San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

January I, iqio THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 'J C. P. Hall is Seriously III and His Oakland Lease Has Been Bought by Gottlob, Marx & Co. Van Ness Theatre David W'arfield. the foremost of our character men. who can blend the finest pathos with the most enjovable of comedy, is back in his home town with The Music Master. witli most of the same cast that first introduced us to this artistic little drama at the Alcazar last year. But, as richly endowed as Mr. W arfield's artistic powers are, and as worthy of entire commendation as the play is. he needs a new vehicle, for three weeks of it only last season serves to take away much of the novelty and the interest that was first felt concerning it. Contrary to the conditions that maintain in other towns of the West, many of much smaller population. San Francisco does not seem to favor extended runs. But to return to a consideration of the acting. Mr. Warfield's personality is so attractive, his ability so ripe and certain and the scope of the character so compelling, that there can be no dissent as to the powerful appeal this artist makes in the character of Anton Yon Barwig. With Mr. Warfield is Marie Bates, a particularly gifted character woman, who has been associated with all of his later triumphs ; Antoinette Walker, who is also well known here, and Janet Dunbar, who is a new member of the company, in the part of Helen Stanton. The balance of the support is made up of carefully selected and capable actors, chief of whom are: Augusto Aramini, Francis Gaillard, Bernhardt Niemeyer, Oscar Eagle, William Boag, George Wellington, Alfred Hudson, Tony Bevan, Thomas H. Wilson, Carlton Rivers, John V. Dailey, Thomas Gilbert. Maria Davis, Janet Dunbar, Marie Bates, Antoinette Walker, Bertha Johnson, and Margery Taylor. Princess Theatre In Africa continues as the bill at the Princess Theatre. Large audiences are still the rule. The company is doing much splendid work and the present bill could easily hold the boards at the Princess for some little time, but it has been decided by the management to withdraw the attraction with the close of the week, when the theatre will undergo a complete renovation. Sunday night, therefore, marks the last opportunity of seeing In Africa. Higglecly Piggledy, and The College Widower are in preparation to follow. Savoy Theatre The Vinegar Buyer, while not a good play, is very entertaining, owing to the art of Ezra Kendall. The story is simple. Joe Miller, the town cut-up, sells music boxes to attach onto sewing machines. Evidently he has done all the business possible in his immediate locality and decides to move onto other fields. The population of the town don't want to see him go, and elect him mayor, which doubtful position he accepts gratefully and remains in town. The son of the town drunkard, secures him a position as Vinegar Buyer for a firm in Indianapolis, and he begins his new duties at once. Mrs. Arlington, who is blind, and her daughter are sojourning at the sanitarium nearby, and Joe, in the goodness of his heart, wheels the lady around in a chair, and incident ally falls in love with her. The lady is wealthy, which is a good thing for Joe, as she reciprocates his feeling, not being able to see him, and even when she recovers her sight the feeling endures. Through a will left by Mrs. Arlington's husband, the property is to go to the oldest male member of the family. A rascally lawyer, son of the town rum-seller, endeavors to wed the daughter in order to gain possession of the estate, but is foiled in his design by Joe, who marries the widow. Mr. Kendall needs no eulogium, he is so well known by all. However, it seems to me a little more of his monologue would be very acceptable to his audience, the play being of very thin texture. Julia Arthur was exquisite as Mrs. Arlington. The town drunk was very well portrayed by Mr. Ferguson as was Aleck Stripe by Frank Lyon. The hiccough scene in the first act was a fine piece of acting.. Walter Talbot, the young lover, was fairly well done by Gordon Miller. John Adolfi, as the lawyer, looked well, but would be more pleasing if his enunciation was perfected. The same may be said of Lottie Atter. The cleverest bit of work, aside from Mr. Kendall's, was that of Queenie Phillips, as Janie. She furnished a most natural performance. Alcazar Theatre The College Widow, embodying the best spirit of our youth and the romance of that period of our life, is seen to excellent advantage at the Alcazar this week. It is a very actable play, and it would be a poor company that could not make it interesting. As it has been seen here a great number of times, both at our combination houses and in stock, it is thoroughly known to all theatregoers. In several instances the work of the company is above any criticism, but in a few cases, the characterizations are none too well defined. The best piece of work is done by Louis Bennison in the small part of big Murphy, the foundryman who is brought in to study art that he may be eligible for a place on the football team. In makeup, action, voice and in every requirement, the part was played ideally. Bessie Barriscale presents a very funny conception of the important little waitress, with the bang and the ludicrous walk. Charlie Clarke, too, was a comedy hit as Hub Hicks, the green country boy who turned out to be the hottest kind of a sport. Will Walling was good as Bolton, Sr. W alter Belasco had a capital makeup as the Constable and played the part with good effect. Herbert Farjeon was inaudible most of the time in the part of President Wilson, and John luce, who is the liveliest kind of an heroic actor, impersonated Hilly Bolton, but was very difficult to understand, so choppy were his utterances. Evelyn Vaughan was beautifully costumed and looked dainty and sweet in the part of the Widow. It would be a hard-hearted misanthrope indeed who could resist her feminine wiles. Grace Travers was cast for the athletic girl, and her figure and temperament combined to make her extremely pleasing in the part. Adele Belgarde was very much in the picture as the Chaperon. The scenery was good, and the singing of college OAKLAND. Cal., Dec. 30.— Exit 1909, and not without some regret on the part of our managers, as the past year was a good one from all standpoints. There has been a long period of prosperity at all the theatres, and all box-offices show a good balance on the right side of the ledger. This applies to the five and ten-cent vaudeville houses as well as to the regular theatres. Prospects for the coming year are brighter than ever and, taking everything into consideration, ( )akland managers have much to be thankful for. As a fitting climax for a successful season all the houses have had extraordinary strong attractions for the final week. At the Liberty, The Admirable Crichton is doing a tremendous business. The production is a fine one, and the stage management and scenic effects, the work of George Webster. Grace Wishaar and Charles Blair, are original and very appropriate. The South Sea Islands scene was very picturesque and called forth a hearty hand. In the role of Mr. Crichton, the butler, Sidney Ayres offered a portrayal of the character that was admirable. Robert Harrison and George Friend contributed some commendable work as the Hon. Ernest Wooley and Lord Brockelhurst. As the Earl of Loam, Henry Shumer proved a class-A comedian and was the cause of much laughter. Harrison Ford and Andrew Bennison gave good performances and heartily entered into the spirit of the play. Mina Gleason, Maribel Seymour, Edith Lyle and Elizabeth Stewart took good care of the feminine roles. Texas, next attraction. Fritzi Scheff gave one performance at the Macdonough, 27, to a house filled to overflowing. The Prima Donna has not the quality of Valencia Theatre The Man from Home is getting to feel pretty much at home these days. The fine impression left by the performance last week has resulted in a greatly increased business this week. There is only one opinion regarding the play, and the performance, and that is: It is one of the finest shows we have been regaled with this season. The last performance will be given tonight, which will signalize the closing of the Valencia Theatre, until some new deal is made, as the present management have decided to wait until they can lease the theatre before it is opened again. Sullivan & Considine and the American Theatre Last W ednesday, Sullivan & Considine and /.eke Abrams, consummated the purchase of a large interest in the American Theatre, and thus the big popular-priced vaudeville circuit secures another house admirably situated. There will be no change in the management of the theatre. Edward I Ionian, who still retains his interest, will act as manager, and James Pilling, as business manager. Abe Colin, who has been associated with Mr. Homaus in the direction of the theatre. her former great opera. Mile. Modiste, still it was a great production and met with vociferous applause. Her support was good, and every one of her entire repertoire of songs was heartily encored. King Dodo opened a fivenight engagement, 28, and has been drawing good houses. The music is tuneful, the songs well rendered and the chorus pretty and shapely. The company is headed by William Friend. Osborne Clemsen, William II. W^est, Eleanor Kent and Zoe Barnett acted well and sang faultlessly. The costumes were quite fetching. Ezra Kendall, 2-5. The ( )rpheum is closing the year with one of the best shows it has presented for some time. The holdovers, Florence Bindley, Eva Taylor & Co., and the Klein Family, all made hits lrst week, and the newcomers. Fay, Two Coleys and hay, Harry Fox and Millership Sisters, C. Nobel and the Four Floods, comprise some of the best talent on the circuit. The attendance continues large, and the applause vociferous. The most pleasing news we have had for some time is the engagement of Blanche Hall as leading lady for the Liberty stock. Miss Hall has a great reputation, gained by a three years' successful work as leading lady with the Burbank Stock Company, Los Angeles. She is young, nretty and talented and is expected to fill the position to Manager Bishop's entire satisfaction. Manager C. P. Hall, of the Macdonough, is seriously ill at his apartments and will be confined to his bed for some time. In the meantime rumors are flying fast and thick in regard to a change of management of the theatre. Mine. Sembrich gives a concert at the Liberty, 18. She will be assisted by Francis Rogers and Frank La Forgei LOUIS SCHEELIXE. will embark upon extensive theatrical plans. Personals M. Kline, a new face to the Coast, is in town ahead of William C rane. Carlton Ciiask, leading man with Kolh & Dill, closes with that organization next Sunday night. White Whittlesey and Florence Roberts are once more acting in the same company. They are a great pair of opposites. Of all the successes achieved by the members of the New Theatre in New York, there is none more striking than that won by Mrs. Sol Smith, who at eighty years of age is in the full bloom of her powers. Dell I [enderson, leading man with Pauline Hall in Wildfire, and his wife. Florence Lee, ingenue with the same company, will spend the Christmas holidays as the guests of J. Morris Foster on his Long Island farm. Emma MEFFERT, daughter of Col. Meffert of Louisville, the veteran who introduced the Meffert stock to that city, is quite prominent in society circles during the engagement of The Man from Home. Miss Meffert is playing the Comtesse, in The Man from Home this week and next, at the Valencia, and wears some very stunning gowns.