The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-15
A Year of Disappointments

The Criterion, that bright weekly review
Of art literature, music and drama, has
IN its current issue some comments on the
course of New York theatricals during the
past twelve months which are instructive
and at the same time pointed enough to
deserve quoting. The Criterion says:
Without wishing to be at all pessimstic.
the past year in theatricals cannot be
truthfully said to have been Of great ar
tistic moment. In fact, with the exception
of Sorma and her repertory, the season
has been arid and devoid of interest
George Bernard Shaws Devils Disci-
pie," produced by Richard Mansfield, did
not prove as clever as his arms and the
Man." although strongly tinged with the
authors cynicism. Mr.. Mansfield, feeling
perhaps that the strain was too great, has
returned to his first manner, his prince
Karl manner, and in the rather senti-
mental First Violin is winning applause.
But one Mansfield does not make season.
and If Minnie Madden Fiske were not in
town we should be inclined to despair
This cultivated and strong actress is also
leaning to pieces of genre order, and
seems to have forsaken her old love, Ibsen.
To be sure. Elizabeth Robbins gave a soil
tdCy performance OI NIdUleT dHS
the Criterion theater showed bravery ir
putting on John Gabriel Borkman"' and
EEL Gran Galeoto," but these efforts were
wasted, or rather served to show how
dimly burns the candle of dramatic art III
this city.
The successes Of the season have beer
Maud Adams. in dramatization of Bar
rie's Little Minister a feeble dramatic
concoction, redeemed by the excellen
quality of Miss Adams acting. Paul Pot
ters 1.-THE Conquerors," which has no
proved "go" in London, is still visited a
the Empire by folks in search of the lasciv
iously stupid and the deadly dull. All dra
matists, with few exceptions, pilfer othel
mems ideas, so there is no need of dilatini
upon Mr.. Potter's Indebtedness to a hal
dozen writer's, beginning with Sardou ant
De Maupassant, but that such a badly con
structed connection as 1.-THE Conqu ,r
| ors," which is vulgar and cheap, SHOULD
have succeeded is not pleasing comment
| airy on our taste.
| Fannie Davenport and Mr.. Drew hav
revisited us, so has Mr.. Crane, and Mr.
| Goodwin we should sadly miss, for he /
racy of the soil. The few foreign visitors
| did not make as much money as usual
| MIR. Willard falling sick in Chicago ant
his tour being interrupted. There was TIL
usual mush at the combination houses, ani
a regular epidemic of plays called "Wha
Happened to Slobs." Comic opera we al
ways have with us, 1.-THE Highwayman'
being the success of the winter. But will
| the exception of Hauptmann's "3urie
Bell' there has been no great play pro
duced, for no one will acknowledge tina
Mr.. Dalys Shakespearean REVEALS wer
| good for art Indeed the dramatic review
er of the Times sadly acknowledges tina
| cit is hard to feel much hope for the Ameri
4 can theater the year Mr.. Daly's only ne,
4 contributions to current theatricals HAY
been Number Nine and La Poupee.'
Julia Marlowe returned in "Countes
Valeska," and Julia Arthur tried her luc
with weak dose called "A Lady of Qua
ity," built on weaker novel, Sol Smit
Russell made money here for the first tim
in his sad. poverty-stricken career-he
a millionaire-and Clyde Fitch. an Amer
can dramatist, won a genuine success !
"The Moth and Flame" at the Lyceun
A delicate bit of workmanship was Pi
nero's "Princess and Butterfly" excellent
ly played by Julie Opp and the Lyceur