Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-29
'PARSIFAL' FINE
SHOW IN PROSPECT
DRESS REHEARSAL THURSDAY,
BUT ALL RIGHT TONIGHT
Magnificent Scenic Environment and
Gorgeous Production, with Fine
Acting, but Waits Are
lnterminabIe

ris production of "Parsifal" in the
Auditorium last night was like one of
these progressive dinner affairs, where
| you take soup in one home, walk three
blocks take fish I'm another, walk three
blocks, and so on.
In other words, one had only a new
! appetite after every act, owing to the
I intermnable time before new one
came on.
In reality, last nights show was a
gigantic dress rehearsal, with the audi
ence present and enjoying the novelty.
And that audience got its moneys
worth from first curtain to final
lights out" for 1t not only saw all the
show, but 1t had the experience of as
certaining something about the inside
of dramatic production. 1t also learned
the march of the knights of the holy
grail before 1t was ever shown, and
it took some time to fix up berry
bowl with a red celluoid interior, as
substitute, which time the orchestra
filed in with constant reiteration.
Still, all these things aside, and maxi
ing allowance for every mishap, which
always must be considered on first
night Mr.. Ferris is to be sincerely and
heartily congratulated on offering to
Los Angeles display of stage artistry
seldom equaled anywhere. When he
whips "Parsifal" into shape-which
will be by Monday-he will have a
display of thespianic beauty and skill
that anyone may be proud of seeing.
Even in its raw state, that is certain
1t should be remembered, in consid-
ering this event, that when 1t was put
on the road, months were given to its
preparation. In this case ten days were
all the time allowed. No wonder, then,
that waits were long and small points
uncertain. But the indomitable will of
Dick Ferris was put to q crucial test,
and it came out triumphant. Not all
his audience waited for the finale, but
those who did were richly repaid, de-
spite the strain on their patience in the
long ent'r acteS.
Mr.. Ferris has taken the Wagnerian
opera and has converted it into a
drama. The lines are spoken with, in
many cases, musical accompaniment
This makes for clearer understanding,
better enunciation and stronger dram
atics. 1t may not be high art, but
it brings a host of people a "Parsifal"
so far denied them, and is highly to be
commended, no matter how hard the
Wagner cultus may be hit.
"Parsifal' is not strong in dramatics
in the musical version; it is, in fact,
more like an acted hymn, but as ar
ranged in this case it makes connect
ed play and one grasps the intent of
lIlG IeBSuu anu LIlS puIpOEI OI lUe
story as would be impossible in the
strictly Wagnerian Offering. The same
characterization is carried out, and
the air of reverence is never departed
from. The combination is admirable,
and Mr.. Ferris deserves thanks and
success equal to that which the mere
| tricious "Holy City" achieved. For he
has mounted the affair superbly-no-
thing finer has ever been seen here
and his players give interpretations of
| their several roles, which are OF high
est rank. Even in it's raw state last
night it was well worth while, and
when it arrives at perfection it will
be a wonderfully fine thing.
AS Parsifal, Mr.. Robson does quite
the best piece of work that can be
attributed to him since his arrival in
Los Angeles. Mr.. Robson is an actor
of parts, but somehow he has not dis
! played any wonderful talent here till
now. His Parsifal Is literally revela-
ton. Miss Stone as Kundry again
gives us an Interpretation such as is
seldom seen, though not by any means
greater than some things she has done
here; the part does not permit it. Her
beauty, of course, adds to her effec-
tive work. Howard Scott makes a
great Klingsor and Harry Won Meter
is fine as Amfortas. Richard Cotton
deserves high praise as Gurnemanz,
anu AVIS LODuell, flOreHC6 BdrDer,
Virginia Berry and Marion Manner, as
squires, do well.
Scenically the presentation is won
derful. The opening act in the forest
of Montsalvat is beautiful; the King
sor garden is dream, and the trans
formation is remarkable.
The orchestra was augmented last
night to forty, and in the main it did
well. The Grail march was taken at
entirely too fast tempo. and once or
twice the first violin fell down, but
generally it was equal to the emergen-
cy so far as it's limited instrumental
tion permitted. Tonight the grand or
gan will help. Mrs. Caroline Won Ben
zon did some solo work, but sang so
low that it was not appreciated, and in
general the vocal numbers suffered
from the same cauce The stage pic
lures were magnificent, especially the
scenes in the hall of the grail.
One of the causes of delay last night
was an accident to the grail itself. A
careless stage hand kicked it over and
smashed it, and hastily a strawberry
bowl and bit of red celluloid had to
be substituted. This will be remedied
this evening. When the play is
whipped into proper shape it will be
simply magnificent and should run for