The herald., 1898-10-27
Observation-Disclosures
AT THE THEATER
Observation-Disclosures Q

BURBANK.-The popularity Of the new
star is evidently on the increase, Judging by
the large audience that crowded the theater
True to Life" domestic drama OF the
old, familiar type, in which Nance O'Neil
again came before a Los Angeles public.
The theme of the piece concerns the rela-
tions existing between a child and its pa
rents; there is a very slender thread OF
rather prosaic love story wound In also, but
it is made entirely subsidiary to the main
theme, and even the usual pair of comic
lovers have little opportunity for indulging
in their time-honored diversions.
Mrs. Dunning the typewriter lady" per-
sonated by Miss O'Neil, has been, as the
wit said, unfortunate in her choice OF pa
rents Her mother deserts her for the pur-
pose of devoting herself to the operathc
stage and her father, by one of those acci-
dents peculiar to melodrama, gets "a years
in Sing Sing OH an unjust conviction for at
tempted murder.
The play opens at the time of the fathers
release from prison, and the trouble begins
when the ex-convict happens to call upon
Mr. Baldwin, a retired manufacturer" who
at the moment is visiting at the home OF his
pretty typewriter to invite her to spend the
summer at his suburban mansion, practice
quite common with wealthy manufacturers,
retired and otherwise The ex-convict sees
a photograph of himself. taken by Marceau,
in the days of his gentlemanly youth The
picture is unframed, but looks refreshingly
new after so many years. 1t reposes upon
the unhappy father, on seeing the picture,
realizes the change that has taken place in
his figure and at once says, My God!"
As soon as Miss O'Neil tells him that the
picture is portrait OF her father, Mr.. Ran
kin says that he is the man, and the girl
believes him at once, without even the cor
roborative evidence of a strawberry mark
to assist her. Then the mother, who has ex-
perienced a change of heart toward her
daughter, wants to make it up and proffers
her wealth and position, but the daughter
proudly prefers summer home in her en-
ployer's quiet palatial residence.
The result is three-cornered difficulty
between the wealthy musical mother, the
eX-convict and the typewriter daughter,
right after the usual disturbances have TAX
en- place, and the retired manufacturer
handsomely personated by Mr.. Carr, marries
his typewriter, as they always do. So every
thing ends happily.
The play is remarkable as a melodrama
for the fact that there is no villain in it
to pursue the unhappy heroine through four
long acts. The heroine is unhappy enough,
and no wonder, but it is on account of her
mother and her father. There is, however,
IA court scene,' the only one that was badly
mounted in the piece. The usual travesty
of legal procedure as exhibited on the stage
was excelled last night, and the interroga
tions and bullying by the Judge" of the
prisoner and the witnesses revealed the
French origin of the drama. Nothing like
it was ever seen in an American court of
justice.
Mrs. Horace McVicker played the dis
tressed mother in the first act with much
force and great deal OF feeling. Ricca
Allen was a capital "washerwoman" of the
Hibernian and talkative variety. Affie Nc
Wicker will be an actress some day soon;
she has lots of promise and speaks her lines
already rs if she meant them. H. A. Weav-
er, as an occasional inebriatc, was highly
amusing, and Mr.. luther was in his ee-
ment as negro servant.
Mckee Rankin has not for many years
been seen in anything in which his powers
as an actor have shown to better advantage
than they appeared last night. His char
struggle with the desire to leave his daugh-
ter alone for her good, and yet to have her
affection for him demonstrated, was all
brought out with telling effect
Miss O'Neil moved like queen among
her subjects and sustained her dignity until
Just before the fall of the curtain in the
first act, and then spoiled everything with
to bring down the gallery. 1t did so. The
remainder of her personation was checkered
with the same defect, the existence of which
is hard to account for, as the young lady
appears to be gifted with more than aver
age intelligence and in all respects makes as
telling stage picture as could be desired
Miss O'Neil evidently believes in being in
tense above all things, and she has great
ability in holding the attention of her au-
dtors. That it is possible to be extremely
intense and soul-stirring and things of that
sort. without being loud, boisterous and
ranting, is lesson that has yet to he learned
by the graceful and fascinating Miss O'Nel
:, Tonight she will be seen as Parthenia in
to the greatest advantage on account Of her
beauty OF person, which so largely assists