The herald., 1898-06-26
CALENDAR FOR THE WEE

Orpheum-All week, vaudeville,
Madame Modjeska's season of two weeks
at the Burbank theater of this city under
John c. Fishers engagement closed last
night under circumstances that make a
brief review of 1t interesting, especially
after the doleful prophecies with which>the
engagement was ushered in.
When Madame Modjeska returned to her
home here after tremendously successful
season east, her company was disbanded,
and before deciding to comply with the
many requests that she should appear in Los
Angeles In some of her favorite roles she
had to consider the question of procuring
competent supporting company Fortu-
nately the Belasco-Thall stock company,
composed for the most part of highly COM
petent people. was playing at the Burbank,
and an arrangement was soon made of a
satisfactory character under which the
stock company was at once. put in rehearsal
Of the four plays with which the repertory
was made up for the season. These were
MARY Stuart" "Magda," Camille and
"Adrenne Lecouvreur."
Prophecies were freely made that failure
was to result; because the actress would
break down: because the theater was in an
out-of-the-way location; because the thea
ter had formerly charged low prices though
they were raised for this engagement; be-
cause the supporting company was mo
good" because people could not afford to
pay dollar and half, and especially be-
cause the attempt to play two weeks a such
prices was proof of insanity
The people who made these predictions
and more like them are not now easily
found, for the reason that the engagement
was brilliant success; the star never acted
better, the supporting company was ex-
cellent. the attendance was large and the
public interest continued unabated to the
last. In fact another week with "As You
Like IT, and Macbeth" would have been
profitable. AS 1t was the gross receipts for
the two weeks were between twelve and
thirteen thousand dollars The last named
argument is. of course, the most convincing
of all. People who turn up their noses at
the mention of art are always open to con-
riction upon the question of dollars and
cents. 1t may therefore be safely predict I'd
that the figures of Modjeska's engagement
will do more to re-establish this city in its
proper rank as a theatrical possibility than
any other argument that could be sub
nitted.
o o O
The announcement ie made over the wirss
that Charles Frohman has made arrange
men;s TO send to this coast three of his chief
attractions. These are Henry Miller Will
liam Gillette and Maud Adams. Henry Mi
Ter will appear In 1.-The Master" Hearts
ease" and "A Marriage Of Convenience" !"
Mr.. Gillette s to be seen in "Secret Service
and Maud Adams in "The Little Minister
In which she has just closed an engagement
extending over 300 performances. These
attractions are to come to San Francisco in
charge of Friedlander, Gottloeb & Co. of
that city, but whether that enterprisng
arm, will have the courage to,send any of
these companies so far south as Los An
gees remains to be seen. A few weeks ago
Robert Manel was booked and announced
through the newspapers for short engage
ment of three nights in this city, but the
San Francisco impresarics were so much
alarmed al the injurious reports they had
heard about bad theatrical business in Los
Angeles, that they suddenly discovered they
had use for Mr. Mantel in San Francisco
for another week. and accordingly uucere-
moniously Cancelled his booking here OF
course, Mr. Mantell would have done an
excellent business in this city II the powers
of persuasion had been strong enough on
,he par; of the local manager to have pre-
vented the cancellation of his engagement.
AS it was, the impression appeared to have
OBJ aimed to the effect that Los Angeles was
dead as an amusement town, and that GER
tain loss would attend coming here with a
theatrical company And ali this because
some two or three combinations with great
pre;ensons and poor performances, charg-
Ing high prices, had failed to get away with
ali the Doodle they had expected.
Perhaps the views of Mr.. Frohman's San
Francisco representatives or agents may be
modified when they learn of the success that
has attended Madame Modjeskas season
hare of two weeks. which closed last night
A; any rate 1t may be hoped that enough
influence may be brought to bear to ensure
that the attractions named above will be
allowed to give Los Angeles playgoers an
opportunity to appreciate their merits.
o o o
Harry Corson Clarke, the irrepreesibie e
comedian, sends me word that he is going
to Manila or a thea trical expedition He
wants the distinction of being the first
American to produce play in that capital
1t Is to be good patriotic play, of course
But he will also take what Happened to
Jones" along with him. Very prudently
Mr.. Clarke is going 20 send an advance
mar ahead, and VIII wal, his report before
deciding on his plans. Harry Corson is en-
tirely too shrewd to go to Manilal but the
advertisement is good one to help boom
his forthcoming tour.
o o o
The Criterion puts 1t pointedly when it
says: That an actor should make the
proper equation between the play and his
acting therein has thousand times been
shown to be almost impossible. There are
SO many obscuring and d.stortng crcum-
stances. 1t Is not an answer to a criticism
or play 10 say that 1t has drawn SAL 900
in five weeks. The play may be very bad
one, but !; may tell an interesting story
however clumsy and .nartist.c the telling
MAY be. Again the actors art or natural
cndowHen may attract in spite of the bad
ress OF he play. When he has dabbed and
muddeo In the authorship of the play his
incapacify to judge is naturally doubled.
His vahities as writer and author drag him
In opposite directions. The resulting fudd,e
Is sure to get into his language when he
tries to be articuiate about It,
o o o
Fred Huntley, we'll known here as a cana
BILE singer In local and travelling productions
Of light opera, Is now recruiting sergeant