Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-08
'ALASKAN' MELODIOUS
AND TUNEFUL OPERA
"Totem Pole" Dance Grotesque and
Amusing-Principal All Good,
with Clever New Songs and
Excellent Scenery

IT never saw anything like that in
Alaska said one of the old ''mush-
ers'' at the performance of THE Alas
kan" at Hamburgers Majestic theater
last evening. Perhaps not, perhaps
nobody ever did, but this does not
detract in the least from the merit of
John Cort's dazzling comic opera. The
suffering west, with Alaska and
the northwest, has been much put
upon by writer's who seldom have
strayed from the glare of "Lit-up
lane." but inaccuracies of local color
are not all-important in productions
like 1.-THE Alaskan" There is enough
that is tuneful and beautiful to make
up for any shortcomings in the way
Of Vraisemblance.
1.-THE Alaskan" company is fortunate
in the possession of number of prin-
cipals who can sing as well as act.
Forest Huff, the mellifiuous tenor, has
an exceptionally good voice, well
trained and under perfect control.
Miss Won Busing, the contralto, makes
her appeal through singular quality
Of tonic softness in her singing, sort
of haunting, n't-you-dare-forge
quality which carries an emotional
connotation of lotus dreams and Titan
sunsets, rather than frozen ice fields
and northern lights.
Lora Lieb, the prima donna, is a
graceful and accomplished singer pos
sibly, according to the verdict of those
schooled in the subtleties of musical
criticism, superior to Miss Won Busing,
but her voice seems to lack the
warmth and softness of that of the
contralto.
George e. Mack, who jingles the
bells, is good in his line, but his jokes
have become a bit frayed around the
edges. Just why the producers OF
comic opera do not employ some pro-
fessional jokesmiths or else give their
press agent a day off occasionally to
revamp some of the gags as they be-
come worn, is a mystery. Even a few
jokes cribbed from comic supple
ment would be superior to the usual
run of comic opera warm-over humor.
The vaudeville features are all good
and for the most part original and
pleasing. William Fables as a polar
bear is all to the good.
The totem pole dance is a delight
fully grotesque and amusing feature.
Mr.. Martindel leads the dance of the
totem poles, and the whole affair
makes one of the best comic opera bits
yet seen. The Florodora girls are less
pleasing, but their skit is well done.
On the whole the show is high class
sample of finished comic opera, with
good singing, good acting and, above
all, excellent scenic effects.
"The Only Way began weeks run
at the Auditorium Monday. Lewis S.
Stone is said to have found an excep-
tionally strong role in that of Sydney
Carton. The performance is spoken
of as one of the best achievements of
the Auditorium company. 1t will be
reviewed in Wednesdays Herald.
"a Partisan Romance" opened at the
Belasco last night. with Harry GlaZier
in the role of the dissolute Baron
Chevrial Mr.. Glazier made close
study of Mansfield's Baron CheVrial
and his performance last evening was
enthusiastically received. The play
will be reviewed in a later issue
The Newsomes, a team of equilib-
rists, present the best act upon the
stage of the Los Angeles theater this
week. The Newsomes are a trio; pre-
sumably a man and two women,
though there were persons in yesterday
afternoons audience who were firmly
convinced that one of the skirted ath-
letes wears mans attire when off the
stage However, that does not affect
the merit of the act. The three per-
form numerous startling feats and do
everything with an apparent ease that
bespeaks long and tedious practice.
IVanhoe, a comedian who is known
all over the country, offers a good
rnonologue and sings the song that he
has sung for the past ten years or
more. No one else can sing it, now
ever and consequently it bids fair to
last this vaudevillian for the term of
his footlight appearances.