Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-20
como OPERA
WELL DONE.
doll VARpEN" GIVEN ELA5o-
GATE DEDUCTION
AUDIENCE ENJOYS STANCE AND
EDWARDS WORK
Dimnutive Daphne Pollard Plays the
Name Role and Gives Whimsical,
Though Somewhat Unusual,
Interpretation
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE

EEn OILY WARDEN" the best
staged and most brilliantly
~ costumed production the San
Francisco opera company has given US
during the present engagement, pleased
a large audience at the Los Angeles
theater last night. Daphne Pollard is
cast as Dolly. otherwise the cast is
about the same that sang the opera
here when it was presented by the San
Franciscans prior to their trip north,
There seems little. need at this time
to say anything further about the
STANCE Edwards work. 1t is the first
light opera given US by the company
since it's return, the past fortnight hav-
ing been devoted to musical comedy
It's music is tuneful. There are several
fine ensemble numbers, and the solos
have lifting quality that makes them
highly enjoyable Moreover the book
is worthy of the music.
Chief interest in last nights produc-
ton naturally centered in the work of
diminutive Daphne Pollard as the
hayward Dolly, and in all candor 1t
must be said that Daphne's Dolly is
lacking in important particulars. Daph-
ne Pollard is at her best in broad
comedy. Apparently she realizes this
fact and last night she gave us a Dolly
that lacked in a marked degree the
daintiness the character should have.
Daphne Pollard's Opportunity
I am of the opinion that this young
woman has arrived at the parting of
the ways. From now on she must
either advance rapidly in her chosen
work or she must retrograde. With
competent and careful instruction she
should go forward; but she must learn
that the tricks, the little effronteries
that are accepted in a child will not
serve her in her more mature years.
Last night the audience applauded her
enthusiastically. She even won APP
plause when most she offended against
stage ethlcs-once through the intro
duction of comedy during serious
song sung by another of the principals.
But Miss Pollard should be made to
realize that this sort Of appreciation
will wane and that it behooves her to
study her art against the day when her
lack of stature and her whimsical per-
sonality no longer will carry her to
success. All this is said with the ut
most kindness. Today Daphne Pollard
is standing still. She plays character
comedy roles with marked success, but
elsewhere her limitations are painfully
apparent.
Cunningham IN Gooo VOICE
Arthur Cunningham as Belville
again carries off the musical honors of
the production. Eugene Weiner sings
Harcourt and Frank Bertrand is vo-
cally deficient but otherwise effective
Gayspark.
AS for the women, Aida Hemmi sings
Letitia with her customary excellence
of voice and acts the role with her GUS
tomary indifference. Maude Beatty
has scant vocal opportunity and this is
matter for regret. Her fine contralto
was heard last night only in the en-
sembles and In an octette near the close
of the second act.
The chorus has been augmented by
the addition Of several pretty girls, and
in its brocades, with powdered hair and
fascinating patches, the young women
presented a highly attractive picture.
The girls, by the way, amply merit the
managerial description of beauty
chorus" used on the billboards and in
the advertisements.