San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

January 9. 1905 THE SAX FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 3 A G reat Play T WO Powerful Men Collaborate There is little doubt that the ablest man. the best mind on the American stage is William Gillette. He is very unusual, for he has dune two things well. He can write a play and act it. Voltaire tried that and failed. Gillette is really a great actor, and he is a powerful and successful playwright. lie wrote Secret Service. Held by the Enemy and other successful plays. He has interpreted same of the most important roles outside of his own plays, and has added creative strength to every one of them. At present, at the Criterion Theatre, he is playing in Samson, interpreting the work of the remarkable Jewish genius, Bernstein, whose success as author of The Thief and of the great national play. Israel, has been so great. We advise our readers to see this play. Samson, for more than one reason. To begin with, the play presents, vividly, conditions of today. A man. enormously rich — Gillette— discovers that the wife to whom he is devoted cares nothing for him. He is a man of humble origin. a longshoreman. whose power has brought him millions and the adulation of the world. Hut his money and endless kindness have not succeeded in getting him the affection of his wife. He has thought of little but money, but suddenly discovers that he wants revenge much more than he ever wanted money. The man that he hates is another lover of money. He tears down that man's fortune, and in doing it deliberately beggars himself and tears down his own fortune — hence the title of the play, Samson, recalling the blind rage of the Iiiblical giant that pulled the temple down upon himself and his enemies. Gillette, in this powerful play, ruins his enemy, ruins himself, and suddenly discovers that he has for himself the woman's affection that could not be bought with all the money and luxury of the world. When she learns that he cares for something else besides money she cares for him. Go and see this play rather than some of the trashy things that are offered to you. It will interest you. it will make you think, it will show you one of the greatest actors living, interpreting with wonderful simplicity and force the work of a great playwright. Here are some of the lessons that this play teaches: It explains to some rich husbands why their lives are monotonous, why they always MISS something, and to some wives of rich men why they find little interest in life, nothing but the dull routine of clothes and jewelry and idle talk. It will teach wives and husbands not so rich that money as power has limits. There is a lesson especially for that particular brutality in a man which always and promptly condemns the woman. Gillette's rage against the man he hates is no greater than his gentle consideration and sympathy for the woman whom he has mis understood and to whom he has made wisdom impossible. Hernstein's play teaches that the man who believes that money is really THE power among men has only looked at the surface. Get below that surface and you will find the ruling force to be the passions, the intense, fundamental emotions of the race that ruled our red-haired ancestors in their caves thirty thousand years ago. The theatre should be the greatest single educator and moral force outside of the printed book. The field of the actor and playwright is vast. They appeal to many /acuities of man at once — to sight, to hearing, to all the emotions that vivid action stirs up. Long ago Goethe told of the plav's power, when he advised the German Gov? eminent that German territory occupied by Poles could most readily be made German by sending there many good German plays. The right kind of a play, he said, would make Germans and German feeling where armed soldiers would fail. The right kind of a play today can' stir up good thought, arouse ambition and inspire noble action where many sermons might fail. I'nfortunatelv. too few plays combine earnest thought with ability. In this particular play of Samson we have the remarkable combination of two great playwrights working together, and one of them. Gillette, actually interpreting the principal role. 1 hat is a combination as admirable as it is unusual and worthy of your attention. — Xew York Journal. Christmas Attractions in London London, Dec. 26. — "Boxing day," as always, was marked by the production of big pantomimes, the management of the Drury Lane again excelling with the gorgeous spectacle, Dick Whittington. in which half a dozen of the leading vaudeville stars provided the comedy, and an army of chorus girls the picturesque. Two Americans, Marie George and Truly Shattuck. have the leading parts. Cinderella is the attraction at the Adelphi, while similar performances hold the boards at the Lyceum and the suburban and provincial theatres, in addition to panr tommies. The last week has seen several notable revivals. Peter Pan, which was revived at the Duke of York's Theatre, received an enthusiastic welcome, a society known as Peter Panites keeping up continuous applause and showering the actors with flowers. What Every Woman Knows, another of the plays, has been transferred to the Hicks Theatre, to make way for Peter Pan, and continues to be the most popular play of the year. Other revivals are Dorothy, at the Xew Theatre, with C. Hayden Coffin. Arthur William- and Louie Pounds in their original parts, and the ever-pOpular Charley's Aunt, at the Aldwich, which theatre Charles [•Tollman has just given up, his lease having expired on Christinas. Work for the Social Dramatic Club of Palo Alto and for the Church 1 [ome Club of Santa Cruz are two good-sized WIGS ALL MAKES, GREASE PAINTS, POWDERS. ROUGE Largest Line on Pacific Coast. MAKE-UP BOXES, PLAY BOOKS Parent's Stationery Co.'i££%?. Tne Ellef ord Company Tor 1508-09 — All Royalty Flays pals, by Edmund Day ALL DOE TO DIANA, DORIS FROM FARM TO FACTORY A WOMAN'S SECRET UNDER THE GASLIGHT, DR. BILL THE OTHER FELLOW THE NEW CINDERELLA And Several Others. Pacific Coast Representative for Bradv an<l Grlstner's MAN OF THE HOUR and WAY DOWN EAST Managers, please note that 1 control exclusive Coast rights to these plays. W. J. ELLEFORD, Sole Proprietor and Director FRANK W x MAN. Mnnager WILLIS BASS, Business Manager Permanent Address. Francis-Valentine Co., 285-287 13th St., S. F. MOROSCO'S ' BURBANK THEATRE Los Angeles. Cal. "The Bett in the Well" \? y y HOMC Orr.ce / S \ BURB«IIK THEATRE BUILDING. LOS ANGtLCS, CAL Oliver Morosco's Plays The Leading Stock House. The Hamburger Theatre Los Angeles, Cal. Cost. $300,000.00. ' Opens Sept. 1st. 1908. For time address John Cort Ready for Stock The Judge and the Jury The Halfbreed The Empress and the Soldier In South Car'liney The Garrick Theatre San Diego, Cal. MOROSCO & WYATT,' TWENTIETH ANNUAL TOUR OF THE WORLD Of the Greatest Living Irish Character Actor Charles Erin Verner In His New Versions of Shamus O'Brien and Robert Emmett And an Excellent Supporting Company Warning1.— -Any parties producing Mr. Verner's versions of Shamus O'Brien and Robert Enimett without his auth irity will be prosecuted. JIM HASWELL, CARL BERCH, Advance Courier Manager orders just turned out by the Columbia Scenic Studio. Slightly Worn Wardrobe FOR STAGE PURPOSES Ladies' Handsome Evening Gowns and Opera Coats; good as new; in latest styles. Men's Full Dress and Tuxedo Suits. MRS. H. JACOBS, 1050 Golden Gate Avenue, formerly of Sixth Street. Phone Park 707. H. Lewin H. Oppenheim GORDAN TAILORING CO. (Formerly 1124 Market St.) 1539 Fillmore St. Bet. O'Farrell and Geary San Francisco. Cal NEW CONCORD THEATRE Just completed and ready for traveling troupes. For information inquire of F. DE FREITAS, Concord Hotel. Concord, Cal. Phone M;iin .'!.*.:{. WOODLAND Opera House WOODLAND, CAL. Greatest show town for good shows In the West. A few good dates open In September and October. Stage big enough for any production. Booked by Great Western Theatrical Circuit. NEW DIAMOND THEATRE BLACK DIAMOND, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CAL. C. CIFOLLA, Manager The coal mining town; good stage; seats 500 people; rental, or will play flrst-class companies on percentage. For Information apply to 411 Montgomery Ave., City. Masonic Opera House Marshfield, Oregon W. J. BUTLER, Manager Largest opera house and best show town In Southern Oregon. Seating capacity, 1,200; population, 6.000. Steamers twice weekly to and from Portland, Astoria and Snn Francisco. Good attractions wanted at all times on percentage. Hill Opera House PETALUMA, CAL. JOHN R. ROCHE, Lessee and Manager The finest theatrical town outside of the big cities in the West. Magnificent new theatre, with stage large enough for any attraction, playing regularly from $500 to $700 a night. Booked by Great Western Theatrical Circuit, 287 Thirteenth St., S. F. BARCROFT Opera House, Merced Entirely remodeled. New stage, big enough for any production. Stage equipped with new scenery. Merced has 4,000 population. For time write F. R. BARCROFT, Manager. Santa Cruz g0Eul Santa Cruz, Cal. L. A. KNIGHT, Manager Rental or will play flrst-class companies on percentage FARRAGUT Theatre WM. T. O DONNELL, Lessee and Mgr. (The Navy Yard Town.; 3,000 employees; population of town Is 12,000, monthly pay-roll, $200,000. Good shows can get big money. CENTRAL HOTEL Monterey's Theatrical Hotel A. R. Underwood, Proprietor Special Rates to the Profession Grand Opera House Black Diamond California The only legitimate house In this district. 2500 population; an extra good show town. Seating capacity, 660. Rent or Share. M. SIRE Manager of Ooera Mouse