Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-17
Ia TORTAJADA TYPIFIES
ANDALUSIAN PANTOMIME
Lack of Scenery Shows Spanish
Idea and Calls for Greater
Art from Dancer

When La Tortajada opened her act
at the Orpheum this week, she occa-
stoned some surprise and keen disap-
pointment. Many thought that her
scenery was deficient, and that in some
respects her act was not up to date.
These facts hold good, If the act be
considered from the viewpoint OF an
American production. But there is an
other viewpoint, and 1t is the one that
she and Martin Beck considered when
the act was booked. And that other
angle Of vision affords one of the most
unique angles that can be imagined
in the vaudeville game.
One of the aims of the Orpheum cir
cult is to afford its patrons glimpses
of foreign acts. These acts are sought
in their native lands, and are import
ed by the circuit "as they stand"
Those three words are an essential fea-
ture in their contracts. They are not
sought as American acts at all, and II
they mistakenly Americanize their
work, they lose the very individuality
that caused their engagement. In 9TH
er words, Mr.. Beck In booking them
and he personally sees every act he
books abroad-tries to have them
shown on this side exactly as they ap-
near at home. This retains the foreign
atmosphere, gives us a chance to get
true view of foreign vaudeville and
Often-aS IN IIllS SAAS
superior finish that the home product
must have to succeed.
In Spain, Tortajada Is the very high
est exponent of a very popular class OF
amusement--the pantomime dance, or
tabloid drama enacted with dancing as
its method of expression NO one
EQUALS her in ability along this l1ne'
nor in naive popularity. IN seeking
the most representative of all these acts
for America, Mr.. Beck picked her with
out question. And he took her act IN
tact. refusing to allow a single change
in scenery, action or properties. Inc
result is that we get just what Spain
raves over.
True, La Tortajada's scenery is apt
to evoke smile from US FOR lts seem.
ing crudity. But the Spanish do not
think go. They understand that they
are seeing q pantomimic, symbolic per-
formance and every little detail In
that seemingly heterogeneous mass or
scenery means something to them.
They do not ask, as do Americans, that
a cathedral, IL called for. shall be there
intact: q mere suggestion of 1T Is all
they need. and in imagination they
construct the edifice that is noted in a
gable end of scenery. So on through
the act Watch the gallery at the Or
pheum any night and see how the
''cholos" appreciate and enjoy this act
and with this explanation IN nllLu' you
see the wherefor of its seeming crud-
ity.
La Tortajada, as stated, is an ex-
ample of the art OF vaudeville at its
top notch in Andalusia. AS such, 1t is
q vastly more interesting act as 1t
stands than IL 1t were Americanlzed
fill the Spanish flavor and atmosphere
were eliminated, or changed into what
we consider At settings.
OF course, in thus placing foreign
act in juxtaposition with the finished
products of America. Mr: Beck taxes
n bie- risk of being misunderstood. He
saves himself in this and similar cases
by securing only artists who for sheer
ability make a world-appeal. Torta-
jada does this; no better singer, dane
er and pantomimist exists, regardless
Of her SURROUNDINGS. Place her before
a black curtain drop, and she would
tell the same story, just as vividly and
well.