The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

January 24, 1914. THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW I Columbia Theatre Foniglit's ])crformance mark In- end of the second and final week II the engagement of Otis Skinner in ■iCdward Knoblauch's oriental drama^ '\ismet. Rarely in the history of San I rancisco theatricals has a play won uch immediate and enthusiastic ap- loval, and it is many a season since III actor has made so great a personal iiccess here as has Mr. Skinner in I lie picturesque and humorous charac- iiT of Hajj, the beggar. From a pro- 'luction standpoint, Kismet is superb, and the business has been of the most ' ifitable kind. Adele will be seen at H Columbia Theatre commencing with next Sunday night. Cort Theatre W ith capacity audiences the second lid final week of Within the Law, at ihe Cort Theatre, is nearing the end. All box-office records for the Ellis Street playhouse were smashed lasi week. Bayard Veiller's thrilling- drama of American conditions has completely caught the favor of San Francisco theatregoers. The play is a splendid thriller and may l^e taken as 1 proof that melodrama is coming back. Alcazar Theatre Andrew Mack opened his engage- ment at the Alcazar Theatre in Tom Moore, a romantic Irish comedy by Theodore Burt Sayre. I could wish a happier vehicle for the star. Tom Moore is not only old fashioned,' but stereotyped and artificial, lacking the breezy humor and the vital action that make, say the Boucicault dramas, go with modern audiences. There is, in- deed, a thread of love story here, but the romance is spread thinly over four acts, and the action drags; in expert hands the episode would make an ex- cellent vaudeville sketch. In fact, Tom Moore is more picturesque than romantic, and the costumes, with their old-time atmosphere of grace and courtly ceremony, are its chief charm. Mack himself is far above his play. He has the easy swagger and ready repartee of the typical stage Irishman, a f^leasant voice for Believe Me, If All These Endearing Young Charms, and The Last Rose of Summer, and sings a rollicking sea song especially well. In method he stands betwixt and be- tween Joe Murphy and Chauncey Ol- cott, and temperamentally never touches Dion Boucicault or Denis O'SuUivan, his legitimate successor, lie plays the hero role, the only act- ing opportunity of the play, with abil- ity and sympathy. The Alcazar com- pany, of undoubted talent, must per- force content itself with husks, and acquits itself witii all the credit ])os- sible. The clothes of the ])eriod arc very becoming to Kernan Cri])])s, who assumes the role of The Prince of Wales, lulmond Lowe is i)etter look- ing even than usual as Sheridan, and Jerome Storm is grossly miscast as Beau Brummel, his cleverness tcm- l)orarily ob.scured. J. Frank Burke is perha])s a shade better than we might ex])ect as old Robin Dyke, whose selfish egotism leads to .so much harm. Ral])li I'eel makes a fine- looking and conventional villain, and W. j. 'i'ownshend, new to me, is a gentlemanly, attractive yiAmg actor, whose Lord Aloira is given with riuite a concejnion of character. l)urt Wesner, also as usual, shines out for the force and intelligence of his Bus- ter ; it is work that makes one won- der why they don't star Wesner at the .\lcazar. Two of the new women, Louise Hamilton, who plays Bessie, and Annie Mack Berlein, the Irish landlady, are noteworthy. Miss Ham- ilton is very pretty, though without st'le of dress, or address; and Mrs. Berlein is full of magnetism and zin. Dora May Howe is Winnie Farrell, and Louise Brownell, Lady Fitzher- bert, with little opportunity for the display of their talents. V. T. Hen- derson as Lovelace, Edward McCor- mick as the fawning publisher, David Butler as another servant, and Ar- Icigh Yule, Kimmey Calley, Charles lulwards and S. A. Burton as the school children, make up the long cast. The play is set with care and taste, but we hope that next week's offering- will contain more meat. Savoy Theatre The wonderful KIciiie production of the Cines ]jhoto-(lrama, Antony and Cleopatra, is finishing its third and last week of its engagement. The last ])erformances will be given this Sat- urday and at the Sunday matinee, Traffic in Souls, tlie latest sensational ])lioto-drania, direct from David Bel- asco's Republic Theatre, New York, will begin a limited engagement. Gaiety Theatre The Cirl at the (late will depart tomorrow for Los Angeles and a sea- son there. She ought to tickle the risibilities of the chemically pure na- tives of the southland, for it is a great laugh show, a great beauty show and an alhu-ing leg show. Walter Cat- lett is the artistic hit of the perform- ance, and Bickel and Watson do their old stunts with great laughing suc- cess. Helen Gofif is a charming and ])retty young woman in the role of the widow, and Cathryn Rowe Palmer is an excruciatingly funny performer. Next, Marie Dressier. Tetrazzini Opens Her Season NEW YORK, Jan. 18.—Madame Luisa Tetrazzini opened her 1914 concert tour at the Hi])podrome here tonight, when 6000 music lovers yelled themselves hoarse in appreciation of the diva's artistic efforts. The brilliant soprano was called l)eft)re the curtain again and again in response to deafening en- cores. Titta RufTo, considered by many the greatest living tenor, ap- peared with Tetrazzini and was also accorded a hearty reception. He is to sing with )the soprano in ten joint concerts, which have been IxHiked and will be managed by W. II. 1 .eahy of San razzini's tour will I-'rancisco, where March 3d, giving the TiV()li ()i)er;i 1'rancisco. Tet- extend to San she will arrive two concerts at louse. Opening of the Royal Stock Season The Charles Royal Com])any will open its stock season in Victoria, at the X'ictoria Theatre, next week. In the comi)any are Charles Royal, ICdythe l-'Jliott, Donald Cray, Aus- tin Kipley, Shirley McDonald, Ar- thur i'"lton, Ridlin W akefield, Syd- nev -\yrcs, Win. Rumble, Lottie l-'letcher, iMary I'letclier, Miss Cuy, Margaret Marian and Win. Heater, scenic artist. COLUMBIA I'i l'Ti:iC\ l)A^"S, STARTING SUNDAY, JA\C.\m' 25111 .Matinees Wednesday and Saturday Till' XI'W I'.RA PRODUCING CO. (Inc.), Jos. P. P.ickerton, Jr. Managing Director, Presents I nt amtbf musical bUCCtS^ Of THE CENI UKt ADEU A MUSICAL TRIUMPH-ALL CRITICS. As ])layed one year at the Longacre and Harris theatres, i\ew York City The strongest singing organization on tour since the famous I')()sti mians 22 SONG HITS ORCHESTRA OF 20 AND THE F.\^IOUS ADELE BEAUTIES Prices 50c to $2.00. Seats Selling. CORT Leading Theatre, Ellis and Market Phone Sutter 24(10 Matinees Wednesdays and Saturdavs TWO WEEKS, BEGINNING NEXT MONDAY E. H. Sothern First week—Monday and Tuesday nights and W'ednesda}' and Saturday matinees Mr. Sothern's magnificent revival of Justin Huntley McCarthy's ronianlic play, IF I W^ERE KING Wednesday and ."-Saturday nights, HAMLET Thursday night, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE I'rida}' night, TAMING OF THE SHREW Repertoire for second week exactly same as for first week. Prices: 50c, 75c, $1.00, $1.50 and 2 shar]) $2.00. Curtain at S sharji nights ; matinees. George Cohan Retires Next Next Week DICTRorr, Jan. 21.—(ieorge M. Cohan will retire from the stage when he finishes his engagement at a local theatre next week, accord- ing to announcement today, lie in- tends to (le\ote his entire time to play writing. Redmond Leases Diepenbrock Theatre lul. Redmond s])rung a sensation last week when he made it known in .Sacramento that he had leased the Diepenbrock Theatre for a period of three years, opening March 2. Red- mend has great personal popularity in I his .State and as a stock manager he has few e(|uals. riir.MOR P.Rowx is llirting with vaudeville. News oi- the death in New ^'ork City of Mrs. Sx'dney Drew, daughter ol .McKt'c Rankin, has been received in .San b"rancisco. Mrs. Drew's illness extended over several years, and her death resulted from cancer. L'nder the name of (!eorge Cameron, Mrs. Drew wrote a number of ])lays, some being ])ro(hiced her father, McKee Rankin. Among her better-known plays are I Silly, .\giies, The Otlier Dragon, and The Still X'oice. She was 40 years old and the wife of Sydney Drew. c