Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-30

~ Kee Rankin and her own COM
~ pany, presented Sudermann' 8
SYMBOLIC drama "rhe Fires Of St. john
at the Auditorium theater last night
for the first time in Los Angeles. MISS
O'Neil was greeted by large audience
understand and appreciate the play and
which succeeded only In approaching
the players art. Nor Is the audience
to be blamed for this failure.
The conflict in "The Fires Of st.
John" Is based upon an idea utterly
foreign to the American understanding.
Thus, as a play. 1t is lilly suited TO
presentation upon an American stage.
We of the occidental hemisphere know
little of st. Johns fires and care less.
Even the symbolic rabbit in that wav-
ing field OF yellow wheat with the cruel
hawk circling oerhead fails to stir our
interest. We cannot discern any good
reacon why the Marika and the George
Van Harten of the play. who love each
other. might not have adjusted tneir
relations decently and happily. There
fore we cannot appreciate the stress
of emotion displayed.
There Is an almost brutal frankness
in certain situations, though the orig
inal dialogue has been blue-penciled to
some extent, the version of the play
used being announced as an "adapta-
tion."
The Marika of the drama is a most
unheroic and woeful figure. For three
acts she Is obsessed by passion, the
realization of which leaves her still
unhappy though not remorseful Her
mother a thieving mendicant. her
father unknown, Marika is the child
of misfortune, cursed with strong pas
sions and an instability OF character
that gives her pause even in their
pursuit.
There is little of subtlety, in Miss
O'Neirs depletion of this woman. She
realizes splendidly, however, the animal
nature of her subject. approaching the
remarkable third act climax with
surety and bringing down the curtain
upon a scene OF fierce wantonness.
In the role of Henry Vogelreuter. a
self opinionated country gentleman
Mckee Rankin appears to good ad-
vantage. Mr.. Morton Salisbury mars
George Van Harten by an ever notice.
able artificiality of manner, though the
role at best is an ungracious one and
the blame should not rest entirely with
the actor. Miss Georgie Woodthorpe
contributes an excellent character bit
as the Weszalnene..
Madame Mauricia Morichini. at the
Orpheum for the second week of her
engagement, sings three numbers, Ar
diti's "Parla," Caro- Nome" from Ver-
dis "Rigoletto'' and Flotow's 1.-THE
Last Rose of Summer from Martha"
The last song Is. given with the Eng
lish words; the others In Italian. can
add little to what have already said
liquid quality OF her voice and the sim
piicity of her method combine to make
her success in vaudeville as they won
for her instant recognition upon the
grand opera stage. Vocal pyrotechnics
seldom make a hit in vaudeville. Ma
dame Morichini is not addicted to the
fireworks habit. She sings charmingly,
delightfully."-, simply.
In addition the current Orpheum bill
presents two acrobatic acts, each a
novelty and each very well done. Willie
Panther g. Co.. the Go" consisting of
three performers and a. colored servant,
present an amazing clever act, full of
acrobatic surprises. Dewitt. Burns
and Torrance offer 1.-THE Awakening of
the Toys" Dewitt appearing as a jack
in-the-box. Burns as a wooden soldier
and Madge Torrance as a Plerrot doll.
The men are acrobats of ability. The
woman is merely picturesque.
Felix and Barry offer decidedly
poor sketch In "The Boy Next Door,"
the act being redeemed from absolute
boredom only by the eccentric comedy
of Felix and several clever limitations
contributed by Miss Barry.
Irving Jones. a negro. sings a. num-
ber Of "coon" songs In amusing fashion.
The songs are new, they are funny and
they are we'll sung, Jones' suffering
adding much to the merriment Of the
audience.
Mr.. and Mrs. George A. Beane present
q melodramatic sketch, Sheriff Storke."
which Is neither so good nor so well
done as their last weeks offering.