Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-03

Schwartze ..........N... Mckee Rankin
Alagda. ..,...."..........:.' MISS U Nel
Marie ....'.'.'.'..''', MISS vera Nos
Augusta. .............. MISS merle StantOi
Franziska Won Wendlowsh. ..........
! ........ Miss Georgia WoOdthorp'
Max Won Wendlowski. Louis Thompson
Hetfterdingt. ............. Monroe salsDur,
DIR. Won Keller. .......... .NOrval McGregol
Beckmann. .................. r. y, mayer
Won Kiegs. .,............ Thomas HoughtOI
theresa. ,..............M Miss Frances Field
! ~ JTDERMANN'S powerful drama
- of 'Magda" was presented at the
| ~ Auditorium yesterday afternoon
before an audience which filled the
house to overlooking. The play has
been given here several times and
was presented at another theater with
in the past three months, but interest
| in the problems involved continues
strong.
The struggle of the individual against
| the family, the argument that emanci-
pated womanhood has right to enjoy
| untrammeled liberty in her personal
life as she has unsupported and I'M
assisted freedom in the art or pro-
fession through which she wrests her
livelihood from the world-these are
the subjects which find broad and skill
full treatment from Mr.. Sudermann's
pen.
In this era of feminine progress
Magda's case is a most interesting
one to all thoughtful women, and while
much sympathy may be felt for her
heart broken father, there VIII I'M
doubtedly be a strong feeling that he
carried the idea of parental honor and
family pride to absurd lengths.
In the title role Miss O'Nen present
ed a series of beautiful pictures. Her
magnificent stage presence was aided
| by the use of handsome gowns, ana
| her blonde beauty found an effective
| background against the dull reds ana
dark woodwork of the sedate proVln-
cial dwelling in which the entire four
acts of the play transpire. -,
She portrays the character with all
the niceties which a highly developed
art dictates. Every pose is the per-
lection of physical grace. every inton-
alton is delivered in flexible and eX-
uuisitely modulated voice. Her enun-
citation is distinct and her reading of
the lines throughout the play a salts
faction to the ear but her acting makes
practically no appeal to the sentiments,
and even the most easily moved natl
nee girl found Il hard work TO shed
tears over the emotional scenes.
Mr.. Rankin as the palsied old father
gave a very satisfactory rendition of
the part so far as appearances went,
but his enunciation was so indistinct
that his speeches were practically I'M
Ineligible across the footlights.
Miss Georgia Woodthorpe, who was
here with Miss Florence Roberts in
the winter, repeated the success of that
engagement in the small role of Aunt
Franziska.
Miss O'Neil cannot be said to have
a strong supporting company and some
of the more important parts ought
really to be placed with more capable
actors.
The orchestra rendered program of
music, unannounced, containing some
trivial popular airs particularly in
appropriate to the character of the
dramatic production upon the stage.
The play will continue throughout
the week with matinee tomorrow.
The Theater Royal closed last night
as the result of an alta nment for
about $50 placed on the box office by
Dolly Graham, formerly leading woman
at that house. BY her move Miss era
ham secured exactly rs cents. Even
this she could not keep, the constable
who made the attachment being COM
PEELED to refund IL to purchasers of
tickets for the performance which was
not given. 1t is said that the house
will reopen Saturday afternoon under
the management of w. P. James, an
experienced theatrical man, who has
taken over the theater from the present
managers.
For the past few weeks the Royal
has been operated on the common
wealth plan, the money taken in being
divided pro rata among the performers.
It is said that Miss Graham, with the
others, agreed to this and promised to
remain in the company. Last Tuesday
night. however, in the middle of the
performance, she declined to continue
except upon the payment of back salary
due and full salary for the time as
serted to have been covered by tho
commonwealth agreement.
The money Vas not forthcoming, and
as Miss Graham refused to play her
part the audience was dismissed. On
Wednesday there was no matinee, but
Wednesday night a performance was
given as usual. Last night Miss Ora
ham sued out an attachment which was
served soon before o'clock.
The actors, informed of the attach
ment, declined to play, and consequent
ly the house was closed. Individual
members of the company already have
signed contracts with the new man
ager and rehearsals of the new bill
now are proceeding under his manage
ment. The new manager, by the way,
is not the James who was associated
with the old management and who for
q time was receiver of the theated, APP
pointed by the court.
Manager Melton, who retires Satur-
day, explains that Miss Graham has
sued for more money than is coming
to her and promises a spicy answer to
her complaint. He accuses her, too, Of
highly unprofessiona1 conduct in leav-
ing the company in the middle of per-
| Torrance.
AS for last nights attachment the
joke seems to be upon the constable
who served the papers too early to find
anything in the box Office.
Rehearsals for William Stoermer's
new political play 1.-THE Swastika, :"
have been most satisfactory and every
thing Ass in readiness for the premier
next Monday evening. A full-dress re-
hearsal with all scenic and electrical
effects will take place on the stage
of the Mason Monday morning. Mr..
| Stoermer's play is said to abound in
incidents and situations entirely I'M
known except to those who have been
through the strenuous times of a
political campaign. Aside from this,
the playpresents a pretty love story.
"How Baxter Butted H." which
| started on the road from this city a
month or so ago, is reported to have
closed disastrously in Salinas Wednes-
day night, with the players salaries
considerably in arrears. Ed Barnes,
musical director, left the company in
Petaluma last Saturday and is now at
his home in Los Angeles. The others
haven't reached here as yet. During
/ tba latter mart of the brief tOur the