Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-29
AUDIENCE GREETS
OLD FAVOR|TES
OLYMPIA OPERA COMPANY is
HEARTILY WELCOMED
Popular Singers Return to Hotehklss
Thester In Tuneful Opera and Are
Warmly Received = Lottle
Kendall Gets Ovation

with 'Klsmet," one OF the most tune
ful and clever little comic operas of
the American stage. the Olympia Opera
company ushered i'm its return engage
ment to Los Angeles yesterday after
noon at the new Hotchkss theater
and hundreds of former friends and
patrons of the theater extended such
an ovation to Miss Lottie Kendall the
prirna donna, when she appeared for
the opening solo, that the little actress
was compelled to sing the catchy lit
tie ballad over nearly a dozen times.
1t has been said that Los Angeles
theater goers are cold and heartless
and that to be popular with them an
actor or actress must be constantly be-
fore them, but the welcome extended
the old-time favorites yesterday went
far to disprove any such assertion.
The opera "Kismet" is in itself lit
tie more than can be expected from the
usual run of comic operas. Its most
powerful effects are in the splendidly
arranged chorus ballads but the opera
teens with solos and duets and every
member of the company with the ex-
Ception of the tenor is given a chance
to sing at his or her best.
Yesterday Miss Kendall appeared in
the role of a denure youth of the
realm of the Orient. Miss Kendall is
well kown for her cleverness in imper-
sonations of masculine roles and
her Interpretation of "Kismet the
Onest," sultan of Turkey, was re-
markably well done.
Comedian Is Popular
Kismet. the sultan, is supposed to be
the eldest son Radamis and heir to the
throne of Turkey. Because of an old
custom of the land that II the eldest
child be a girl the throne shall go to
some other branch of the family. Kis-
met is led to believe that she is the
son of Radamis. The next child is a
boy and to follow out the deception he
is led to believe he is girl and is
reared as Hadeez. the queen among
women. William West, the comedian
and baritone of the company. appeared
as Hadeez yesterday and although it
was his first appearance before Los
Angeles audience, his absurdities won
him a warm welcome.
Dan de Lion, an Irish free lance,
who visits the sultan's court in order
to arrange a marriage between his
master, a Moor prince, and the charm
ing Hadeez, falls in love with Kismet
and later the real state of affairs is
explained just in time to prevent the
marriage OF Hadeez to Dan de Lion.
who is to be used as proxy for his
master.
Robert G. Pitkin appeared as Dan
de Lion. Pitkin is a baritone singer,
and the work of keeping alive the
thread of plot connected with the play
fell upon his shoulders.
Chinchilla, the grand vizier. fur
nished good chance for character
work and Leo Adde. who interpreted
that part, took full advantage of the
opportunity. Adde is an old favorite
with Los Angeles audiences and his
clever parodies yesterday won him re-
peated applause.
Miss Lucille de Val, a late acquisi-
ton to the company, made her first ap-
pearance in the city in the role of
Absinthia, the favorite of the sultan.
The role was a difficult one and the
little actress more than took advantage
of it. Her voice is remarkably sweet
and she has several good solos in the
second act.
Gustave Kerker. who composed the
music of the opera, evidently didn't
like tenors and there is no room for
the high voiced aspirents in the play.
consequently Lyman Wheeler the
Olympia's tenor, failed to appear with
the company yesterday. He will have
the leading role in "The Founders" ="
which will be given next week.