Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-12
OBSERVATIONS BY
A FIRST NIGHTER


local theaters. Mr. Galbraith's reappear-
ance will be made in "A Gilded Fool"
in which he will play the old Goodwin
role It is said that he himself selected
the comedy as the best play available
Tor hii return to the stage.
No leading man who ever played in
stcck in Los Angeles has won for himself
more loyal following than Joe Gal
braith, and the Belasco management is
To be congratulated upon his re-engage-
meht. Mr. Galbraith does not supplant
Mr. Stone, who remains as leading man
o. the company. The two, however. will
n3t appear in the same bill, Galbraith
taking the comedy leads as a general
pre- position, while Stone will play the
others. Later Mr.. Galbraith will be seen
in the Play in which he scored his great
est success at the Belasco, "Old Hedel-
berry"
The famous Merry Widow waltz will
be danced, played and sung at the Los
Angeles theater this week in ship Ahoy'
if the federal authorities do not pre-
vent it. Both Managers Yorke of the
theater and Healy of the opera company
insist that the waltz will be presented.
Al the same time Henry w. Savage,
Who claims to own the Merry Widow
rights for America, has announced that
any infringement of his rights will be
vigorously prosecuted. In this announce
ment he has the backing of Messrs. Klaw
& Erl1nger, heads of the theatrical trust;
George Edwardes of London and Felix
Bloch Erben of Berlin. These are names
that mean something and when it is
added that Mr.. Savage has placed the
matter in the hands of his attorneys,
Fromme Brothers of New York city, lC
Will be seen that the chances for a merry
war over the Merry Widow are re-
Inarkably bright.
Incidentally the trouble may prevent
the presentation here Of Der Rastei-
binder" an opera by Franz Lehar COM
poser of THE Merry Widow" This
work never has been presented in this
country and Mr. Healy had expected to
produce it here before his present en-
gagement closes. He has been notified,
however, that there are obstacles in the
way; and 1t Is more than likely that
Der Rastebinder" will not be among
the offerings of the San Francisco opera
company.
Dolly Warden has been substituted
and will be presented next week, with
pretty Genie OrmCnde in the title role.
This will be Miss Ormonde's first big
opportunity locally, AS for the Merry
Widow waltz it will be presented at tho
matinee today, whatever happens, and
it viii continue through the week if Mr.
ISdNdSS > idNStIS 10 not interfere. 10
be on the safe side, however, you had
better go early in the week if you want
to see and hear this song-dance that is
now the musical sensation of two con-
tinents.
SO far as the merits of the controversy
are concerned, that is a matter for tho
courts to decide. Mr., Savage claims 10
hold exclusive rights. Mr., Healy differs
with him. Savage, of course. is a big
II, fIea IL l,,f 10 Ia.,
d good fighting name and was born only
a few miles from Donnybrook, if you are
to believe his biographer.
In "rhe Redskin," which Dick Ferris
puts on at the Auditorium tomorrow.
every character is an Indian. The scene
is laid in the days before the coming
of the white man, and yet the Indians
all talk United States" To some this
may appear a startling incongruty. Yer
in the traditions and annals of the stage
it is perfectly correct. The point is this,
that the whole play is supposedly IN the
Indian dialect, yet translated for tho
ears of Americans of today. Were it
played in the original it would not be
un 1erstandable. When put into current
language it's atmosphere is preserved and
it is made ineligible to moderns.
1t is the same as If Camille" written
IN FTenCif, were " Dt DlttJtA III Il tSiANlt
dialect or with a French accent when
presented in English. This would be
laughabIe; so would it were these Indians
TO talk in anything like the usual stage
jargon, with "ughs' and grunts such as
the Indian of tradition uses on stage.
The actors will employ the usual Indian
gestures and will move in their stately
fashion, but will speak English through
out.
m. 10 hn RnrrantnnGG
let me cite an instance. Billy Florence
in a certain play represented Swiss.
During all but one act he used dialect
and an accent But in that one act,
when he was supposedly In switzerland
among his countrymen, he used pure
English without a trace OF accent. some
criticised him, but he quickly proved
mat he was correct by showing them
that whereas in one case he was
Switzer among Englishmen, where his
accent would be noticed, in the other all
nresent wera speaking in their native
tongue, which for stage purposes was OF
course translated into the English that
the audience heard The same facts
apply in "The Redskin."
IL has been some time since Frank
Daniels last visited Los Angeles and
considerably longer time since he first
came here. That was more years ago
than the comedian cares to remember,
ana doubtless you, too, have forgotten
all about it. Daniels had not then ap-
preciated his own ability as comic
opera comedian and was touring the
country in a contrivance called Little
Puck whieA was distant dramatiza-
ton of F. Anstey's ''Vice Versa The
farce made him famous and he has con-
tinued to live in Milwaukee ever since.
His Offering this year Is 'The Tattooed
Man, and he's 1t. The fun is not all
low comedy, however. There are good
lines in Smith and Fowlers book.