The herald., 1898-03-23
AT THE THEATER
+ f++*+++ +++++ f. A+1

+ II
**f**f + |
LOS ANGELES THEATER.-It was a
big house last night, even the gallery was
crowded. Society was out in force down.
stairs, as was expected, and the balcony
was filled to the brim. No ordinary at
traction can fill this theater in such man
ner and yet. when the performance is over.
1t is difficult to determine from the merits
of what has been put on exhibition exact
ly which feature 1t is that has impaired a
satisfied feeling to such large gathering
of people, who have evidently been at
trouble, not to say expense, in honoring
the occasion.
In the first place, the program was of
mixed kind. There was a conventional
farce-comedy, very we'll acted in three
scenes. There was then a conventional
vaudeville turn by a song-and-dance ar
tist. and finally there was a grewsome
tragedy of squalid Chinese life In China
town, presented in one act.
The audience certainly favored the farce
comedy, which is entitled IA Gay Deceiv-
err" The laughter and applause Of the
evening mostly went to the participants in
this gay presentation of an impossible So
cial occurrence.
And yet all the while 1t was the song
ambulance turn that brought out The ma
jority of those present. Anna Held was
the object of curiosity. Her manager has
been honest enough not to announce that
she could do anything of artistic value, but
he has oontrived to advertise her in such
q clever way that, although she did not
capture the New York audiences before
which she appeared, the interest in her
personality has been excited to such an ex
tent that the theater-going public, espe-
cially the women. went to see what she is
like. They don't care a bean about her
talent, but they want to see her face, her
figure and her costumes.
The opportunity has been afforded, the
public has gazed, its curiosity has. been
satiated, and it was just politely applaus-
i've last night. The young woman-she is
young-is undeniably pretty; like the girl
in the 'Bab Ballads" "her principal fea-
ture is eye." She Is all eye-not the quick,
darting and imperious glance SO much as
the soft, dangerous and seductive yet mis-
chievous gleam, that combined with GER
tain supple motions of her body, which are
of highly suggestive character, seem to
constitute the stock in trade Of the pal
pitating' chanteuse aforesaid. So far as
the songs are concerned, those in French
are Of the ordinary pattern, shocking a
! little IL translated, and of the songs in
English, that to the contra-bass was an
excellent example of mechanical fervor.
1t might have been made more sensational
II the audience had been sufficiently SYM
pathetic. The coon song, with the animat-
ed music sheet and the forty coon heads
for music notes in the background, was
cut out and probably will not be given
| here.
Anna Held did not disappoint public ex-
| pectation, provided the public had care
fully perused what was promised about
her in the advance notices. It was never
promised that she could sing. and 1t is true
that she has no voice. But she has pretty
eyes, of the large, soulful kind, and she Is
otherwise fair to look upon in her stage
| attire, though she wears but one costume
and that Of abbreviated length. As ar
| artist, she does not compare with, say
Kitty Mitchell, the dainty little singer OF
| coon songs and character songs, who was
before the public here a few weeks ago.
| 1t is q curious fact that the items ant
stories that have been printed about MIS-,
Held have had reference to her life an(
occupations outside of the stage, and thes,
publications have stimulated public curl
osity to the extent that the young Poland.
er is safe attraction in the centers OF
culture outside of New York.
Leaving the sprightly vaudeville artist
1t is only needful to say that the farce, "A
Gay Deceiver," which has plot of ar
amusing kind, but which deceived nobody
| was quite success, particularly as to its
| first two. acts. The third act Is good deal
| twisted, possibly on account of the alb.
sence Of Anna Held, who in New Yorl
| used to have the lime-light turned upon hel
| in this scene and do her little speciality
| with Mr.. Kennedy's assistance, instead Of
| performing alone as an interlude between
| two pieces.
The concluding one-act celestial tragedy
''The Cat and the Cherub," shows evi.
dences of having been pruned down to o
point of loss of identity. 1t is well acted, sc
far as the Chinese doctor is concerned
William Beach taking the character. The
feminine characters, by the Misses Deans
and Lettani, were also well sustained. But
what a mournful finale to an evening tina,
started SO bubbling over with humor!
| comedian, shone in the first piece, and Liz
zie Evans did some capital work as Homer
| Lovejoy's wife. This actress has not only
| artistic methods. but also some clever in.
spirations that give such a distinctive
character to her acting as to take it out O,
the range of most Of her surroundings.
The engagement is all to short, the com.
pany giving matinee this afternoon ant
Its final performance tonight.
O o O
BURBANK THEATER.-"The Girl
Left Behind Me-" by Belasco and Fyles
with the members of the Belasco-Thal
stock company in the cast, will be the pla,
| to reopen the now redecorated Burbant
theater on Monday evening next the ad.
vance sale of seats commencing tomorrow
1t is worthy of notice that this will be the
first production of this play in this cit,
at the prices Of admission prevailing at the
| Burbank.
U. 8. Grant, jr., is again here, buildins
up political fences.