will grow in favor with
each performance during the remainder OF
the week. If a suggestion may be par
doned, it would be that the young women
In the chorus would cast off the air OF
Indifference which too many of them as
sumo, and try to look as If they had an in.
terest in the doings of the fun-makers or
the stage. Their brightness would cheer
up the audience, and would also be of ma
terial assistance to the principal perform
ers.
Primrose & Vests big minstrels will
make their appearance at the Los Angeles
theater next Monday evening, February 2S,
for limited engagement of three nights.
The sale of reserved seats opens tomor-