The herald., 1898-04-17
CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK

Z.
The supply Of dramatic amusement has
been running quite light at the Los Angeles
theater, and the only prospect there for
the current week is Jim Corbett. whose
appearance will fill the house, not so
much with lovers of the drama as with ad-
mrers of the pugilistic prowess of the
hero of the evening. But in a very short
time there will be steady influx of good
things at the Los Angeles. and no end of
amusement will be provided. Contrary to
what might be expected, there Is more mon
ey in the theatrical business when all the
theaters are going than when there are
only one or two running. Pay-going Is a
habit which is best encouraged when the
OPPORTUNITIES for indulging 1t are most
numerous
Had it not been for the opportune arrival
of the Belasco-Thall stock company at the
Burbank things would have been dull in
deed for the past three weeks. Even as 1t
is, although there is very good patron
age of the house by the upper ten thou
sand, yet 1t is not nearly as large as it
should be, when the changed conditions
are taken into consideration. Time was
when 1t was sufficient to say of piece. or
of its acting that 1t was "Burbanky,' to
use an expression coined by a charming
lady who had suffered there on more than
one occasion. But now there Is an intelii-
gent company, under good direction-peo-
pie who dress well, who are surrounded
with good stage settings, and play their
parts with an ability quite up to the stand
ard of the average travelling company that
comes here. Ii takes some time to over
come prejudice. but it can plainly be seen
that the company is growing in favor every
day.
Meanwhile the Orpheum keeps on the
even tenor of It's way and fills the house
every night. no matter what the attraction
may be elsewhere.
O o
James L. Ford has some spicy comments
In a late number of that excellent New York
weekly, The Criterion, upon the often
treated but imperfectly understood subject
of dramatic criticism. In nine cases out
of ten," he says, 1.-THE young man on the
threshold of journalistic life believes that
he has been predestined to write dramatic
criticism, and wishes to know II there is
an opening for him in that line anywhere.
He has been q constant theater-goer all his
life and is sure that he could write some
thing interesting about the higher planes OF
dramatic art. 1t happens almost invariably
that this young man is entirely destitute OF
any sense of humor. but he always has
strong yearnng to so benlnd the scenes
and make the acquaintance of actors and
actresses"
Mr.. Ford continues: Concerning this
enviable branch of newspaper work,
would say that it is seldom indeed that one
can find a man not born and brought up in
a playhouse who is capable of regarding the
stage and it's followers as plain business
proposition to be treated in the same spirit
as the aquarium and its finny captives or
a steamboat excursion. AS for young
college graduate, no matter how clever and
sincere he may be when he begins to write
about the drama, 1t is not long before he
becomes like putty in the hands of the ex-
perienced manager or press agent, who flat
ters him deftly that he is easily led to
believe that he is positive force in the
atrical affairs, instead of mere tool. 1t
will be many years before he can bring
himself to that point of callowness C'cal-
lousness' is evidently the word written by
Mr.. Ford and overlooked by the proof
reader) that makes it perfectly easy and
natural thing for him to shake hands jovi-
ally with a manager on the first night, ac
cept with pleasant sang froid his invitation
to go back on the stage and say word to
Miss Buskin, then go down to his office and
ridcule the whole outfit in the way that
it deserves, and the next morning write 4
note to the manager, asking for box for
the Saturday matinee. so that his wife and
mother-in-law can go and take the babies
and put in pleasant afternoon. I cannot
understand why so many young men, with
out any sense of humor. believe themselves
qualified for the chair of dramatic criticism,
because in modern newspaper 1t is alb
solutely necessary that articles about the
stage should be written in an amusing and
entertaining manner and no one will dis
pute for moment the fact that the theater
of today offers great deal more to be
laughed at than commended"
Owing to demand for a return of "Tess"
to various cities throughout the country,
Mrs. Fiske will defer her production of the
play from Thackerays VANITY Fair" in
which she will originate the character of
Becky Sharp. until the middle Of next sea-
son.
Manager Chas. Schimpf has received in
formation of Gustav Walters purpose 10
DullQ d new lHedteT Ill Dan fTdUClSCO, the
home of the original Orpheum where Wal
ter laid the foundation of his present for
tune. The new theater, according to Wal
ter's plans, will cost s2S0000 is to be a
fireproof structure and seat 5000 persons,
with standing room for 1000 more. 1t will
have a brown stone 'front.' be three stories
In height and modelled after the most fam
GUS vaudeville theater in Europe-Reuach-
ers in Vienna. The Orpheums circuit is
being steadily enlarged. 1t now includes
theaters In San Francisco. Los Angeles,
Sacramento, Kansas City and St. Louis.
the latter having been opened two weeks
ago. Walter, it is said, has just closed a
contract for vaudeville house in Omaha,
to be called the Trocadero seating 1000 per-
sons. Theaters in Milwaukee, Buffalo and
other cities are expected to follow.
o @ o
Augusttn Daily has contracted for the ex-
elusive rights to produce Sardous play,
'Mme. Sans Gene" for three years. DAILY
will make an elaborate production of the
play next autumn, with Miss Rehan in the
title part. Two years ago Sardou was anx-
ious to have Miss Rehan act this part in
England, but as the American rights could
not then be obtained the negotiations for