Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-28
THE CAST
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE


aakemlne, sergeant. ....... Elliott Beamer
The Maronis imsri IIarrr rrt1 Casbnnan
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE
M ELODIOUSLY sung, beautifully
N mounted, picturesquely costumed
and well acted, THE Geisha"
was presente.. by the Edl<r Temple
opera company at the Auditorium last
night before an audience disappoint-
ingly small in numbers. In many re-
spects this dainty opera is the finest
thing the Temple organization has yet
given us. 1t deserves liberal patronage
and while last nights small attendance
may be set down in part to the usual
reaction after a big week, that, in it.
self, is scarcely a complete explanation.
l am inclined to think that the stay-at-
homes do not realize the treat they are
missing.
1.-THE Geisha" is one of the most musi-
cianly as it has been one of the most
successful of recent light operas. It's
melodies of merit. There is more to
them than the usual tinkle. In Eng
land, where 1t was first produced, 1t
was the big operatic success of more
than one season; while it's original cis-
Atlantic production was no less profit
able for it's promoters. Following the
New York run the opera was sent on
tour and repeated all over the country
the hit it has made in the east. All this
should be we'll known, but apparently
it is not. Certainly the patronage ac-
corded the work last night provided
scant encouragement to Mr.. Temples
determination to give Los Angeles un-
hackneyed operas.
In Picturesque Japan
The scenes of 1.-THE Geisha" are laid
| in that land which seemingly a merci-
full Providenc, created for the especial
delectation of comic opera librettists-
the picturesque Japan of romance. To-
day, of course, Japan has been CONNER
cialized. The little brown man has
ceased to a aero of romance and has
become instead business menace.
Aestheticism has given way to econo-
mics
But, fortunately, the Japan of the Ii
brettist is quite a different country.
Here the geisha still sing and dance IN
the tea houses; and here come young
naval officers with nothing to do but
enjoy the coQuetry of their Japanese
entertainers. Tor purposes of the plot
there is always a silly old Japanese ex-
ecutiye, a village despot, who IS accom-
modatingly hoodwinked in the end so
that the story may arrive at salts
factory conclusion. There are colorIui
scenes, sweet melodies and pretty girls
more or less oriental as they happen TO
he expert or the reverse with their
crease naints. All these things enter
into "The Geisha,' as the opera was
presented last night.
o Mimosa San
Miss Eleanor Kent found in the role
of O Minosa San the best opportunities
onened. and she gave a vocaliy Drll-
liant and otherwise highly satisfactory
rendition of the role. Her opening song,
srrhe Amorous Goldfish" was managed
with a. daintiness of expression tnal
made it altogether charming; ana the
musically more impressive "JeWel Oh
ASIA was beautifully sung. lncloehl-
aIly. Miss Kent has the courage OF her
make-un box. She does not hesitate TO
Jap-a-lac herself into peilexaoio ,s, I'M
tafion of q Japanese geisha girl
Alfred McGahan, somewhat stiif IN
bis acting as the English naval offlcer'
sang the role with fine erect. 5s Inls
hest numbers were the KISSING oues
with Miss Kent and an lnterpoIal,e.u
song. Jacks the Boy for Me. fTla1 a
Fields Wun-Hi, proprietor OF ene 'ea
which this diminutive funmaker may
we'll be proud, and his "Chln Cnii
Chinaman' song was undenlapiy
Harry eastman makes his usual hit
as the Japanese marquis, tnougn ac-
cording to his invariaDle hapil nc
| "fakedo last night most of his speecnes
that the prompter did not get to MIN
In time. Miss Laura Wallace was not
quite equal to the music of Molly Sey-
mour. but acted the role so charIn-
ingiy that the audience forgave her
vocal deficiencies. Mr.. Temple MN,
self sang Captain Katana, announceo
Lynch. He had but one NUMBER ana
refused an encore, which so ratified the
orchestra that it had to be called back
and started all over again. Inc one
song, however,f was excellently sung.
The chorus was picturesque In jap
anese costumes and as English girls,
and the concerted numbers were hnely
given into the bargain. Some few OF
the songs were cut, for no apparent
reason. as the final curtain was down
by 1926 o'clock.
. "The Geisha" will continue through
the week. 1t deserves crowded houses.
The big novelty at the Orpheum this
week is provided by the Dunedin troupe
of acrobatic bicyelists. The Dunedins
number four-two men and two
women. Doubtless you have seen nu-
YnerouS trick bicycle turns De1ore thlS,
some of them hazardous and others ex-
pert, but the Dunedin act is different.
It is a combination of trick riding, ac-
robatics and riding on tight wire.
incidentally one of the men even Mer-
ry Widows awheel. If you don't know
how this is done you will have to see
for yourself. 1 can't tell you. The girls
are pretty but that fact is not respon-
sible for their being in vaudeville.
They know their business from tire
to handlebars.
Charles r. Evans and company pre-
sent George Arliss one-act farce, "It's
Up to You, William" seen here before.
Evans is supported by Charles H. Hop
per, formerly star on his own ac-
count. AN-few years ago / used to see
Hopper announced as the comedy
actor and sweet singer" He still makes
good the first part of that description,
but there's no singing in the farce. and
consequently the "sweet singer" is in
eclipse. The skit is funny and it is
both we'll staged and well acted.
Frederick Brothers and Burns offer
comedy musical act that is both
amusing and musical. There is the
usual introduction of freak instru-
ments--this time glass affair, ar
ranged zylophone fashion and played
as q zvIonhone ia played and a string