Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-04
DOLL Y is A
BIG SUCCESS
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA COMPANY
AT ITS BEST
FRIEDA WIsHER PLAYS TITLE
ROLE
-
Fear Of Interference by Humane So
cIety Leads Management to
Keep Daphne Pollard
Out Of Cast
BY sIpLE LAwRENcE

f<D OILY WARDEN" STANCE and
Edwards opera of periwigs and
~ poudre. was given a thoroughly
delightful presentation at the Los Ange-
les theater last night by the San Fran
cisco opera company. The production
was Joy alike to the eye and to the ear,
for 1t was lavlshly costumed and the
score was sung with a verve and melo-
dious excellence. Monday night the COM
pany scored a success in 1.-THE Singing
Girl" Last night it scored a triumph
in Dolly Warden" and the triumph was
one in which both principals and chorus
shared abundantly.
Dainty Dolly was played by Miss
Frieda Wisher, who was substituted for
Daphne Pollard at the last minute. Back
of the change is a story. Little Miss
Pollard has been said to be under the age
limit fixed by the California state law
and 1t was reported that the Humane
society intended to prevent her appear
ance. The tiny star herself asserts that
she is past 16, but Frank w. Healy, man
1 ager of the company, found himself un-
able to prove her age, and rather than
run the risk of arrest, decided to keep
| her out of the cast 1t was a severe dis
appointment to the young girl, but she
had to submit to it.
A vivacious Dolly
| Miss Wisher's Dolly is delightfully."-
vivacious young person; roguish, charm
| ing, aluring. Her banter with Gayspark
and Bellville in the first act was handled
with deftness and delicacy that made it
highly enjoyable. Dolly was dainty
Dolly in truth, daintier than ever when
she said damn" dainty alike in her
garb as young country girl, and in the
braver costuming of her brother.
Miss Wisher has been having trouble
| ha,- ~, Tn nalx oh ffr,,a
ago she underwent an operation that left
her vocal cords temporarily impaired
and she has not entirely recovered from
this defect. The result last night was
Dolly that was musically inadequate,
though the art of the actress amply
atoned for the deficiencies of the singer.
Her song in the second act, 1.-THE Lay of
the Jay" was scarcely more than recited,
but the recitation was so well done that
it waspencored enthusiastically.
Aida Hemmi sang Letitia, and her
solos, one or two of which were in
terpolated, proved rare musical treats.
In Letitia she finds a role better suited
to her personality than Greta, the
singing girl, and it has been strength
ened by the introduction of additional
numbers of her use. AS second en-
core to one of her selections she sang
the familiar mighty Like Rose" with
excellent shading of tonal effect and
exquisite tenderness. Full voiced as
she is fully half of Miss Hemmis
charm lies in the simplicity of her
method and this was admirably dis
played in the encore number
Cunningham as the Captain
Arthur Cunningham. actor as well as
singer, was the Captain Bellville of the
production. Cunningham, as have
already said, has the best baritone we
have heard in light opera in many,
many months. His work last night
served merely to strengthen the excel
lent first impression he created Mon
day in THE Singing Girl" Later In
the season we are to hear him in the
military opera, when Johnnie Comes
Marching Home" in which he is said
to be at his best.
Maude Beatty sang Lady Lucette
and shared fully in the general tri-
umph Miss Beatty has a rich, power
full oontralto voice of accurate place.
lment and fine quality. Eugene VIE
ner the tenor, Is uncertain in his up
per register, but effective in numbers
that come within his vocal range.
George Kunkel as Dolly's guardian
proved that he is quite capable of play
ing other than low comedy roles.
The chorus had much to do last night
and did 1t all well. The several ensemble
numbers were finely given. with melo-
dious volume that filed the little theater
and that would have filled a much larger
house quite as easily. 1t is dignified
chorus, long skirted, very much bewigged
and bepowdered and exceedingly comely.
s'Dolly Warden" is to continue through
the week, with a matinee today and an
other matinee Saturday. At the price
charged it is bargain in comic opera.