Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-15
OLD FRIENDS
BACK At GRAND
HILARIOUS WELCOME GIVEN
ULRICH STOCK COMPANY
New Leading Woman Makes a Fine
ression-Former FaVorltes
LavlshIy Greeted In Fiery
Melodrama

Old favorites and newcomers alike
were lavishily received at the Grand
yesterday when the Ulrich stock com
pany opened it's fourth season there
with "A Marked Woman" one of those
thrillers so dear to the hearts of this
particular clientele. Rounds of APP
plause shook the old theater and arms
full of flowers went over the footlights
till some of the players actually had
to have help to carry their share off
the stage.
So vigorous was approval manifested
during the entire performance that an
almost unbroken racket decidedly in
terfered with the rendering of the lines,
and one caught only flashes here and
there of fractured sentences and
nipped-off calculations. But this made
no odds; 1t was the array of friends of
past seasons and newcomers of this
that the throng went there to see,
and that was joy enough for one day
OF the new Ulrich company more OF
the former feminine members are here
now than of the men. Lule Warrenton,
Lillian Hayward, the tigress, and es-
pecially fetching Myrtle Selwin, the
lively and glngery soubrette, are back
in the ranks again, with Vail Hobart
and Mabel johnson, and every one OF
them was perfectly at home yesterday.
They were greeted with the utmost en-
thusiasm and each simply had to bow
and wave and implore before the ap-
plause ceased. All had roles that fitted
them perfectly, Mrytle being delightful
as an Irish maid, while Miss Hayward
as the Chinese empress was terrlnc III
her vindictive fury.
OF course, interest hung largely on
the new leading woman, Florence Bar
ker, who stepped into the place so SUD
f,.Ay oil
torium The role of Lucille Gordon
calls for an ingenue during it's early
stages but requires much strenuous
work la Florence Stone before 1t
ends Miss Barker in looks, voice and
acting quite filled every expectation
and surpassed many in her more d1f-
ficult passages. She really has the art
of suppression to a fine point and yet
possesses the ability to do heroics when
occasion requires, thus demonstrating
her versatility to marked degree.
Her melodious voice is no small help
to her, and there seems every reason to
expect that Mr.. Drown in engaging
her made no mistake; IN fact, that ne
has a find of rare value.
Arthur Hill, Charles CHM and espe-
cially Frank Frayne are the old guard
among the men, and were all received
with open arms, they having good roles,
of which they made the most. Harry
Keenan,, the new Leading man, was
sadly handicapped by bad boil on
his leg. so it is unfair to judge of
what he might do were he free from
physical ills, but he showed that he
may yet become a worthy favorite
Alfred Dickinson did pretty well, but
not startlingly so, but George Berrell
the "heavy," will have to brush up a
bit to equal the strength of some of his
predecessors. 1t is sad to assert, but put
come up in ability and popularity to
the women so far. However, another
week may write a different verdict
Joseph de Grasse as stage manager
certainly must have apillty' lor ne
mounted the play superbly.
No description of the melodrama
could possibly do credit to it, so none
will be attempted here. The writer ex-
perienced more thrills in the hrst act
Of n than he has had in a month Of
Sundays before, so what pen could do
it even inadequate justice?