The herald., 1898-01-03
, AT THE THEATER

TesTe sVeTseCesTesCss TesEseJssTSsTscEeeVs eCs
LOS ANGELES THEATER.-The re-
quest performance Of "Othello" last
night by Louis James and his company
to a crowded house, furnished such a
treat as has seldom been given on the
boards of this theater. While Mr.. James
has been seen here on prior occasions in
the character of the Moor, the salts
faction afforded by his rendition has al
ways been qualified by the evident ex-
istence of certain shortcomings which
prevented the performance from being
called great one.
1t Is apparent now that Mr.. James has
acquired O. grasp Of this most difficult
character such as he never possessed
before. In the earlier scenes he is dig
nified and impressive, and in the great
third act he rises to height Of tragic
passion such as stirs the blood Of every
one. Last night he fairly lifted the au-
dience off it's feet when he made the
descent upon Iago, threatening him
with dire punishment In case he proved
a deceiver, and winding up by fiinging
the miserable wretch upon the floor. Half
a dozen curtain calls had to be answered
before the people we're satisfied. The
power and intensity displayed in these
and following scenes was revelation
even to some of the most ardent adj
mirers of the tragedian. That the per-
Torrance was f1awless could not be
maintained, but the differences were
mostly textual, and not Of too serious
kind. AS a whole, it was decidedly the
very best thing that Mr.. James and his
company have done here this season.
The tragedian has no one on the Ameri
can stage to dispute the palm with him
in the great character he portrayed last
night. Mr.. James has an exceptionally
fine voice, and used to be fond Of playing
upon 1t, as it were, calling attention to
its quality and its compass with but
secondary regard to the meaning in
tended to be conveyed. This habit he
appears now to have dropped, and his
work Is thus far more satisfactory and
convincing in Consequence. He has
gained, too, in power and in self-control,
thus preserving polished effect without
losing any of his strength in the more
difficult passages. He certainly saved
himself in the great Farewell" but he
amply made up for this economy of
energy in the splendid burst which sue
ceeded it.
1t is but fair to say that Mr.. James re-
ceived the greatest assistance from
Barry tombstone as Iago. Mr.. john
stone gave very telling and effective
of the character, displaying
quiet force and reserved strength, to-
gether with an intellectual apprehension
of the subtleties of lagos nature that
made his portraiture very striking
piece of work. 1t was marred only by
an inconsistent and melodramatic
shouting climax which Mr.. tombstone
persisted in giving on the several occa-
sions when he came to curtain" Mrs.
Wells was good Emilia, and Mary
Emerson, who was the Desdemona,
while she seemed to lack experience,
made a satisfactory heroine.
The remainder of the cast was ade-
quate to the requirements of the occa-
sion.
The entertainment to be given this
evening by the Stanford University Glee,
Mandolin and Speciality clubs, at the
AOS fAu6SlSo tHCdSCht pAohAAoSo W W viz
Of unusual enjoyment and interest. The
program of the clubs is varied, and can
not fail to entertain. The songs of the
Glee club are new, and are sung with
freshness and vivacity only found in
college clubs. The Mandolin club has
attained mastery of that sensitive in
strument, the mandolin, by long and
thorough practice, and plays with grace
and expression.
In addition to the purely musical fea-
lures of the program the speciality work
of the two students who accompany the
clubs, Riley and Dillon, furnish va
riety as we'll as humor. Their work is
entirely distinct in character, and each
is a master of his art. Riley is mono
logist of rare talent, while Dillon excels
in impersonations and in dialect work.
The advance sale promises packed
house.
BURBANK THEATER.-Beginn
tonight, the Shaw company will present
Milton Mobiles great melodrama, From
Sire to Son. for the first half Of the
week, and for the latter half, the up-to-
date comedy-drama, "A Kentucky
Girl"
+ 4
ORPHEUM.-A fine speciality bill will
be given tonight embracing number
of new and attractive turns.