The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

January lo, 1914 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Scene from A Bachelors Honeymoon, being presented for the Coast by A. Mayo Bradficld. Cort Theatre Little Women is closing a very successful two weeks at this theatre. It is doubtful if we have had a more enjoyable performance in several years. The dramatist has con- structed the play witli tlie utmost skill and the interpreting company, except in a couple of minor in- stances, is one of unusual cleverness and carefully picked for the charac- ters they impersonate. Alcazar Theatre Edgar Selwyn's play of contrasts. The Country Boy, is well presented by the Alcazar company this week of Jan. 5th. The varied character types that carry the interesting story of the boy from the country who wanted to do "something big" in the city and finally found his chance in his own home town after many ex- periences and vicissitudes in New York, ofifer splendid opportunities to the players. Incidentally, Selwyn has given his play a neat little moral for those who care to look for it, very clever lines and a boarding house that will at once appeal to anyone who has had experience with boarding houses. Mrs. Bannan and her boarders are almost photograph- ically true. The cast at the Alcazar appear to excellent advantage. The acting honors probably belong to A. Burt Wesner for his splendid per- formance of Fred Merkle, a part which might easily be overplayed, liert Lytel! was an admirable Tom Wilson. Winston, the theatre ticket speculator, was well handled by Jer- ome Storme, and the Hiram Belknap of J. Frank Burke was another well drawn portrayal of characters. Miss Vaughan had little to do as Jane, but did that little very charmingly. Frances Carson was good as Amy Leroy, and the Mrs. Bannan of Adele Belgarde was one of the treats of the performance. Madame X will be the bill used for the farewell week of Bert Lylell and Evelyn Vaughan. Gaiety Theatre Irene Franklin and The Girl at the Gate are more than fulfilling the ad- vance notices of keeping everyone that sees it in good humor. The addition of Bickel and Watson to the cast has made a decided hit. Their little musi- cal skit is a .scream and keeps the au- dience breathless with laughter. Wal- ter Catlett as Benton Coyne keeps things moving fast and is a great fa- vorite. Will Phillips, as Courtleigh Stawl, continues on his sprightly way and does his full share of furnishing laughs. Recce Gardner, as Normal Bean, makes the most of his bit, and Winifred Bry.son, as Madeline Price, wears some stunning gowns and looks prettier than ever. Cathryn Rowe Palmer, as Dooley Dunne, keeps the audience roaring with her clever make-up and antics. She is decidedly one of the hits of the show. Irene Franklin, as Sadie St. Vitus, the Cab- aret Kid, would be kept on the center of the stage every minute of the time if the audience had anything to say about it. The reluctance with which they let her get off the stage is suffi- cient demonstration of her popularity. Burton Green, as Cuthbert Shubert, her hu.sband, accompanies her in her songs and demonstrates his ability to get real nnisic out of a piano with his solos. The rest of the cast do their parts in a workmanlike manner. The costumes are gorgeous and bring ex- pressions of admiration from the fem- inine portion of the audience. The scenery is a work of art and shows that the motto of the management, "the best of everything," is no idle boast. Savoy Theatre Thanks to the energy and good judgment of a certain Tom North, one of the liveliest of all the live wires in the show business, who is on the Coast, with headquarters in San Francisco, representing the George Kleine feature films, San Francisco had the distinction last Monday of witnessing the first public appear- ance of Kleine's latest film master- piece, Antony and Cleopatra. It proved to be a sumptuous repro- duction of the, atmosphere of the court of Egypt's voluptuous queen and vividly realistic in its depiction of those scenes of war which brought to a close Antony's stay in Egypt. These scenes of war are ap- pealing to the eye and represent the highest achievement in ensemble acting and photographic reproduc- tion that the present craze for photo drama has brought us. With the ut- most clarity the famous love story is narrated from the moment of An- tony's arrival in Egypt until the death of Cleopatra. Scenes follow scenes, finally culminating toward the end in a climax of absorbing in- terest. It is a tremendous produc- tion in every way and one that will arouse a stupendous interest. Pearl Hickman Says Hubby is Too Gay for Her The roniance of i'earl l'>velyn Hick- man Lydston and Clarence Corsen Lydston has ended. Wednesday Mrs. Lydston, through Ackerman and Op- penheim, attorneys, brought suit for divorce, accusing her husband of crulety and infidelity. Lydston is now with tlie Madame Sherry Company. Virginia Brissac Opens in Melbourne Howard Nugent, writing from Mel- bourne under date of December loth, says: "The Brissac Company opened big December 6th. Big business ever since; looks like a long run, both here and at Sydney. I enclose press notices." The press notices alluded to speak kindly of the company and commend Miss Brissac's work. But for some unknown reason there is a report current that Miss Brissac has not been a success. However, we be- lieve the reports are unfounded. George Spaulding's Company George Spaulding is putting the finishing touches to his musical come- dy company that will open at Vallejo tomorrow for two weeks, and then sail for Honolulu for an extended en- gagement In the company are George Spaulding, Edith Newlin, prima donna, Eddie Murray, Geraldine Wood, Jimmy Gilfoil, Adele Higgins, Jess Mendelson, James Leslie, Ralph Martin, musical director. Jack Schulze, business manager, Buck Tiicall, scene painter, and a chorus of ten girls. Movements of the Gaiety Companies Irene Franklin will conclude her engagement at the Gaiety on the :7th. The Girl at the Gate, with liickel and Watson featured and with the marvelous Millers and sev- eral other features added, will re- ])lace The Candy Shop at the Moros- co Theatre in Los Angeles. The Candy Shop will go on the road. The new Dressier show will follow Tlic Girl at the Gate here. San Jose Thinks Gaby a Tightwad SAN JOSE, Jan. 7.—Gaby Deslys has come and gone, leaving San Jose with the' impression that she is a tightwad. The fair Gaby kicked about the size of her taxicab bill and then took a street car to see the sights of the city. After the show last night she turned down the expensive menu and wine lists of San Jose's leading French restaurant and ordered ham and eggs and a bottle of beer. Bernhardt Was Always Pretty Much of a Fakir PARIS, Jan. 8.—The many fichus distributed by Sarah Bernhardt to ad- mirers during her last visit to Ameri- ca, and which are now kept under glass by souvenir hunters, are merely a job lot of cheap wrappers. These the tragedienne purchased specially for the purpose, and never wore one her- self. This is an amusing revelation. She was obliged, says Bernhardt, to adopt this ruse by the fact that on her previous tour admirers tore a valuable silk wrapper from her shoulders and divided it among themselves as souvenirs. Wilbur to Go Into Stock at Bakersfield Dick Wilbur is about concluding arrangements through Tiiic Dram- atic Review to oi)en in stock at the Bakersfield Opera House. New Big Show for the Gaiety Marie Dressler's musical revue, The Merry Gambol, the next show to go on at the Gaiety, will have a notable cast, consisting of Marie Dressier, Kathryn Osterman, Cath- ryn Rowe Palmer, Gladys Gould- ing, Ruby Norton, Chas. Judels, Sammy Lee, Chas. A. Ma.son, Chas. Purcell, Ogden Wight, Frank O'Rourke and John Young. Frank Pallema will renew his acquaint- ance with Gaiety audiences in the !'uisc of musical director. Louise Nellis has joined the Knute Knutson Company, to play the ju- venile role.