San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

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January 9, 1909 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW b Ferns Hartman is Pleasing Los Angeles With It Happened in Nordland Los Angeles, Jan. 7. — The grand opera benefit for the Italian sufferers last Sunday afternoon proved quite a financial success, netting something over $1,400. Other near-to-be plans include a benefit which the Examiner is arranging, and from which the funds are to go into the big Los Angeles Italian Relief Fund, which now amounts to over $10,000. The programme for the Glazier benefit, January 15th, has been announced. It embraces eighteen rattling good numbers, and looks to prove the finest value for $1.00 theatrically ever offered in Los Angeles. There will be several oneact sketches and numerous single and double offerings. Every theatre in town is represented in the roster of talent selected by the committee in charge, to say nothing of the vast number of volunteers whose offer of services had to be declined in the framing of a programme of reasonable length. The Auditorium Extravaganza Company, which plans to open at the Theatre Beautiful, January 18th, is rounding its initial offering. Jack and the Beanstalk, into shape, and will doubtless be ready to offer a magnificent spectacle by opening night. The list of principals is being kept secret. Another reorganization of the Unique Comedy Company is in prospect. George Rehn is to assume charge as producer, and Maxie Mitchell returns for her line of parts. The junior Armstrong and Ethel Davis are leaving. Florence Leslie, who is staging the numbers at the Auditorium, will also stage the Unique musical numbers. BELASCO— Lewis S. Stone is playing his part in The Heir to the Hoorah, 'at the Belasco, this week, with particular zest, in view of the recent arrival at the Stone stronghold of a new heiress. Mrs. Stone and the little girl, who arrved just in time to watch the old year out and the new year in, are both doing well. As to the presentation of the piece, how could it be otherwise than good, with the star's heart so much in his work, and his whole company feeling good with him? Florence Oakley makes as much of the part of the wife as the playwright lets her, while Leslie Preston as the dashing widow is quite breezy enough to suit anybody. Charles Ruggles, De Witt Jennings and Ben Graham as the triumvirate of friends find a world of comedy in their rollicking roles, while Burke Clarke as the near-villain and Richard Vivian as the Eastern friend of ''Joe," are all that could be asked. Harry Oakes does a good bit as "Hush," Joe's Jap servant. Beatrice Noyes is a delightful little Madge, and the play as a whole moves off well. BURBANK — Our old friend, Nancy & Company, made its appearance at Morosco's stock house Sunday last, much to the decided edification and enjoyment of the usual Sunday audience. Moreover, the delight has been continuing ever since, as is usually the case when this old Daly farce is produced. As to the play itself, nothing need be said. Of the players, much. Alice Lovell Taylor as Gloriana finds opportunity for a spectacular and dazzling display of her gowns. Moreover, she acts. Margo Duffett is also to the fore with beautiful clothes and some more "acting." Harry Stockbridge : John Burton, in a character lead which he handles excellently: A. Ilyron Beasley in a poetic role, and W illiam Desmond in a dashing, breezy military role are all good. So is Harry Mestayer as the wellmanaged husband. But the one and real hit is Mary Hall, whose Nancy Brasher is a revelation as to her comedy abilities. The play is well mounted, and. as I said before, pleases everybody, which is enough. MAJESTIC— Rose Melville and her company are still presenting Sis Hopkins at the Majestic to pleased houses. MASON' OPERA HOUSE — The first half of the week we have had more of the good grand opera Sig. Lambardi and Manager S. M. Berry brought out with them. Their bills have been 11 Trovatore, Cavalleria Rusticana, La Tosca and Rigoletto. Tonight they give way to E. H. Sothern. whose repertoire includes Lord Dundreary. Richard Lovelace and Hamlet. GRAND — It Happened in Nordland. Lew Field's former success, is providing the Ferris Hartman Company and its star with a good laughproducer, and good music, to say nothing of opportunities galore for costume display. I Iartman himself seems easily at home in the role of the long-lost brother, while Josie Hart's American ambassadress and queen pro tern gained importance from her air of easy grace and regality of figure. Walter de Leon, as the crown prince, with a fondness for absinthe, provides much of the fun during his interims before the footlights. His Absinthe Frappe, and You Remind Me a Lot of Someone, have been many-time encore hits. Muggins Davis and a personable young woman who spells her name E-d-n-a-h Robinson are pleasing scenic adjuncts, neither having any singing chances to speak of. Robert Lett is an amusing prime minister, while James Fogarty's Baron Sparta, minister of police, is a scream. Adequate costuming and well-staged cho^ rus numbers add to the effectiveness of the piece. PEOPLE'S — We Are King, Walker Whiteside's former success, with Edmund Carroll in the stellar dual roles, is occupying the People's this week. Mr. Carroll was a member of Mr. Whiteside's original company, and gives a forceful and satisfactory interpretation of the role. His support is good, particularly effective being the princess of Maude Shaw. She is an accomplished and able actress, whose attractive personality is by no means a negative quantity in her pleasingness. We Are King is a comedy version of The Prisoner of Zenda, following the Zenda story insofar as the leading roles are those of a weak king fin this play a usurper of the throne), and a newspaper correspondent who resembles him to so marked a degree as to make a substitution possible. In We Are King the newspaper man is found, after all, to be the rightful heir to the throne, and accordingly is allowed to marry the princess and "live happv ever afterwards." ORPHEUM'— Motoring, an Eng lish sketch, presented, apparently, by Englishmen who announce that they played "before his majesty, King of England, under royal command," is the headline feature, and maybe in spite of this, if not because of it. the skit has been receiving a cordial reception, Gus Edwards' Blonde Typewriters, very blonde, too. by the way. are six attractive young women, who sing and cavort pleasingly through a half-dozen catchy songs. Harry Linton and Anita Laurence, with their Married Xow. muchly improved and added to, provide another good number. Bert Howard's piano playing is one of the best features we've had in a long time, especially his imitation of a music-box. Happy Jack Gardner. Felice Morris and Ethel Greene are holdovers who make good. The Castelane Brothers, with their hairraising cycling exposition and the thrilling loop the loop, are then sensatii mi of the bill. LOS ANGELES — Carl Herman. "The Electric Kins," presents an ingenious act at the Los Angeles this week. Whatever electricians or those versed in the mysteries of the mystic force may think of his performance, certain it is that to the lay mind his feats are not only wonderful, hut amazing as well. Seemingly lie turns himself into a storage battery, accumulating enough of the "juice" to render possihle the ignition of a sheet of paper merely touched to his flesh by an assistant. He does other marvelous stunts too numerous to mention. The loleen Sisters, wire walkers and sharpshooters, offer a clever act. Arnold and Ethel Grazer present a sketch. Going Into Vaudeville, which is not half bad. Grace Passmore sings some coon songs passably. Sam Holel.Mvorth offers pictured ballads and Dick and Barney Ferguson contribute dancing par excellence. Their alleged comedy is as bad as their dancing is good. UNIQUE — The Toreador, a musical comely wherein Is set forth the series of adventures befalling an Irishman who visits Mexico, Is the bill at the Hentz-Zolle house this week. Will Armstrong has the title role, and pleases immensely as the unfortunate Celt, while his brother, Ed Armstrong, and Jack Curtiss assist in the complications. Barney Williams is a genial Dutchman, prominent in the mix-ups. Among the song interpolations are Shamrock, by Lillie Sutherland; Long Ago. by Ethel Davis, and .Mary Ouch, by Mag lelene Holly and the chorus. Illustrated songs by Leona Craft and motion pictures complete the bill. EMPIRE — The plaintive, entrancing airs of Hawaii, with their alluring minors and counter-melodies, were never more attractively rendered in Eos Angeles than they are being sung at the Empire this week by The Five Royal Hawaiian Serenaders, four boys anil one pretty girl. They accompany their singing on the native string instruments. Heed and Arbuckle are presenting an Irish-Teutonic duologv as one of the features of the bill, and Edith de Belle's singing and whistling solos, to say nothing of her dainty dancing, are well done. The Hill Sisters offer an illustration of unusual appeal in My Garden Which Blooms For You, and the stock company gets a lot of fun out of The Arrival of Jeffries, another of Al Frank's farces. FISCHER'S From its operatic opening. Pretty Eittle Geisha Girls, to its operatic finale. The Pogada, Charles Alphin's musical comedy at Fischer's Theatre this week is really entitled to the more pretentious title operetta, and is far and away the best thing musically the First Street theatre has ever presented. Also Its story is amusing and full enough of comedy to he called by that name. It's the old story of the love of a man for a maid. They are Japanese, and the lady's father, who objects to the match, is proprietor of the tea house where the play takes place. Through the intervention of a detective the irate father is placated and the wedding is arranged. Nellie Montgomery is the girl; Aubrey Carr. her lover; Max Uloom, the obdurate parent of the girl, and Elbby Blonde lie the equally obdurate mother of the lover. Prank Vack as a Chinese servant and Ben T. Dillon as the detective complete the cast. WALKER'S — The bill at Walker's Theatre this week is enlivened by some good acts. Margaret Eindon, appearing in one of the sketches, formerly was a resilient of Eos Angeles, having been a member of the Olympin opera Company and the Los Angeles Choral Society. Pierce and Roslyn, holdovers, offer the Toreador act with Which they made good at Fischer's some weeks ago, and they Interpolate as wcdl a number of Indian songs and Western numbers. Edna Davenporte and Harry Tvler have a good singing and dancing specialty. c. m. emery. Correspondence Oakland, Jan. 7. — This has been a week noticeable for Its good attractions, of which, noticeably, has been the Road Show at the Orpheum, which has been packing that spacious house at every performance. It is unquestionably the best bill that the Orpheum has given us this season and every number Is a headline In Itself. The following program speaks for itself: Mile. I >e Dio; Edwin Holt and company; Merian's Canine Actors; lleyman Meyer: Charles and Fannie Van; Work and Owner; Rogers an. I Deely, an I Four Franklins. At the Mat donough, George Cohan s new comedy opera. Fifty .Miles from Boston. was seen here for the first lime. and. as Is always the rule with Cohan's plays, the bouse was well tille I each night. W. D. Stevenson, W. P. Richardson and Hazel l.owry are the stars of a good, all-round Company. The musical features are quite conspicuous, Suzanne Westford making quite a bit with her song. Ain't It Awful? Brewster's Millions is booked, 7-9; Shamus O'Brien, 10; Hen Hur. Il-U. Madame Sans Gene, with Isahelle Fletcher in the title role, is making good at Ye Liberty, and incidentally drawing packe I houses. The play. Which is one of Sardine's French comedies, calls for an exceptionally large cast, there being n i less than twenty-eight speaking parts in the piece, tl -»reh\ calling into action every me lher ofBishop's large force. The play Is g ven a most elaborate production, in which the tine work of Milton Stallard. the stage director, and Grace Wisbaar. the scenic artist, is easily discernible. Both are entitled to the greatest of praise, of the company, the best work I esi'V Miss Fletcher is done by Genu Fi-e ml, George Webster, Landers Sieves. E. L. Kennison, Lillian Elliott and Ge irgie Cooper. The latter was taken seriously 111 Wednesday evening, and at a moment's notice, witli hardly any preparation whatever. Estelle Warlield jumped into her role and gave a performance that really was remarkable under the Circumstances. Miss Cooper is rapidly recovering and will resume her work in a few days. Next week Strongheart will be the attraction, and following' that. Minnie Maddern Fiske's great play, Tess of the D'Urbervllles, will be given a magnificent production. January Jo Is set for the date of the Gadski concert at Ye Liberty. At the Bell, the road show. Including the Jay Circus and Patterson's living models, is playing to capacity houses and giving general satisfaction. Manager Lubelski of t he Novelty is arranging a monster vaudeville bill to be given Friday for the benefit of the Italian sufferers. Those who have volunteered their services for the cause are Mme. Schnell, who is a native of Sicily; W. C. Fait; Hanlon and Clifton; Hilly Farnham; Boulder and Simon. The benefit will be under the auspices of the Italian Order of Columbus. LOFIS S('H EE LI NE. Eureka, Cal., Jan. 7. — George C. Stanley, the baritone singer, has joined the Girton stock company at Eureka. Cal. Iva Shepard will (dose at Long Beach to join t he Girton stock company to play ingenue leads. James Guy Usher, late leading man with the Eel Redmond company, has joined the Girton company at Eureka. Franklyn Murray, late witli the Chicago stock company In Chicago, will be the director and character man with the Girton stock company. Marion Dunn will play characters and Lansing Rowan will be the leading woman. Miss Rowan was for two seasons with Ralph Stewart. Miss Rowan left New fork last week. James Wright will do the comedies and specialties between acts. Cliico, Jan. 6. — It is a well-known fact that a production may make a decided hit in one locality and be a dismal failure in another. The Alaskan, which showed here New Year's night, found Chico to be one of the localities with the "hit." The house was packed. The Alaskan is a very worthy attraction, and Chicoites and others were loud in their praise of it. In Wyoming was seen here Monday. January 4. and was well received by a rather small house. It was deserving of better patronage. The next attraction at the Majestic will be Florence Roberts on January 14, while all open dates are being filled by a moving picture concern. Don Fulano, the trained horse, at the Gem is drawing immense crowds this week. Walter Ferry, a comedian, will be the special offering for next week. C. H. CI 1 ACE. Tacoma, Wash., Jan, Z. -Managers of the Tacoma, Star. Grand and Pantages Theatres will he required to pay lines in the police court for violating the State law providing for the closing of theatres on Sunday. Some months ago the managers were arrested, and a test case was made of the case of Manager Herald of the Tacoma Theatre, which went to the Supreme Court. Judge' Snell held that the Sunday theatre closing law was unconstitutional, and the c ase was appealed, with the result that the Supreme Court, some months ago. banded down an opinion reversing .Indue Snell and upholding the law. The cases have been on the Superior Court records ever since, Prosecuting Attorney Rowland taking no action on them. Today Deputy Prosecutor Dow obtained an order from Judge Snell remanding all four cases to the Justice Court, and the managers will be called in to pay their fines. "The State law is very plain in requiring theatres to be closed on Sunday," said Judge Snell, "and 1 do not understand why It has not been enforced. The enforcement of the law lies In the bands of the police or the prosecuting attorney, or any citizen may swear out a warrant against the theatre managers for violating the Sunday law." At the Tacoma Theatre. Dec. 27-28. The Land of Nod played to good business. ECnos Wilson as April Fool is with the company again this season, and with his grotesque make-up and concertino solos scored a hit. Grace Drew is still the Jack of Hearts. Adelaide Harland as the Chorus Girl played well, as did Maurice Darcy, who Is The Man in the Moon. Jan. 1-2, The Great Divide proved to be a dramatic treat, Tacomans seldom being privileged to witness such line acting. Edwin Mordant, who was here last season With Sarah Truax. played the part of the Westernc-r In splendid style, and Ethel Brownell, who had Margaret Anglln's old part. Is an emotional actress pf much ability. The supporting company was adequate In every way and the piece well staged. Jan. 3-4. Babes In Toyland; 8-9, Louis James In Peer Gynt; 10-11, Jefferson in Rip Van Winkle. The Savoy reopened New Year's day with an absorbing melodrama of Western life, called The Cowpuncher. Virginia Thornton and Harry Continued on page 8.