The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-02
AT THE THEATER
q OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

ORPHEUM.-It was, taken altogether, a
good bill that was presented last night to
the patrons of this popular house.
Some of the best of last weeks program
were hold-overs, and the new turns were
capitally received.
The Goodman couple play on xylophones
and other things that have no name under
the shining sun, but vaudeville audience
is always tickled when anything resem-
bling music is produced from unsupported
sources. Thus, for example, the Goolmans
have a table full Of ordinary brass clocks,
each clock having little bell attachment.
but instead Of conducting an auction sale,
or giving the clocks away as prizes. tune
is played by manipulating the little bells
aforesaid. and the audience becomes ap-
plausive with almost childish glee. Then
the Goolmans retire behind bamboo
SCREEN being previously armed with ham
mers, and forthwith a hollow melody Is
pounded out which sets the listeners crazy
with delight. There is another instrument
the virtuosity of which battles ordinary
descriptive powers, but the couple make
one of their principal hits in evoking
musical sounds from 1t. The turn was an
emphatic success.
Grant and Norton have a collection of
limitations of actors done by the man, and
confidential monologue addressed to the
audience done by the woman. 1t is clever
turn and was applauded, albeit the imita-
tons Of actors, coming just after Tim
Murphys engagement, were somewhat
stale. The burlesque of Henry Irving was
simply objectionable. A good imitation of
that celebrated actor would be entertain
ing enough. but 1t is sign Of weakness
when the vaudevillist finds 1t necessary to
put his subject in an impossible position.
The young gentleman Of the team, should
take hint accordingly.
Nat NJ. Brigham, descriptive vocalist
made hit. Mr.. Brigham does not possess
wonderful voice by any means, but he
uses what he has with so much artistic
skill and evidently trained method that 1t
is real pleasure to listen to him. He
sings sweet songs of tender Tone ballads
of simple construction and direct meaning,
songs, In fact, that go straight to the
heart. He was listened to with an atten-
ton that was profound for an Orpheum au
dience and at the close he was recalled
again and again.
Bert Coote and Julie Kingsley continue
their diverting farce. Supper for Two"
which is as laughable as ever.
Mrs Shaw and her daughters whistled
their way into the good graces of the
house and the girls gave their dance with
great effect. Mrs. Shaw whistled 1.-THE
Last Rose of Summer for an encore, and
the house was so still that the proverbial
pin might have been heard II 1t had
dropped out Of lady's hat. The after-ap-
plause was tremendous.
Lorenz and Allen do clever turn, the
Biograph winds out its dazzling pictures,
and the only unsatisfactory number on
the bill is the attempt, of Mr.. Lang as
tramp to be funny or to recite or to sing.
neither Of which three things can he do
for a minute, which is sad but true.
The house was crowded usual and
everything was applauded to the echo.
Dewey matinee tomorrow.
o g o
BURBANK THEATER.-The new COM
pany which opened at this house last night
under the direction of Frank Bacon and
headed by George P. Webster reverted to
the favorite class of plays with Burbank
audiences. The piece was melodrama
with the title of Under the Polar Star.
1t was deliberately staged The majority
of the scenes were laid among the ice
bergs of the North pole and afforded OPP
portunties for artistic and realistic eff
fects, among which were the Aurora
Borealis, the crushing of the ship by the
icebergs and the breaking away of the
Ice.
OF the play itself there Is not much to be
said. Being a melodrama of course 1t had
a man living under the shadow of crimes
he never committed, prosecuted heroine
and villain of the deepest dye.
George P. Webster did not have very
Important part in which to display his
ability, but made the most of the oppor-
tunties afforded him, securing applause
for every telling bit of business. AS the
surgeon, Stanley ]. Ross, another acqui-
sition to the company, displayed dramatic
force in the delivery of his lines, and as
the much-wronged man Of the piece came
in for a good share of the enthusiasm.
Frank Bacon, as the quartermaster. added
much to the humor of the piece. George
Osbourne, jr., did some effective work as
the Siberian guide and had capital make
up.
OF the women, Gertrude Tidball had the
most to do. and, as usual. made sbig sue
cess of her part. The character called for
the disguise of a cabin boy, and as such
she was very fetching in a suit of boys
clothes. Violet Dale played her small part
in lively manner. The rest of the cast.
including the almost too realistic work of
Edmund Crane as the old man. was salts
factorily filled.
Under the Polar STAR went with a
great deal of snap for first night, and is
sure to have large houses the balance of
the week.