The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

^arch 14, 1914 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Columbia Theatre The Columbia Theatre is dark this jcek, but will be opened Monday ith Henrietta Crosman in her new lid successful play, The Tongues of [en. Miss Crosman has always een a favorite in this city and her ew piece is spoken of as a most itertaining comedy. The star has 1,1 plendid support. Cort Theatre The second trip of The Blue Bird U' 3 this city within the year is being elebrated at the Cort Theatre this /eek, where the beautiful Maeter- nck allegorical play is being re- eived with marked favor, and es- ecially at the matinees, where ca- kii; acity houses rule. It has approx- nately the same cast as on its for- ler visit. Ethel Brandon, Charles lampden, Cecil Yapp, Dore A. ([ )aVidson and young Burford Hamp- m en. Young Hampden is a clever <oy actor, but he is being allowed 0 get into bad habits of voice in- lection, and he leaves the impres- ion of talking like a girl. The pro- iuction is adequate in every way "^ [nd the performance is a decided hit. " Next week will be the second and ast week of The Blue Bird, and hen comes Margaret Illington for 1 return of one week in the sensa- ional play, Within the Law. \lcazar Theatre ] Effie Shannon and Herbert Kelcey ire opening their pleasantly antici- )ated season at the Alcazar with V'ears of Discretion, a gay little com- edy whose entertaining theme and parkling dialogue are set forth with :onsummate art by these masters of technique. They blow through the rystallizing atmosphere of the stock company with the invigorating efifect >f a sea breeze, reanimating it and in- spiring it to almost rival itself in its palmiest days. As to the play, some wise philosopher, once upon a time, commented on the difficulty experi- enced by the generality of mankind, of growing old gracefully—or recon- M jciling themselves to the inevitable " 'skull-caps and knitting-needles, rheu- matic joints and silver hairs. And the [i: authors of Years of Discretion have seized upon this idea, and used it as a text from which to preach a good- natured sermon proving that it is all in the point of view. Effie Shannon is seen at her best as the sprightly widow of forty-eight. Her slight fig- ure and elastic movements, her vi- brant voice and gay joyousness all serve to heighten the illusion of youth, and her assuming the limita- tions of age seems a voluntary sacri- fice on her part. So much can not be said for Adele Belgarde, who is unfortunately miscast as the other fas- cinating widow, a part that would seem logically to belong to Louise Jirownell. Miss Brownell's talents, however, are not lost on the French maid and she plays for points in her usual skilful way, dressing her mis- tress (Miss Shannon)' in exquisite creations. Herbert Kelcey, the genial Christopher Dallas, is his old self, slightly older, but with his good taste and excellent style, still the standards of this kind. His boon companion, John Storm, is not so satisfactorily given by Burt Wesner, whose love- making, through lack of exercise, is not ardently convincing. Kernan Cripps is at his happiest as the Irish- man—half civilized and half cave- man. Howard Hickman makes his anarchist one of the parts of the play and Edmond Lowe registers a hit as Metz, the butler. In the part of the serious-minded son of the charming widow, Charles Compton, the new Al- cazar juvenile, makes his initial bow to a very cordial audience. As the "spinster bachelor" his good looks are naturally held in abeyance, but his sin- cerity, his adoptiveness and sense of humor shine out and mark him as a promising addition to the company. Gaiety Theatre The Gaiety Theatre is presenting for the last week The Merry Gam- bol without the buxom star, Marie Dressier. Miss Dressler's place in the entertainment is very ably filled by Marta Golden, a comedienne of very high quality, an exceedingly clever and experienced performer. Miss Golden enacts the part of Mrs. Ned Radclifife most success- fully and introduces a number of her entertaining specialties, which go very big with the audience. The show will leave Sunday for Los An- geles, where it will play a season at the Morosco Theatre. The Gaiety will next week welcome back The Candy Shop, which, it will be re- membered, made a hit of vast pro- portions when it was first put on here. Correspondence Savoy Theatre The Crime of the Law, Rachael Marshall's drama concerning the present prison system, will finish its engagement in this city tonight. The Crime of the Law comes with a mission. It shows the side of life in State penitentiaries with which the average citizen is utterly unfamiliar. From the prologue, spoken in total darkness, to the epilogue, pronounced in the same mysterious atmosphere, the action is swift and full of sensa- tional surprises. The company is a good one and everybody who has seen the show has been greatly im- pressed with its worth. Oliver Bailey, who is sponsoring the play, is now in New York, arranging for a production in that city. VANCOUVER, March 9.—Or- pheum, week of March 9: Johnny and Emma Ray in On the Rio Grande; Bryand Cheerbert's Man- churians ; The Naked Man, playlet; Clara Inge, eccentric comedienne; Henry Catalono and Jack Denny in a lively ragtime diversion; H. M. Zazell & Co., comic mimo sketch; Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle in mov- ing pictures. Imperial, week of March 9: I've Got It, with 14 peo- ple ; Fred St. Onge & Co., whimsical wheelmen ; Bessie Browning, the vi- vacity girl; Edward and John Smith, smart steppers; Gwynn and Gossett, and The Golden Wedding. Empress: This week the stock com- pany is presenting Quincy Adams Sawyer. Maude Leone, recovered from her recent illness, is back in the cast, much to the joy of her worshi])- ers. Alf. Layne, Howard Russell, Ed. Lawrence, Ray Collins, Mar- garet Marriot and Daisy D'Avra are also prominently cast. It is reported Lawrence may soon close his stock as the sea.son has not been very good and it is known that he has written to managers for stock engagements. SEATTLE, March 10.—The Ham Tree, with Mclntyre and Heath, had a profitable four nights at the Moore, 2-5, duplicating its success of former seasons. The present pro- duction includes some new features and is elaborately staged. Mutt and Jefif in Panama, 6-8, had good busi- ness and was particularly popular with the juveniles. The chorus work featured. Trentini, in The Firefly, scored one of the greatest hits of the season last night, the local press ranking it with the best of the light operas that have been seen here. Oscar Figman is prominent, and the entire supporting company most capable. Fritz Kreisler delighted a capacity audience at the Moore, 5. He appeared under the auspices of the Ladies' Musical Club, and is the fourth of the noted violinists to ap- pear here this season. Seattle Phil- harmonic Orchestra, with Clarence Whitehill, baritone, as soloist, at the Metropolitan, 7. House dark week of the 9th. Checkers was the Se- attle Theatre offering last week by the Bailey-Mitchell players. Dwight Meade took full advantage of the op- portunities in the name part, and gave a splendid performance. Chas. Schad scored in the low comedy part of the race-track tout. The ladies of the cast had little to do, but did that well. Lena Rivers is the bill this week, and will bring out the full strength of the female members of the company. Olga Nethersole, in the third act of Sapho, features this week's Orpheum bill, and her acting is a distinct treat. Efi^ective support is furnished by A. E. \V. Barnes as Jean, and Alfred Donahoe as Uncle Cesaire. Julia Nash & Co. have a laughable sketch, Her First Case, which was well received. Par- illo and Frabito, street singers ; Her- man Timberg in eccentric singing, dancing and violin playing; "Pete" Burns Hilmer and Grady, the for- mer a former university student, have a fresh clean singing and talk- ing act. Elsie and Wille Blossing in strong-arm feats, and Mosher, HaySs and Mosher have a bicycle act that is startling. The motion pictures show recent local happen- ings of particular interest. The Keating & Flood Portland company moved over to the Tivoli last week, ofifering The Spooners, in which Billy Onslow and Max Steinle are principal fun makers. The show is long on dancing, and the capable chorus featured a tango contest. Nearly a Hero this week. At the Empress, the Top o' the World Dan- cers headline. This act was last seen here on the Orpheum circuit. Hong Fong, Chinese comedian ; Jas. Francis Sullivan, Olivetti Trouba- dors, and the Mof¥at-Clare Dancing Trio are other.s on the bill. James A. Davett and Ninon Duval, comedy sketch, and Capt. Jack's Polar Bears feature Pantages current bill. Law- rence Johnston, ventril()(|uist; Bar- nard, Finity and Mitchell, From the Rosary to Ragtime ; Morette .Sisters, instrumentalists, and Gregoire and Elmina in a clever balancing act. Oliver D. Bailey of the Seattle The- atre is in New York arranging for the appearance there of The Crime of the Law, which recently had its initial performance here, and which CHAUNCEY OLCOTT Now Spending His Annual Vacation Amid the Flowers of Sunny California OPENS HIS ANNUAL ENGAGEMENT AT THE Columbia Theatre Easter Sunday APRIL 12 is the work of Rachael Marshall, a Seattle woman. The Chicago Grand Opera Co. will give four perform- ances, 30-31, at the Orpheum. Mar- cus Loew and Joseph M. Scheneck, of New York, and Aaron Jones, of Jones, Dimick and Schaefer; Chi- cago, representing various Eastern vaudeville combines, and Adolf Zu- kor, president of The Famous Play- ers' l""ilm Co., were in Seattle Sun- day and Monday, guests of John; Considine, of Sullivan and Consi-' dine. Combination of interests for mutual advantage was discussed. The distinguished visitors , were, much impressed with the appearariC?e of the local Orpheum. The party are en route to California. G. D. W.