Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-18
FERRIS HARTMAN COMPANY
OPENS SEASON AT GRAND

The place which Ferris Hartman
holds in the affections of Grand opera
house patrons was made sufficiently
clear last night when as Abijah Booze
in "The Yankee Consul he stepped
out of the consular elevator which
furnished him a spectacular entrance
and bowed his acknowledgements to an
honest storm of applause. 1t was
flattering ovation and the popular
comedian showed his appreciation by
the zest and dry drollery with Whlch
he invested his whimsical role.
"The Yankee Consul" veteran mu-
sical comedy as it is has seen the rise
and fall of a score of fiimsy New York
successes" of recent manufacture. 1t
has survived because it is clean and
bright and merry. 1t does not strain
the mind to catch it's drift, but 1t re-
lakes tired muscles and whips us up
now and then with merry Blossom
quip and a snatch of Alfred Robyn
melody. 1t is very welcome at the
Grand after a somewhat protracted
siege of melodrama.
Ferris Hartman isn't quite the whole
show, but his loyal admirers wouldn't
much mind if he were. He has
frank, happy go-lucky comedy method
which effectively fits the part of the
irresponsible American diplomat set
down in a sleepy Latin civilization.
His Abijah Booze gets tipsy, but never
drunk. He is gay, but he has an eye
open for the practical advantages of
a rich marriage. Abijah's caution is
Hartman's style of funmaking. He
makes each point count, but he does
not overwork the humor There is al
ways a solid and very real character
ization behind the buffoonery.
The company is a hardWorking and
we'll trained organization. The chorus
makes an attractive appearance, but
a little persistent drilling in the open
ing ensembles would impart desir-
able unison to their efforts. Joseph
Fogarty, Oscar Walsh. Walter Catlett,
Walter De Leon and Josie Hart fill the
more exacting roles and give a good
account of themselves.
The lyrics are well sung and the
general effect shows capable stage
mana cement W H. B.
The second week of the popular play
of old German student life, "Old Hell
delberg" will begin at the Belasco
theater tonight This will be the six
teenth week that the play has been
given at the Belasco, which gives it
the record number of performances for
any piece ever given in this city. The
cast will remain the same for the sec
ond week. George AIDES American
comedy, THE County Chairman" will
open next Monday and the seats will
go on sale this morning.
The seat sale for "The Sultan of
Sulu," next weeks Grand offering, will
open this morning. THE sultan of
Sulu' is one of George AIDES breeziest
musical comedies and proved one of
Ferris Hartman's most popular pieces
when he produced it for the first time
in stock at the Grand last year.
A miniature musical comedy present
ed by Mort Sharp and his dancing
bellies and a one-act comedy playlet
entitled THE High-Tone Burglar"
very much on the "Rafrles' order, and
presented by DOlan and Lenharr, will
be the features on the new bill open
ing this afternoon at the Los Angeles
theater. Two of the first Australian
acts imported by Sullivan and Consi-
dine, notably the Ahlberg brothers, &C.
centric acrobats, and the Steele sis
ters, with their coster ditties, will also
appear on the new bill. Completing
the program will be Mcfarland and
Murray, Armada and the Laugh-o-
scope.