The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

6 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW January 31, 1914 Correspondence NEW VORIv. Jan. 25.—The audi- ence last week at the Maxine Elliott Theatre crackled like a pack of fire- crackers when Don't Weaken, a farce in three acts, was exposed to its en- thusiastic gaze. Walter Hackett called his play "an oi^tomistic com- edy," and the careless spectators seemed to fall into the author's hope- ful mood. May future gathering:s re- gard the ijlay in the same light for the sake of all concerned, chiefly the valiant W. A. Brady, who should, out of the sinijjlest courtesy, have been de- scribed on the program as an optimis- tic manager. iMr. Hackett's hero is discouraged. His fortunes are at the ebb. His friends give him fictitious courage by the news that he is two years later to inherit a fortune. This suggestion works wonders. He de- velfips immediately into a captain of industry. He makes a fortune, wins the ricii girl of his heart and is de- signing their bungalow in the lamp- light when the curtain falls. He has left the staircase out of the plan. But nobody believes that he needs anything prosaic. Such a hero would mount to the ?ith floor merely by the process of suggestion. The vivacious acting suggested the Eden Musee and a "par- lor" of talking machines. Lovely Renee Kelly was Uillie Burke to the eye, but much more convincingly to the ear. Marion Lome and Wallace Worseley were excellent. The power of suggestion is indeed to be reckoned with. Earle Browne as the hero played with vigor and intelligence. Then there was some excellent acting from Charles Lane. * * * The uses of the extra matinee are much sweeter than those of adversity. At any rate it seemed to be so last week when one of these matinees took place at the Metroi^olitan Opera House. The of- fering was one of the numerous double bills in which I'agliacci, with Mr. Caruso and his bass drum, are the chief delights. On the occasion the tail to the kite was Hansen und Gretel, which was performed by the cast cus- tomarily concerned in it this season. Mmes. .-\lten and Mattfeld were the babes in the wood, Mr. Leonhardt and Mme. Robeson were their parents and ]Mr. Reiss was the Witch. In Pagli- acci Mr. Caruso's assistants (in addi- tion to the bass drum) were Mme. Destinn as little Xedda. and Mr. Scotti as Tonio. It is needless to add that Mr. Caruso played his bass drum with temperament and "maestria," and also .sang Ridi, Pagliaccio to the manifest delight of the audience. These two things are the sum and .substance of most performances of Leoncavallo's opera in this year of grace. Last week the subscribers had an opportunity of renewing their acquaintance with Moussorgsky's great opera, Boris Godunov. Mme. Ober, Mr. Didur, Mr. Althouse and the other members of the cast repeated impersonations which have been so often described that nothing need be said about them now. * * * Jn Alaria Rosa, the new play produced by F. C. Whitney at the Thirty-ninth Street Theatre, there is to be found the same hectic sex in- terest and the same sort of harsh, un- lovely tragedy that is found in Pagli- acci and Cavalleria Rusticana, those leading examples of modern realistic Italian opera. Like the characters in these two operas, the folk in Maria Rosa are Latins. That they are Cata- Dick Wilbur Co. FOURTH SEASON OF SUCCESS THE BIGGEST REPERTOIRE COMPANY ON THE COAST Open in Eureka in stock, beginning January 3—indefinitely. lonians instead of Calabrians or Sicili- ans is unimportant. The three stories are alike in their exposition of pas- sionate peasants, "jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel." Maria Rosa, although written in the Catalan dialect by Angel Guimera, then trans- lated into Spanish and finally into Eng- lish, has not lost its hectic qualities in the process. Lou-Tellegen, former- ly of Mme. Bernhardt's company, is Kamon. His English is always intel- ligil)le. His acting is decidedly the- atrical, but its force and ])ictures(|ue (juality made him the favorite with his first night audience. As Maria Rosa, Dorothy Donnelly is as convincing as Mr. Tellegcn. The final scene, show- ing Ramon and Marie Rosa on their wedding night, was ten.sely dramatic, and was played by both performers with superb effect. In this, as in sev- eral other scenes, the two players were daring in their expressions of passion. It was these scenes that held the audi- ence si)ellbound. GeoflPrey Stein, Maude Odcll, E. L. Fernandez and (ieo. Graham were interesting figures in the animated groups of peasants who moved noisily through the scenes, it looks as if I'. C. Whitney had the season's dramatic success. * * * Jacques Coini, who as stage director for Oscar Hammerstein was associ- ated with some of that impresario's most itiiportant productions at the Manhattan Opera House, and in Lon- don, has joined the Century Opera House forces, and will begin next September, when the Century com- pany opens its Philadelphia season. .Another former Hammerstein em- ploye, Alberto Bimboni, took up his work yesterday at the Century Opera I louse as an assistant conductor. * * * The I-'olies Marigny, on the roof of the P'orty-fourth Street Theatre, was opened last Monday after the per- formance of The Girl on the Film in the theatre below. The newest dan- cing resort has been entirel)' changed since it was used as a roof garden theatre last summer, all of the orches- tra seats having been removed and a dancing floor substituted. Around the edge of the dance floor are tables and a restaurant is run in connection with the place. Between dances by the pulilic on the floor a vaudeville enter- tainment is given on the stage, the bill being contributed to by Dorothy Toye, the singer with the soprano and tenor voice; Oy-Ra and Dorma Leigh, dancers from The Girl on the Film; Nana, another dancer; Oscar Lor- raine, the violinist,and Hir.schel Hend- ler, known as "The poet of the piano." The last number was Marcel's Living Statues in new poses. The dancing on the l)allroom floor was under the leadership of Joan Sawyer and Lew Ouinn. As the evening progressed several of the company of the \Vinter Garden appeared, among them l!er- nard Granville, Howard and Howard, Koszika Dolly, and Lillian Lorraine. * * * The Fatal Wedding, a moving picture drama made from the melo- drama by Theodore Kracmer, was jiresented at the Palace Theatre last week. The hiatal Wedding is the first film made by Klaw & Erlangcr, who formcfl a $5,000,000 corporation last summer for the purpose of manufac- Send for New Catalogue Stating Kind Desire ^1J THEATRICAL CATALOGUE of Shew Print- ing. R«Dertoiro. Stoclc. Circut, Wild WMi, T«nt Shows, Etc. FAIR PRINTING. Fairs. Ruts. Aviation, Auto. Horse. Slock Shows, Etc. MAGIC PRINTING. Hypnothun," Illusions, Mind Reading. Etc. MINSTREL PRINTING. White or Colored, With or Without Title. Etc MOVING PICTURE PRINTING. Etc. WESTERN PLAYS, Etc. FOLDERS o> Non-Rojralty Plays with Printing. Show aid Theatrical Printers Lithographers, Engravers National stock Hangers and Posters on Hand tor every Klid of Amusement Enterprise WRITE ST. LOUIS OFFICE - TTH AND ELM StS. Salt Lake City, Utah Wliiii- thi- Cui.siii.- anil C'aljarct ale tliC tllje iWecca of turing feature photo plays. The pic- ture shown at the Palace will be fol- lowed by other films from Klaw & Erlanger's studios, and will be shown in all ijarts of the world. The Fatal Wedding is one of the most preten- tious film plays ever manufactured in this country. GAVIN D. HIGH. CARSON CITY, Jan. 18.—Grand Theatre (W. S. Ballard, mgr.) : Lew Wren and his company in Knute Knutsen January 14th, appearing the following exening in a curtain raiser "and a good comedy. Mr. Wren, in addition to being a very pleasing comedian, is an accom- piished whistler and his selections were loudly applauded. Jerry Val- entine won the most laughs of the evening with his grotesque antics and clever rendition of parodies. Clifford Lancaster makes a most personable villain and Margaret Hoyle is a captivating soubrette with a good singing voice. Mazie Howard captured high honors with her imi)ersonation of the Irish cook the first evening, and an entirely different character the next. She is a very versatile and pleasing ac- tress. Lulu Murphy was a dignified "persecuted widow." Miss Murphy attended school in this city not many years ago and she met many old friends and ac(iuaintances. An- other former Cansonite was F. Barn- stin, leader of the excellent orches- tra which the company carries. Twenty years ago Mr. Barnstin was associated with J. P. Meder in a fine orchestra here and he was also leader of the orchestra at the old Piper Opera House in Virginia City. He has lost none of his old time knack with the violin. A. H. M. LAR.\M1E, Jan. 10.— Opera House (II. E. Root, mgr.) : Sis Per- kins company gave a creditable per- formance tonight to a good house. The N'irginian, Jan. 16. JOHN WATT. SALIQI. week of Jan. 12.—Wex- ford (.Salem .\musem'ent & Holding Co.) : The Colonial Players in The Traffic to capacity business for the en- tire week. This very popular com- pany is com])Osed of Frederick Har- rington. Jack lierry, C. J. McNaugh- ton, Wm. Raymond, Richard Darling, Myrtle McDowell, \'irginia Carlisle, Jane tiray and .Mildred Kirby. Ye Liberty (Salem Amusement & Hold- ing Co.) : Pantages vaudeville Mon- day and Tuesday to good business, b'eature program last half to good business. Grand Opera House (Sa- lem .\musement & Holding Co.) : Jan. 29-31, Edison talking pictures. Globe: Feature pictures and good effects to good business for the week. MARYSMLLE, Jan. 24.—.Vdcle, a I'Yench operetta in three acts—don't miss .seeing this show, it is great. Carolyn Thompson is a bud of a girl, sweet and pretty. Her voice is beau- tiful, her manner fascinating. Nan- nette Flack has a good chance to sliovv her rich round and strong voice, play- ing an important part. John Park as Charles de Chantilly did wonderfully clever work; he has a fine baritone voice. Miss Thompson was fine sup- port for him. Alfred Kappeler w.is a good tenor. George O'Donnel and Jules Es])ailly, the two fun makers, were also good. WILLOWS.—Opera House (J. 1". Harbour, mgr.)—Mirth and Mystery show, two nights commencing Jan. ^ 1 : Feb. 6, The \\'olf ( Holland & l'ilkinv 1 ; 18, Byron's Troubadours; March 2 and week, Claman .Amusement C ".; 11, two nights. The Jolly Entertainer^. L.VRAMIE. Jan. '16. — Opera House ( H. E. Root, mgr.)'—The \ ir- ginian gave an excellent performance tonight to good house. JOHN WATT. Hammerstein InjunctsBelasco The Hanunerstein (Jpera Co., own- er of the Republic Theatre, iormerly the Bela.sco, in West F^orty-secoml Street, got a temporary injunction last week from Supreme Court Justice Guy restraining David Belasco, who has a four years' lease on the theatre, from producing anything but fir^i- class attractions there, as called for by the lease. The L^nited Film Co., which is proilucing Traffic in Souls in movies at the Republic, is joined as a defend- ant. The injunction was granted mi an affidavit of Oscar Hammerstein, presirlent of the plaintiff com])any. to the effect that under the original lease, made in 1902 and recently extended for four years longer. Mr. Bclasct) woukl produce only first-class attrac- tions in the theatre.