Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-02

the comedy. Rosa REIN sang Bon
nets" in pleasing manner, while VIII
Cross, as Pablos, the lover-soIdier, re-
ceiVed several encores in when the
Boys Come Marching Home" Miss
sutherland and Mr.. Cross also have
tuneful duet, entitled We'll Wander
in the Bright Moonlight" Miss Dar-
ragh, who made her first appearance
last night, was we'll received and sang
In a pleasing voice. The cast is COM
pleted with Jack Curtis, who takes the
character of Francillo, the egotistical
admirer Of Paquita:
Omega B. Nair, we'll known In local
threatrical circles, left last week for
the east, where he will endeavor to
place a vaudeville sketch which he has
written. Mr.. Nair wrote the playlet
recently in Nevada, and on the advice
of friendly critics decided to try to
place it in vaudeville. The story deals
with prison life in Siberia, having four
characters, three men and one woman.
1t is essentially Woman'S star part,
and portrays the relation of Maria
Kosla, a condemned Nihilist, in reality
a princess, and her lover, Olaf
peasant. The dialogue is deftly handled
and contains many bright epigrams. If
the right woman is found, Mr.. Nair is
almost certain of success. The title is
''The Penalty"
McCloud and Melville proved them
selves versatile artists and genuine en-
tertainers of headline worth yesterday
by arriving at the Empire theater in
time for the matinee, sans wardrobe,
music and makeup facilities, going on
in their street clothes and presenting a
15-minute sketch that easily won first
favor with the audience. Last night
the belated baggage arrived, and be-
sides the diverting songs and dances
given at the matinee they accompanied
their dancing by playing their own harp
music.
Dick Parks opens the current olio,
doing some clever dancing, singing
song or two and then, for a novelty,
donning minstrel mans makeup be-
fore the audience. The soprano solos
of Elma Elwood, ranging from semi
classical offerings to popular songs,
were well received. Miss Elwood has
sweet voice, which she uses well, and
her engaging personality is by no
means a minor detail of her attractive
ness. Illustrated songs, motion pic
lures and a one-act farce, who's
| Who?" by Al Franks and the Empire
stock company, complete the program
'Tis said that judicious admixture
! Of laughter and musical enjoyment is a
cure-au for blues, dyspepsia and in
| fact almost every i'll to which the flesh
of man is heir. If this be true, Herr
Fischer should be coming money this
week, for "The King of Patagonia .
| who arrived at the little First street
| playhouse yesterday with his retinue
is a monarch in whose train both the
mlrth and the music are to be found, as
| VIII be testified by any who visited his
| receptions yesterday. The fact that he
isn't really monarch doesn't hurt the
| fun one bit; in fact, it is only height
ened by the fact that his real identity
| as a Jewish striker to Lieut. Patsy
McDermott is exposed before the finale
Ben 7. Dillon as genuine southern
| major is sincerely at home in his white
| f1annelS and picturesque hirsute adorn-
| ment. One might almost imagine he
| had stepped out from the pages of one
of Opie Reid's novels. Dot Raymond is
the pretty girl he has selected for his
son Patsy to marry, and eventually his
wishes are attained, although after
many comical mixups.
The Royal Musical Five at the Los
Angeles theater this week offer what
| is perhaps the best act of its kind
heard here this season. The members
Of the quintet are young, but they know
their instruments and the way they
played Ethelbert Nevins Rosary
yesterday afternoon was a genuine
| treat. The melody was carried by
flute, violin, viola, cello and piano.
Then followed a flute solo, a song by
Miss Helen Meyer, one of the five, and
a concerted number on metal xylo-
| phones.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Esmonde pre-
sent a pathetic and quantity humorous
little play entitled THE Soldier of
Propville," in which Mr.. Esmonde ap-
pears as a veteran Of the Civil war,
suffering from amnesia as the result of
a wound. He is little better than half
witted, is "Old Jim" when his daughter,
| grown to womanhood, discovers his
identity and takes him from his drudg-
cry.
The Auditorium company gave an
excellent performance of Little Red
| Riding Hood last night. 1t will be
given extended comment in Wednes-
days Herald.