San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

January 8, 1910 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 7 and gave a remarkably fine rendition of the play for the first performance. Mr. Athon and Alice Condon carried off the first honors, although Sidney Payne gave a fine portrayal of his part. The management have left nothing to be desired from a scenic standpoint. Next week, Du Harry. Grand Theatre ( Frank Coffinberry, mgr). — For this week Manager Coffinberry has the following acts : Rofnay Opera Company; P'our Baltus ; Cooper & Zaliska ; Eckert & Francis : Edgar Berger and Fred Bauer. 1 'antages Theatre ( John Johnson, mgr. ) — This week's bill includes May Tully & Co.. Novelty Dancing Four; Yaldare & Varno; Nancy Withro; Del-aphone ; Le Van Trio, and Leo White. A. W. W. TACOMA. Wash., Jan. 1.— Tacoma Theatre ( C. H. Herald, mgr.) — Dec. 12-13, A Girl at the Helm, featuring Billy Clifford, was a pleasing little musical comedy. Marguerite De Yon established herself as a favorite. The chorus sang well, particularly the male portion. Dec. 14-15, after an absence of several seasons, Ezra Kendall returned in the guise of The Vinegar Buyer. Mr. Kendall's humor is much liked here. Prominent in the support were John Garrick and Robert Ferguson in two well acted character roles, and Julia Stuart and Lottie Alter, who were well cast. Business, good. Dec. 18-19, The Man of the Hour made his third visit here. The play is still popular and was well acted. Felix Haney still continues as the popular alderman and is a great favorite in the Northwest. Dec. [920, The Alaskan, revamped and considerably improved, made its annual visit. Richard Carroll and Gus Weinberg have the leading comedy roles this season. The chorus was lively and sang well, and the piece was handsomely staged. Dec. 22, Geo. M. Cohan and his royal family played to an S. R. O. house. The Yankee Prince is one of the best of the Cohan offerings and readily found favor. Sharing honors with Mr. Cohan was Tom Lewis, who plays an important role. Some pleasing novelties were introduced and the whole production was extremely satisfying. Dec. 23, Dr. Ludwig Wullner, the German singer, appeared to a small but apppreciative audience. Dr. Wullner's dramatic singing was most pleasing and the recital a rare treaj:. Dec. 24, the Geo. Primrose Minstrels, old favorites here, were well patronized by lovers of minstrelsy. The Christmast attraction was the much discussed Soul Kiss, which played two nights and a matinee and drew the usual holiday crowds. The stage settings were novel and handsome" and the chorus and principals beautifully gowned, lime. Pertina was a graceful and charming dancer. Dec. 28, that Max Figman has a large following here was attested by the attendance on Tuesday evening when Mr. Figman was presented as Mary Jane's Pa. The play itself, clean, and distinctly amusing, shows Mr. Figman at his best. The supporting company could hardly be improved upon. Gretchen Hartmann, the child actress, proved unusually clever, and Helen Lackaye, a favorite here, was enthusiastically received. Dec. 30-31, Beverly, dramatized from the novel, proved to be a real thriller ; Hattie Carmontelle, in the character of a negro mammy, was the hit of the piece. The Land of Nod will be given today, matinee and evening. Jan. 7, Wm. II. Crane in Father and the Boys. Jan. 8, Rose Melville as Sis I Iopkins. Harry Lauder and a vaudeville company, including Julian ! 1 linger, the impersonator, and other well known celebrities, will appear at the Armory. Jan. 18. For the first time in weeks neither vaudeville house is offering an animal act, for December witnessed the appearance of Kickey's Comedy Circus. Prof. Albers and his polar bear, and Princess Irene with her trained bears. This week the Romany Opera Company are the headliners at the Grand and displayed excellent voices. Leo Cooper and Rosina Zabska have a well acted dramatic sketch. The Baltus Family of athletes, in some sensational stunts, and Edward Berger, a clever equilibrist, were interesting ; Eckert & Frances pleased with some nonsensical conversationings. At the Pantages, May Tully was clever in her impersonations of well known actresses. Nancy Withro was fair in a monologue. The Novelty Dancing Four are neat dancers. Yaldere & Varno secured the laughs with an absurd bicycle act. The Le Yan Trio contributed comedy and acrobatics. De la Phone made his annual visit. Bert Vincent has returned and is again singing the illustrated songs. The Christmas Number of The Review was an interesting and artistic number and the publishers deserve much credit. A. H. SPOKANE, Wash., Jan. 5.— At the Auditorium, George M. Cohan in The Yankee Prince broke the record, 2628, the S. R. O. sign being out each night. Josephine not being well enough to be in the cast, her part was taken by Lila Rhodes, who is a very pretty dancer. George made a big hit with Spokane. The Soul Kiss, five nights and New Year's matinee, commencing Dec. 29, did only a fair business. The work of Ben Grinnell, who played Mephisto, and Mile. Pertina, the dancer, was clever. Jan. 7-8, Marie CahiU in The Boys and Betty. The Land of Nod opened at the Spokane Jan. 2 for one week. The show being five hours late getting into the city caused the curtain to rise an hour late, but the large audience was very patient and all enjoyed themselves. Neil McNeil, the April Fool; E. I). Coe, the Welsh Rarebit ; George Fox, the Man in the Moon; William Morgan, the Sandman, were well received, the vocal honors being divided between Bessilee Merrill and Adelaide Harland. Next week, The Man of the Hour. Benjamin Chapin in his characterization of Abraham Lincoln in the dramatic playlet, At the White House, is headliner at the Orpheum. Gus Edwards' "Kountry Kids," in a one-act rural musical comedy, entitled Miss Rose's Birthday; August Prato's, Simian Circus, a quartette of monkey equestrians; Arthur Whitelaw, singing and talking comedian ; the first appearance of Mine. I'anita, the celebrated European flute virtuoso; Sandberg-Lee in their lla-Ha, is funny; Sam Kramer and Eugene Sheck give an exhibition of muscular development and how it is (kmc, and moving pictures complete the bill. An excellent comedy bill is presented at the Washington, which includes Matthews and Bannon in The Battle of Too-Soon, two clever comedians ; Au . . . Van Ness Theatre . . . WEEK OF JANUARY 10th Olga Nethersole In Her Sensational Success The Writing on the Wall Week of January 17th . . . REPERTOIRE . . . gust Neville and Co., in a political playlet, Politics and Petticoats; Bernard and ( )rth, German comedians ; Herbert, the Frogman; Winifred Stewart, the delightful baritone soloist, and motion pictures. The usual good bill is seen at Pantages — Torcat and Flor d'Aliza and their troupe of educated roosters, headliners ; Six Cornallas, acrobats, double-somersault; Harland and Rollinson. eccentric musicians ; Pike and Calame, song and artistic dancing: Pankey and Cook, novelty singers ; Wm. D. Gilson, song illustrator, and motion pictures. Manager Charles W. York announces that a first-class stock company will come to the Spokane Theatre about Mafeh 20, with Franklyn Underwood heading the company. S. NEW ORLEANS, La., Dec. 25.— Tulane Theatre — Mrs. Leslie Carter, in her new play, Vesta 1 Ierne, drew only fair audiences during the week. That it was Christmas week, always the dullest in the theatrical year, coupled with the fact that the play itself is sombre and heavy, and not likely to inspire enthusiasm, are the probable causes. The star, however, does some great work and stamps the impress of her genius to a marked degree. Her handsome gowns received most favorable criticism. The cast supporting Mrs. Carter was capable, Dec. 31. Packed houses at every performance attested to the undying popularity of The Merry Widow. Frances Cameron as the Widow, and Chas. Weakins as the Prince, essay the two leading roles. The former is young, pretty and graceful, with a voice sweet and tuneful. The latter is handsome and a good dancer, and in the celebrated waltz with Miss Cameron had to respond to numerous recalls. 1 lenry W. Savage has mounted and costumed the production lavishly. The chorus effects are dazzling, especially the scene at Maxim's. R. E. Graham and John Thomas carry the comedy roles most acceptably." Next week, Mrs. Fiske; Jan. 9, Lambardi Opera Co. Crescent Theatre — An excellent, well balanced company is presenting The Squaw Man this week to good business. The story is one of the practical kind that appeals strongly to one's appreciation, dealing as it does with the strong types of Western life. Following the standards set by Wm. leaversham and Dustin Farnum imposes big responsibilities upon Frank E. Petley, who achieves not a little measure of success in his portraiture. Phylis Morton gives to the role of the squaw wife an easy, graceful interpretation. She has a pretty face and soulful eyes. Geo. W. Deyo, as Big Bill, was great and shared stellar honors. I have not seen any more naturalness or ease of manner in any similar role before. Mabel Van Buren, Gertrude Price, A. C. I lenderson, Carol Daly, Logan Paul and Joseph Stanhope do individual distinctive work. Dec. 31, Ward & Yokes, supported by Lucy Daly, can always be counted upon to do a big business and this week offers no exception. Their play this year is styled The Promoter, cleverly adopted to entertain without any great expenditure of brain fag. Pile lines are extremely funny and the music is haunting and catchy. Lew Kelly, in his original creation of Prof. Dope, is strongly in evidence, and to my mind was the hit of the piece. How he can maintain a fixed expression throughout the play and create so much laughter is hard to understand. Miss Daly shines in her dances in which she is without a peer. Sandy Chapman has a fine singing voice and uses it effectively in some good selections. The chorus work was distinctive, particularly the Wrard & Yokes Ladies' Band. Next week, The ( iolden ( iirl. New York, Jan. 5. — An interlocutory decree of absolute divorce from Jan es EC. I lackett was granted Mary Mannering today in the Supreme Court. Elsie, their five-year-old daughter, was awarded to the mother. The decree contains no provision for alimony and does not mention any name. The Hacketts were married in 1897. They have been estranged nearly two years.