San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW November 18th, 1899 8 Eastern Doings and Comments NEW YORK spn-lnl foirespniiilcnrr. N 1 w Yokk.Nov. 12. — To William Gillette fell llic honor of re 1 1 reiftatlng on tlic Mage Sherlock llolmcH, thnt interesting, if not at all times possible, hero of A. Cotinti linvle's Moms nl clever detective work. I'hi [>1 11 \ Shci lock I loluies, as put on Inst week at the t'.nrrick hy Mr. (iillettc, was pattly I toyle's iiuitei in I ami pBrtl v Gillette's. I'lie coiiiliiniition miule one of the most inlei. sling 111el111liMi11.11 which has heeli seen nil o 1 1 1 1 .1 r > ' loi 111 111 \ .1 da) Ml < iillettc nitcnsilieil the melodramatic elici t hy a frequent icsuit to the tliukctieil stage. The pi. iv is lull ol ctiriousthings from beginning to end, ami (iillettc has what promises to he 11 great success. • * * Those sterling actors, James J. Corhett, I iiiiich J . Je llrii s ami Thomss Sharkey were the stars ol William A. Brady's new Imilcs ipie at Ixostci ,\ Itial's last week entitled \rouud New Vork in Fightv Minutes. I think it is rather unfair of Mr. Ilrady to put such heavy leading men into his cist and expect us peace loving icvicwcis to criticise then pei lormance. All three of t hose aclois seemed to he in splendid condition last week, and Ithcrelmc reliain homcxpicss iug my honest opinion of their histrionic capahilities. For the remainder ol the pel lot malice candoi compels me to admit I hat it is a spi ighl I \ Inn lesipie, lionlei 1 1 1 > upon 1 he iudeccnl . The only thing in town which cm exceed il hi humor is the action of Police (.'upturn I'ucc ol the Tenderloin, in having at icstcd lelli i ies and his brother lack on Monday night loi having guru an imitation of n prin tight upon the stage, alter the chid ol police had permitted the real sinion pun pn/c light hctwecn |c!Trics and Sharkey to go the limit in another part ol town before an audience ol 10, persons. II I hud not seen the prize light and the arrest for the imitation, I would not have helicved it posxihlc loi ally police Captain to get up 11 pretext lot such an mu st. Our nl the travesties which accompanies Around New Ymk is the hurlesipte upon llecky Shnrp called Sharp llecky, hy Clay M. Greene Mill the reception which whs accorded to those hrilliimt actors, Messrs. Corhett, Jelleties nnd Sharkey, exceeded any applause which greeted Sii Henry Irving. Such is art! * * • Mine. Kiuuia panics and Mine Lillian Nordica have leached here Irom Kurope in good health and they say that they are sorry loi poor Calve, who has had logo around with the Maurice Gran Opcia Company and piny one night stands. Of couisc it isn't ns had as thnt , hut Karnes and Nordica think thnt outside ol New Yoik. Chicago and Huston theie lire no cities worth rcmnining in more than one night All the same I'atti, on seveial occasions, pu ked up a small fortune in San Francisco; hut then neither Kumcs not Nordica is i Path. * # Why Smith Kelt Home is a mystery to me. He seemed to he doing u splendid hlisincss at Hoyt „\ McKec's Madison Square The* ter, hut possihlv he has merely gone West on 11 vacation Hut he pulled lip stakes ln-i i l.r ! wei L mal nig way loi I. mils Mann and Clnra Kipmiiu in The Girl in the liarracks, which tomorrow night is replaced hy Make Way lor the Kadies. There urc seveial persons in Why Smith Kelt Home who are worth seeing Mnclyn Arhtickle, n Sun Francisco liivorite, is Smith. Smith is a model hiishand Han Mason as Count Von Guggenheim, who made them twisled, was excellent. Mis. Annie Yeumans, who was H origin's mainstay for years, is Kuvinin Hnly, secretary of the Cook Ladies' Union. Mrs. H. A Kherlc, also reincmhered well nnd favoruhly in San Francisco, is Miss Smith, an old maid. There is also n maid in the play who is kissed through a mistake hy Smith hecause she whs wearing a gown recently given to her hy Mrs Smith. Then Smith tries to square it with theimiid; upon the 1 1 1 cm y 1 hat a i t linked mail w ith a straight story is till right, hut a sliaight man with a crooked story is in the consomme. This may heoneofthc reasons Win Smith Kelt Home, hecause it al w.i\ s seemed to me tllHt he was loolish to have paid the maid f, 50 > when he could have made llll wife helieve anything for a hat mid a gown worth less than half that amount. Hut the whole scene seemed to have hcen devised hy George H. Hroadhurst, the author, for the purpose of launching a jokelet. The maid said that her feelings had hcen damaged to the extent of al least fymupou learning that the ki^s which she hud received Irom Mr. Smith had merely been Intended (or his wife. How humilatlog lot t he maid ' Uahhi Samuel Schulman at Temple Beth-Bl last Sunday in his sermon on /.ungwill's Children ol the Ghetto: "When it is published broadcast, ns an advertisement ill The American Hebrew, the |c wish communal organ, said that 'this play is a triumph ol Jewish law, a magnificent vindication,' we are compelled to speak out what is in the hearts of many American Hebrews, or rather Jews, as I prefer the term. While incidentally the author has given some fine touches ol the hcauty and sell san ilicc ami sublimity in Jewish life, in the main his play, through dramatic necessity, becomes a triumph not ol the law ol righteousness, but of Jewish letter-worship and slavish legalism. He has unnecessarily winked into the hands of the narrow critics ol Judaism, who say thut in Israel the letter nl ways triumphs over the spiiit As to the pi 11 y being a magnificent vindication — shades of Kessing and George Kliot — we would desecrate your holy memories il we accepted such a pitiable defense at the hands of one of mn own, from whom we had .1 light to expect much, when we possessed as free gifts of your sympathetic genius your immortal creations of Nathan and Monlecai " What the cfihet of this criticism will he is hard to say. Coining from i me of his own race, an acknowledged scholar of high standing, a devout or t hi ido.\ |ew, the review ol the play, condemning it in measured terms, may serve to bring the play to an untimely end. Then again it may merely whet Jew ish and Christian curiosity totce it. Hut upon the whole, I should think that Mr. Zangwill would rather have had the criticism left DUMid. Ron Roy. OGDEN Special Corirspondeiicr. O00BW1 Utah, Not. i 1.— My friend from India pltyed last Monday to a good house. This piece seems much better than it did two years ngo, yet it whs so well liked then thnt it did better this time than Why Smith I, eft Home, on Thursday. Phis strikes me as much the belter comedy, being put oil by a strong company in artistic style. I was unable to attend Yon Yolison, and must quote the daily papers in saying that il pla\ ed to a lair house. This was its third appearance here, so it was something of an old story. Kasl night Kugcnie Hluir drew a very large and fashionable audience and put up a moet artistic performance in A Kady of Quality. The costumes and scenery were elegant, ami the company a strong one, the play, however, does not contain any noble sentiments, nor many strong situations, being largely dialogue, and was not quite up to our expectations. Nothing as yet is hilled for the coming week. A Hreach of Promise coming next. Yours truly, R. M. B. SALT LAKE Specinl Correspondence Sai.tKakk City, Utah, Nov. 13. — Salt Kake Theater, Nov. 13-15, A. W. Fremont's 777 at popular prices. This is the announcement which is being made on a score of hill hoards anil numerous window lithographs throughout the city, which means that for the first time (with one exception) in the hisloiy of Salt Kake's lending playhouse a second class road combination has been admitted at popular prices. The Theatei managetiii nt has stood firmly in the past for high class attractions and has steadily refused to admit cheap plays. The house, however, has always allowed local dramatic and opi racompanies to play to cut rates. Whether the admission of the Fremont Company at popular prices means that the Theater management is going to continue to bid for the patronage that such attractions draw, hai not been definitely announced, but it is plain to see that the house has had a very slim line of attractions the present season, the doors being closed a good share of the lime. While the Theater is handicapped in having such a few attractions, the Grand has been opened every night of the season and is booked well for two or three months to come. As a rule the companies appearing have done a satisfactory business. If Mr. Fyper decides to continue booking cheap plays, it will mean that many companies which in the past have been unable to get dates in Salt Kake and have passed the city by, will make this a regular stopping place in the future. One thing is certain; that is that the future relations between the Salt Kake Theater and Grand will be somewhat different if this policy is Inaugurated, for the two will be in the ring for the same class of patronage. livery seal was sold out at the Theater for the engagement of Eugenie Hlair in A Lady of Quality at the Theater last Thursday evening. Kate in the afternoon of that day B telegram was received by Manager I'vper stating that the company was held up for ten hours in a railroad wreck, and would be unable to appear that evening. Theatergoers were keenly disappointed, and no little regret was felt by the theater management, for at least calculation the house was worth f 1000. Why Smith Left Home did a fair business at the Theater the to t 1 , though not what the piece deserved. Mr. Broadhuist's new play is full of rich humor and is presented by M evenly balanced company. At the Grand A Breezy Time played the first half of the week ( Nov 6-K) and Arthur Donaldson in Yon Yonson filled the remainder. The house was entirely sold out for every performance of the latter piece, and Mr. Donaldson could easily have filled another week to good business. My Friend from India opens at the Grand tonight, to fill a three nights' engagement. John K. Hardy. ST. LOUIS Specinl Coircspondcnce ST. LOUIS, Nov. 7. — The Grand Opera season at the ( Mympic Theater last week was anything buta success, both from a financial and artistic standpoint. On the opening night Calve broke down and had to speak her lines. Her magnificent voice seems to have been lost forever. Impresario Maurice Gran w ill probably not speak of St. Kouis in a very flattering manner, but he must realize that St. Kouis people will not pay $$ a seat for inferior opera. Richard Mansfield is packing Manager Short's Olympic Theater this week. He did Cvrutio de Bergerac for two nights and then rung up the curtain on his new play, The First Violin, which is a clever dramatization from Jessie Fothcrgill's charming story. At the Century Frank Daniels is presenting his new opera, The Ameer, by Victor Herbert. The music is pretty but the arias are not sufficiently catchy to immortalize the author. The scenic effects are the finest seen in St. Kouis since the days of Dave Henderson's productions of Sinbad nnd Ala Baba Kate Uart, Helen Redmond and Norma K.opp, pretty and fascinating ladies, leud material assistance to the star. The bill at the Columbia has three refreshing features — Lillian Burkhart and Hilda Thomas in sketches and Maud Courtney, who sings old time songs. Miss Burkhart presents a well written sketch entitled Her Soldier Boy. It is one ol the best vaudeville acts done heie this season. The other vaudevillians at the Columbia this week are Barks and Nora Winter, Mile. Rays, Cardwonie Troupe, Rosalie Tyler and the Beaher Trio. The Girl With the Auburn Hair is the vaudeville feature at Hopkins. Shedoes aa act new to the vaudeville stage. She sings church hymns with an effective scene, set as a choir loft. Fanchon is the stock company's bill, and Manager Gumpertz's coterie of clever players are giving a smooth performance of Maggie Mitchel's old play. Managers Middleten and Tate are offering Weber & Fields Hurly Burly, a burlesque barren of a plot, but made fuuny by a clever company of vaudeville artists Sylvia Thorne is the featured artist. Clark's Burlesquers. an aggregation of good vaudeville artists, are entertaining Manager Jim Butler's patrons at the Standard. The organization is worthy of merit. Remember the Maine, one of Lincoln J. Carter's weird melodramas, is at Havlin's. The production is unworthy of much notice. The Castle Square Opera Company opened its unlimited season Monday night at the Exposition. The production of Faust was excellent, The company should cer ainly do well in St. Louis. The underlining^ for next week are Olga Nethorsole in Sapho at the Olympic, Roht. Mantell at the Century, The Vanity Fair Burlesquers at the Standard, The MusketeeiS at the Grand, and Humpty Dumpty at Havlin's. Larry Hanley has recovered from his recent illness. Maud Lillian Berri and Hernice Holmes are two fair representatives of your native daughters. Both are with the Castle Square Opera Company. Treasurer Fitzpatrick of the Columbia Theater who was formerly treasurer of the ChicagoOpera House, has made many friends since he has domiciled in St. Louis. Billy Blande, the popular press agent of the Middleton Theater Company, will resign his position about Nov. 15, and will sail for his home in Ireland. Mr. Blande's health has been failing him for many months. Blande is his stage name, in private life is William Blood. Managers Tate and Middleton have secured Mrs. Fiske for a two weeks engagement at the Grand. Mrs Fiske cannot play at either the Century or Olympic on account of her fight against the Frohman Hermann Theatrical Trust. Our Horse Show last week was a magnificent success. GatyPaubn. CANADA Special Correspondence St. John — Opera House, A. O. Skinner, manager, Yale's Devil's Auction did a great business here October 30 to November i, with a matinee on the 1st. The star feature of the show was the Deltorelli Bros, in grotesque musical act. Culhane, Chase and Weston's Minstrels had a good house the 6th; have with them the St. Felix Sisters, and the Kings of clubswingers, Allaire and Gandrau, whose work has never been approached here. Good attractions coming. Willie Collier's new play, Mr. Smooth, is said to lie a great vehicle for the star's inimitable comedy work. It certainly ought to fit the comedian well; he wrote it for himself. Lederer's Quintonica will keep the hair healthy.