Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-07
THE CAST

Sonora DOna PetrOna Castro. ...........
................. Miss Florence Smytne
Sonora KentOn ......... Miss Eleanor Carey
Juanita .'..''...'..'..'. MISS Jane Orey
Trinidad ........... Miss Dorothy Bernafu
Beatriz commandments. Miss Liilias Piper
CarIOta .............. Miss virginia Crosse
Guadalupe ...... Miss FanchOn Everhart
Sonora Alcantarn. Miss Rea Carlysie
Argada ......,...... Miss Marie Bennmger
water carrier Miss Josephine Dillon
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE
(kfTIHE ROSE OF THE RANCHO
David Belasco's most pictur-
II esuue stage presentment, was
revealed upon the stage of the Belasco
theater last night for the first time III
Los Angeles. Additional interest at
tended the local premiere of this play
through the fact that it marked the
debut of Miss Jane Grey, the COM
pany's latest leading woman, before d
was jacques Kruger. another new
conner to the Belasco stage:
1.-THE Rose of the Rancho as is
generally known, had its genesis In
"Juanita of San juan" originally pre-
scented in Los Angeles several years
ago upon the stage of another theater.
"Juanita of San Juan" was the work
of Richard Walton Tully Following
it's successful run here and in San
Francisco Mr.. Tully took his play east
and submitted it to David Belasco'
Later, in collaboration with Mr.. Be
lasco, he rewrote it, condensing the
story into three acts, instead of hVe.
Comparisons of the two plays can serve
no good purpose. At any rate, l am
unable to make them as l did not see
the earlier production.
The Charm of California
AS presented upon the Belasco stage
"Tne Rose of the Rancho" breathes
the languorous charm of Southern CAL
ifornia in the splendid. idle forties.
The first act curtain discloses the mis-
sion garden at San Juan BautiSta, a
scene Of rare beauty. Rose vines, COW
cred with blooms, climb the walls and
watt their fragrance through the the
alter. Under shady portico slumbers
the padre. To the right sleeps Span
ish gallant from Monterey, his guitar
close at hand. The view is one of
picturesque Incidence, harmoniously
colorful, complete, satisfying. Upon
tale for the PADRES ear and the play
has begun.
The action opens slowly The aud
| fence bestirs itself from a delightful
siesta until expectancy succeeds in
dolence. There is a pause; several of
| them. Then Juanita, La Rosa del
| Rancho" dances upon the scene.
Miss Grey was accorded a kindly re-
ception upon her first appearance. Ere
the first act closed kindness warmed
to cordiality. Later, at the curtain of
the second act, came a spontaneous
wave of enthusiasm that flowed UP
and around the actress-and great bas-
kets of flowers. The word is trite from
much misuse, but none other will ade-
| quately describe what happened at the
Belasco theater last night. Miss Grey
was given an ovation. Her triumph
was not alone that of a skillful player
in big role, 1t was a triumph of per-
sonality. The great audience took the
little woman into its heart and petted
her until she wept while trying to
voice her appreciation.
The Rose and Its Petals
shall not undertake to tell you here
the story of "The Rose of the Rancho"
nor shall I subject the play to the
scalpel of criticism. The important
thing is the whole, and the whole is
charming alike to the eye and to the
heart. In the first act the faithful old
padre has a speech singularly apropos
and which would quote to you could
I remember it. In effect it is an adj
monition against despoiling a rose of
its petals. And this is a rose of a play.
Perhaps the most noteworthy thing
about 1t is the complete success with
which the co-authors have contrived a
melodrama in an environment seeming
ly wholly foreign to that particular
sort of dramatic endeavor. The melo-
drama is there and in ample measure,
but it never wars with its surroundings
nor do its characters seem out of place.
Nowhere else has the Belasco-Tully
skill manifested itself with surer touch.
Miss Greys Acting
Miss Jane Grey gave us finely SYM
pathetic and delightfully."- charming pic
ture of the hayward heroine, a picture
of excellence both in detail and of care
fully studied conception. AS 1 have al
ready said, however, her triumph was
something beyond that. 1t was a per-
sonal tribute to the woman as we'll as
to the actress.
preciate fully the skill displayed in
this part until we shall have seen the
player In another role. Then, perhaps,
we may realize the patient study re-
CURED to master that drawl, that
shadowy accent, that Castilian walk.
her reward last night and such a re-
ward as Los Angeles audiences sell
dom bestow.
The cast of "The Rose of the
Rancho" is long one and it includes
several good parts and several more
SOOu DltS. Lewis >. stone, as the
hated "Gringo" who ultimately wins
Juanita's confidence and love, acted
with ample art, as we are accustomed
to see him act This is Mr.. Stones
final week at the Belasco, and he will
leave with us the memory of another
role, finely played. Mr.. jacques Kru-
ger was eminently satisfactory as the
padre. Howard Scott was admirable
as a Spanish dandy and Harry Glazier
made the part of the rascally and vul-
gar Kinkaid his own. Excellent bits
were contributed by William Yerance
and Charles Ruggles.
Acrobatic vaudeville is much in evil
dence at the Orpheum this week.
where three of the four acts presented
may properly be classed under that
heading. Two of these acts, presented
by Willie Panther & Co, and by De
Witt. Burns and Terrence, are, hold
overs. The other, a trapeze stunt, by
Zeno, Jordan and Zeno, is new.
The feature number of the program,
'"The Seven Hoboes," is somewhat dis
appointing. The sketch is said to be
"a satire on tramp life," but If it
satirizes anything the stage hobo must
be the victim. The several characters
are we'll portrayed by Gus Pixley, Sam
Dody, Tommy S. Van, Charles N. Nell
son, Brooke Van Waller, William C.
Gordon and II. Hose, but the author
has given them scant opportunities for
the display of their ability. The sing
ing, however, is good.