Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-27
MARY VAN BUREN,
MAKES BIG HIT
BURBANK OPENS WELL WITH
."MME. SANS GENE"
Huge Audiences Cheer Superb Pre-
sentatIon Of Nspoleonlc Play.
old-tlme Favorlte Loses
None Of Her Charms

Mary Van Buren,, she who in times
past held the hearts of Los Angeles
theater goers in the hollow OF her little
hand. came back to her own at the
Burbank yesterday, and her own re-
ceived her with open arms. Had not
the footlights intervened, they Woulu
have strained her to their hearts even
more fervently than did several of her
fellow players-of course, all IN the
action of the play-and would have
kissed her just as ardently-at least the
feminine portion thereof would. But
as these things could not be, the
crowds applauoed till the theater rang
and the pretty little woman took one
curtain call after another till she was
fairly worn out with responding.
Twas in Mime. Sans Gene" that
Napoleonic play of Sardou's, that Miss
Van Buren, returned. The same play
and the same little star opened the Bur-
bank eight years ago, so this was htting
in the extreme.
During those eight years the popular
playhouse has scarce scored failure,
and 1t was a happy thought that
brought back for its ninth birthday the
same star and play that inaugurated
one Of the theatrical successes of the
coast.
Of Highest Order
And as star and play are both of the
highest order, 1t was delightful, even
leaving out all tender associations;
though, as the fair player has wan
dered far afield meanwhile, and won
high triumphs all over the land, asso-
Citations and loving memories could not
have been banished had one willed.
SO still happier was occasion and pre-
sentation and Manager Morosco may
we'll feel repaid for all the work he put
in on his anniversary Offering.
A superb "Sans Gene it was, too,
that was offered us; sumptuouS In the
extreme in it's mountings gorgeously
costumed and well acted, withal.
Albeit few of the junior members
of the very long cast wore their ele-
CANT garb with some unfamiliarity, and
though even a few of the women tang
led up in their court trains, still in
almost every way it was so carefully
rehearsed that a few little things like
that scarce counted in the ensemble,
and few carped at the minor hesi-
tancies.
The action moved with much smooth
ness for first day, and the telling sit
uations made hits with the audience
from prologue to final curtain.
Her Voice Caresses
AS "Sans Gene" Mary Van Buren,
needs no added laurels; she won them
long ago. Let it be said, though, that
in every detail she seems to have a
fine conception of the part. and her in
depreciation shows intelligence, force
and splendid art. In the latter she has
progressed greatly since she made her
bow those eight years ago. and a splen-
did artistic she is now. Her voice
caresses, her eyes speak, and her whole
manner is excellent. We shall be glad
to see more of her, in other parts.
The company does itself full Justice
in the play, the members having very
much to 90 save Greenleaf. AS Le-
fevre he is a fine foil for the beautiful
Mary, and in the love scene they have
together he is quite as fervent as the
most matinee-crazy girl can wish.
Harry Glazier looks and acts Ma
poleon to the life Bernard is excellent
as Fouche, and Homans as Neippey
quite fills the bill. Elsie Esmond
makes a spit-fire Caroline and Brenda
Fowler quite agrees with her as Eliza
while Blanche Holmes as Marie Louise
is fine.
The balance of the lengthy support
do what is allotted to them well, and
the whole performance is fine.