The herald., 1898-11-11
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AT THE THEATER
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THE LOS notwithstanding that
sydney Grundy's domestic drama, Sowing
the Wind" was a New York success, it's
exaltation in public opinion could hardly
have been attained by such cast as pre-
sented it here last night Not but what the
people who acted in it are intelligent, and
in other roles might shine to advantage
but they simply have not the atmosphere
required: or, in other words, they recite
their lines but carry no conviction of the
characters they are supposed to assume. 1t
is specifically stated that the period of the
piece is "about sixty years ago" and the
majority of the characters are carefully cos
tuned accordingly, with the exception of
the heroine by Miss Gardner, who attres
herself in more modern garb. But the de-
feet that is most prominent is the extreme
slowness of the action, for which, of course,
the author is chiefly responsible. The
theme of the piece is an unpleasant one,
dealing as it does with the relations that
exist or should exist, according to the au
thor's idea. between the sexes, and the da-
ogue is largely sermon upon this topic.
The leading man, Howard Hall, combines
the clerical simplicity of the Vicar of Wake
field with some of Henry Miller's manner
isms and the elocution of schoolboy's first
attempt at reciting funeral grafton.
There are three principal old men in the
piece and they seem to vie with each other
in lugubrious delivery. Even the heroine
has caught some of the infection, using as
she does curious little staccato method OF
speech that sounds unnatural. She, how
ever, is by far the best of the company, and
she actually warmed up the frigid little aud
ience into round or two of applause when
the play was about half over.
As "problem" play Sowing the Wind
would make instructive reading for those
who like to dabble in sociological theories,
but as an acting play it has good deal of a
morbid tendency and fails to settle the very
question it brings into the field for argu
ment.
The author having his "problem" in view
has failed to tighten the dialogue by the in
PRODUCTION of any humorous material, ex-
cepting perhaps feeting vision of a
Bridget" who has evidently stepped out Of
Hoyt farce comedy, and very little is seen
of her.
For the most part the principal actors ap-
pear to rattle around in shoes that are too
big for them, and yet it is quite possible that
they were affected dctrimentally by the
frosty atmosphere of the house, the audi
ence. as is the wont of Los Angeles people,
declining to commit itself to much applause
upon an entirely new piece to it, and per.
haps reserving it's verdict for later occa-
sion.
THE BURBANK - Richard StahPs
catchy oriental opera, "Said Pasha," opened
the mid-week at the Burbank last night,
and, like the initial performance of Monday
evening, was attended by fashionable and
appreciative audience. The opera is one
that always pleases, if it be we'll costumed,
evening. Following is the cast:
Hassan Sylvan Langlois
Hadad. ................. Dan Young
Nockey key......................... Stanley Felch
Terrano.. Harry Davies
The Raja Maurice Whish
Trubidad. d................... .Chas. Van Dyne
Serena. Fanny Myers
Queen Att. Adele Harrington
Balah SOJah. Helen BOgOt
|. George Broderick made an impressive
Said Pasha, and his first solo, II am King of
the Land and the Sea-" displayed great
SLEeuBlH Ill HE lOWcI AOtchJ WHINING ulIl
hearty encore. Miss Fannie Myers as
Serena was the distinct attraction of the
first act, and she not only looked pretty, but
sang well, particularly when Dan Young,
as Hadad, instructs her in the calls at sea.
The tenor, Harry Davies, has an oppor-
tunity as Terrano, the Mexican nobleman,
to display his capability as soloist which
was not afforded him in "Boccacco," and
his voice showed it's usual sweetness and
purity.
Miss Harrington has not her usual amount
of work, but is very pleasing in the part Of
Queen Alti, except for her costume, which
looked little the worse for wear and
sadly in need of pressing.
Sylvan Langlois sang his way into favor
with his several baritone solos, and Helen
Bogot, as the rajah's sister, filled an un.
pretty part very acceptably. Her makeup
as the Indian girl is excellent.
Stanley Felch and Dan Young did the
fun-making, the FORMER bringing down the
house with solo in which he introduces
some French, italian and German that is
not so hard to understand as is often the
acquired" modern language.
The chorus work was up to the high stan.
dard set in the initial performance, all the
numbers going with verve and dash that
was exhilaratng and productive of loud ap
plause. The opera will be continued for the
remainder of the week