Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-04

Quite the most delightful and least
risque comedy of the "Frenchy" order
we have Had dished up to us these long
months past is Julie Bon Bon" in
which Miss Jane Grey and the Belasco
players captivated a typical first-nighr
audience at the Belasco last evening.
Light, as BELTS the season, with but
little demand upon the mentality of the
audience, the play yet tells an enter
tanning story prettily, and grants chic
little Miss Grey, to my way of think
ing, a part which really suits her bet
ter than anything she has yet done
here.
Dainty, petite, witching in her airy
graces, she handles her comedy capti-
vatingly, while the more serious emo
tional moments were admirably suited
to the demands of the part.
OF the play itself, little need be said.
It is but the old tale of a sincere love
between the son and heir of a wealthy
family and a worthy little wisp of
French milliner. The to-be-eXpected
opposition of the Would-be groom
mother, and the opportune protestations
of the usual old rake at the moment of
misunderstanding afford the heavier
moments Of the play. OF course the
out, and equally of course the path of
true love runs as it should at the finale
when the little milliner and her lover
elope in the carriage and with the
minister provided by the rake for his
own wedding to the charming enchant-
ress.
Aside from Miss Grey's work, the act
ing honors of the play are about evenly
divided between William Yerance, as
the heroines besotted father, "a veteran
of the Franco-Prussian war" and
Jacques Kruger as the aged rake. Both
in makeup and demeanor they satisfac-
torily realize the parts entrusted them
and earn merited approval from the
house.
Miss Eleanor Carey as the worldly
mother and Richard Vivian as her son
contributed excellent interpretations of
their parts. There are, too, many minor
roles, all we'll handled by those to
whom they are entrusted.
Atmosphere" of the distinctly Bo-
hemian type pervaded the scene in
Little Hungary" a restaurant where'
Bon Bons birthday party took place,
and for which a colored setting well in
keeping with the atmosphere" was
provided.
Julie Bon Bon" is 81 pleasing sum-
rner entertainment, well mounted, we'll
costumed. and well presented; quite
worth the seeing.
Two clever sketches, two acrobatic
acts, a conjurer, a big musical number,
an animal act and a duologue make up
the program at the Orpheum this week,
the best program, by the way, that the
house has offered in some time
The first sketch, Clay M. Greene's For
Loves Sweet Sake" deserves a more
pretentious designation. 1t is a drama
in little. It's story compels close at
tention and 1t is well acted For the
most part the act is a dialogue be-
| tween father and son, the other char
acters having practically nothing to do
with the development of the plot
| Thompson is the father and Thomas
H. Ince the son, and the playlet, in
their hands, is a tremendously interest
| ing affair. 1t rings true. The title,
however, should be changed. There is
nothing of the Bertha M. Clay quality
in the play. 1t Is virile and true to
| life.
The second playlet, my Awful Dad,
presented by Fred Bond, Miss Fremont
Benton and company, is quite different.
This is a lightsome affair, really funny;
much better, by the way, than the piece
| played by the same actors last week.
Miss Benton wears a directoire gown
that is said to have come from the
Worth establishment in Paris. 1t Is
rather startling, but very becoming to
| its wearer.
The Patty Frank troupe of seven
acrobats obviously should be labeled
MADE in Germany" The act is a good
one, the star performer, so far as the
general public is concerned, being
either a midget or youngster, I am
not quite sure which. The little fellow,
by the way does a double somersault
to a position three high, which is go
ing some.
Martinettie and Sylvester offer a good
knockabout acrobatic art, the Fadettes
give us a new musical program, ALI
Grant and Ethel Hoag have new line
of patter and Grais' balloons repeat
their remarkable performance of last
week.