Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-13
SAN FRANCISCANS
ENTER LAST WEEK

tHe ldii oL Tie Cui tdin upohA llit
wv last act of THE Highwayman" al
the Los Angeles theater, Saturday
night, the San Francisco opera company
will entrain for Portland and we in Los
Angeles will see them no more until next
March. when the company returns for a
season of twelve weeks at the same
house.
The San Franciscans have had an un-
usually successful season and have made
their way steadily into the regard of local
audiences. They had one bad week-bad
only from a box office standpoint. Ap-
parently Los Angeles did not care for
Bohemian Girl" The other operas pre-
sented and the musical comedies were
well received by audiences which in
creased in size as the season advanced.
First, "The Singing GIRL then Dolly
Warden next, Bohemian Girl" after
that, when Johnny Comes Marching
Home; and last week, "The Idols Eye
were presented. Now we are to hear
The Highwayman."
The company has made many friends
here since it's arrival five weeks ago. Its
productions have been adequate from the
standpoint of scenery and costuming and
have been musically pleasing. There are
few repertoire opera companies in the
country better organized than this. Its
chorus possesses good musical ability
and it's principals are competent. Cum
ringham Miss Hemmi, Blaisdell, Kunkel.
Miss Beatty, chic little Daphne Pollard
Carl Haydn, Eugene Weiner dainty Gene
Ormonde and delightful Freda Wfsher
all will be remembAed pleasantly and
Los Angeles will be glad to welcome
them upon their return next spring.
1t is no simpe task to transport
company the size of this organization.
When the train pulls out following Sat
urday nights performance, 1t will In
clude two sleepers two baggage cars and
a diner devoted exclusively to the COM
pany's uses, while additional reservations
have been made in the regular coaches.
The Sar Franciscans have lot of
scenery to take with them, some of which
was not used here at all; and good
share Of space in one of the big baggage
cars will be utilized by the costuming
department Manager Healy makes all
his own costumes and, of course, will
take his forewoman with him, together
with the machines, materials and so forth
now on hand.
When the company leaves here it will
be accompanied by no fewer than nine
men and women, recruited in Los angeles
of these new recruits are in the chorus.
Several of them are well known here
from frequent appearances in concert
work and in church choirs. All are de-
termined that their chorus positions shall
serve merely as stepping stones 70 some
thing better later along.
They were selected by Manager Healy
out of several score of applicants for
the excellence of their voices, None of
cto ocr0 "
perence and each agreed with the man
ager that the way to learn was to begin
at the bottom and work up
Perhaps the best known of these newly
fledged chorus people are Henry Balfour
and his wife, Catherine Loucks Balfour
both of whom have been prominent in
local musical circles. Mrs. Balfour has
a soprano voice of clearness and fiexiblli-
ty, while her husbands tenor has been
much admired. They are going to
school, with the San Francisco opera
conpany's musical director and stage
manager as instructors and they hope to
fit themselves, in a year or two, for
leading roles
blanche Minderhout, another woman
who accompanies the Healy forces, has
a lyric soprano voice that may, some
day, make her famous. She sings r
above high C with ease, and her notes
have most delightful quality
Miss Mary Brooks the youngest girl
in the local contingent, will be accom-
panied by her mother She has been
heard here several times in concert work
at Blanchard hall, and will understudy
Miss Hemmi. who has made the girls
training her own particular charge.
Ruby and Ruth Saville are the soprano
and the contralto respectively of the
saville family. Ruby has glorious
soprano voice, and what Ruth lacks in
voice she makes up in beauty and in her
ability as a eomedienne Their mother
accompanies them as chaperon.
Arthur Ray, baritone; and Harry Crapo
and John W. Bean, tenors all three of
Los Angeles. likewise are now members
of the company and will go to Portland
with the others.
with the arrival Of the Milan grand
opera company at the Auditorium last
week, all OF the local theaters now are
open for the season. Next week will wit
ness the departure of the San Francisco
opera company from the Los Angeles;
and the fiitting of the Ulrich stock from
the Grand both houses being then thrown
open to travelling organizations. The
Los Angeles will present Richards q
PringIe's colored minstrels, and the Grand
viii give us "The Lieutenant and the
Cowboy"
In the presentation of that woefully
botched affair. "The Vanderbilt Cup" al
the Mason last week. was emphasized
one Of the great faults of the theauica
syndicate. WITHOUT doubt the syndicate
has. In many ways, benefited the Ameri'
can theater On the other hand, It also