San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

October 2. 1909. THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 7 t Gar rick Theatre ^SfitfSSSS"* 3 COHAN & HARRIS PRESENT GEO. W. COHAN'S Rural Musical Play PA MILES FROM T>\J BOSTON Supported by the Most Expensive Cast Ever Seen in a Musical Play AND gQ — A PERFECT COHAN CHORUS OF — 50 Songs that set one's mouth a-pucker and one's feet a-tapping. "My Small Town Girl," "Harrigan," "Boys Who Fight the Flames," "Waltz with Me," "Jack and Jill," "Ain't It Awful?" Correspondence PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 26.— Imagine an average American home, where peace and happiness and prosperity dwell, imagine a man who is blessed with a devoted wife, a pretty child, and with health and brains and unlimited opportunity. Imagine that into this home there steals a vampire, an evil, beautiful woman, who sinks her clutches into the moral fibre of the man and corrodes his character as some biting acid eats into iron. This is the theme and story of A Fool There Was, enacted at the Garrick Theatre Monday evening for the first time by Robert Hilliard and a splendid company. It is a play of great, raw passion. It is a play of great, raw passion. It is more than mere melodrama. Robert Hilliard has undoubtedly reached the greatest achievement of his career in this play. William Courtleigh was dry in humor and strong when strength was demanded. Katharine Kailred was an alluring, seductive vampire, a very incarnation of passion! Xanette Comstock gave valuable aid and Boots Hurster was a delightful child. Adelphia Theatre — Many kinds of money kings have appeared before the footlights since the initial production of The Lion and the Mouse. A new variety of this popular genus was revealed at the Adelphia in the person of John Le Baron, an American financial magnate, whose ideals are high and whose conduct is strictly in accord with these admir. able principles. Olive Porter is the author of the piece, which depicts in frequently striving fashion the battle between Le Baron and a group of unscrupulous millionaires, who are endeavoring to buy up a copper mine and railroad in the West. Melodramatic situations, often containing a real thrill, are the abiding merit of The Ringmaster. An efficient company interpreted these many climatic moments to capital advantage, and the big scenes in the piece received from a pleased audience their meed of appreciation. Prominent in the cast were A. H. Van Buren, George Howell, Frederick Burton, Eduard Emery, Alfred Hickman, Addison Pitt, Vernon Wallace, Leurette Taylor, Oza Waldrop and Francis Ballou. Chestnut Street Opera House — An innovation florist shop, in which lingerie and hosiery are substituted for gardenias and orchids, starts the fun moving and adroitly sustains it to the end in The Florist Shop, a new farce from the German, presented this week at the Chestnut Street Opera House. Conspicuous in the well-chosen cast is Lionel Walsh, whose portrait of the ingenuous and wholly innocuous bridegroom, endeavoring to act the part of a gay libertine, is surely one of the most admirably conceived, carefully executed and continuously laugh-compelling footlight characters seen here in several seasons. Valuable assistance was accorded Mr. Walsh by Richard Sterling as the other young husband — his antithesis in moral character. Richard F. Freeman, as a country uncle, later infected with the late supper bacillus of Broadway; Nina Morris, as the proprietor of the innovation florist shop; John Thomas, as the unfortunate minister; and Adelaide Overton and Louise Drew as the pair of brides. Chestnut Street Theatre — Henry Arthur Jones' powerful play was played in a superior manner by the Orpheum stock company. The performance was a decided interest on general grounds. Marion Barney did Mrs. Lane and gave a thoroughly good, artistic impersonation. Helen Reimer, a favorite member of the organization, made her first appearance of the season and received a warm reception. Sir Daniel Carteret was in the very competent hands of William Engersoll, and Leah Winslow did ample justice to the character of Lady Eastney. Walnut Street Theatre — The Man of the Hour began the fourth season of its remarkable career at the Walnut. In the excellent company entrusted with the interpretation of the work, John Robertson contributed a strong and convincing young Mayor. John Sparks was Phelan, the boss ; J. A. Marcus was the Horrigan ; Alma Powell had the leading feminine role, and Julia D. Hanchett was the mother. Broad Street Theatre — The simple story which is unfolded in Eduard Lick's play, The Climax, continues at the Broad. This play has appealed to Philadelphia as it did to New York — as one of the most undramatic dramas imaginable, that is, it is entirely in the outworn artifices of the stage and hence .becomes a transcript of life itself. This will be readily realized when it is known that only four characters are in tjie action, and that there is no change of the scene. If you like noise and dramatic high lights, if violence and the tremendous thrills of great theatrical events alone appeal to you, The Climax is not for you ; but if you care for a rare work of art and for a delicate, sweet story upon the stage, by all means visit The Climax. Keith's Vaudeville House — George Beban, a player who has done excellent work in other fields, made his vaudeville debut as a headliner at Keith's in a little drama called The Sign of the Rose. It gave the player a fine opportunity for some good character acting, and as in its incidents the story had just the right admixture of smiles and tears to best appeal to the heart, artist and playlet won a marked success. Fred Lindsay was also a conspicuous item on the program in his curious and novel work with the thirty-foot whip used in the Australian backwoods. A Night in El Paso is a picturesque, scenic costume and dancing sketch, in which the Beeson Trio furnished some pleasant musical and song moments. I he Majestic Trio of colored entertainers provided another agreeable triad in their songs, dances and fun. Byron and Langdon had a laughable act entitled The Dude Detective. Alf Grant also proved a capable disseminator of happy feelings with his comicalities. Girls from Melody Lane in a quartet were taking to eye and ear, and the juggling comedy of Redford and Winchester was amusing. The Dixie Quartet opens in Philadelphia Monday evening. They have an entire new score and are sure to please with their harmony. This is the third year the Dixie Boys have been harmonizing. Calvin M. Franklin, who sings basso for this quartette, will continue as manager and states he has been fortunate to retain the same combination as last year. After a few months' rest the boys find their voices gone, in advance, and with Dave Bristow's sweet tenor, Lyn Castor's baritone and Pete Zisgen doing the leading, the Dixie Quartet find themselves in a class of their own. Calvin M. Franklin. EL PASO, Tex., Sept. 27.— Majestic (Crawford & Rich, mgrs.) : The Majestic Co. is playing to good business and giving the best of satisfaction. Fritz Fields and Wm. B-. Friedlander are deserving of much praise for their good work. Genevieve De Lacour has made quite a hit, and deservedly so, as her singing is a treat. Nan Halperin is a soubrette who is on the job all the time, and never fails to please. The chorus is well drilled and dressed. The Crawford (Crawford & Rich, mgrs.) : Opens Oct. 3d, with North Brothers, comedians, and their lady orchestra. El Paso Theatre (Crawford & Rich, mgrs.) : Raymond Teal, Oct. 15-17. Frank Morton has closed with the Raymond Teal Co., and joined the Majestic Co. SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 27.— Salt Lake (Geo. D. Pyper, mgr.) — Billie Burke played .to record-breaking houses. The seating capacity was sold out at every performance. Begining Sept. 30 and running until Saturday, The Honeymoon Trail. Colonial. (R. A. Grant, mgr.)— The Arlington Players presented The College Widow, to pretty good houses. Mr. Ince was pretty good as Billy Bolton, the half-back. Beginning Sunday evening Emma Bunting will be seen in the title role of Mary J. Holmes' novel, Lena Rivers. Grand (A. B. Jensen, res. mgr.) — The Willard Mack stock company drew big houses last week. Mr. Mack played the part of Ramerez, Miss Douglas was also good in the role of the girl. This week they will play The Other Girl. Mr. Mack has presented this before, and there is no doubt but that he will make good as Kid Garvey this time. Bungalow (R. A. Grant, mgr.) — Alfred Swenson and company in Hello Bill played to pretty good audiences. This week the Arlington Players will return to the Bungalow and J. B. REIGHLEY Theatrical Hauling Promptly Attended To Telephone Market 1601 660 Guerrero Street, Bet. 18th and 19th present Quo Vadis. It will no doubt be welcomed by the public. Nearly all of the cast have played parts in this play before and therefore should handle the piece well. Mr. Ince, leading man, will take the part of Yinicus, and Miss Creighton that of Lygia. Orpheum (H. Sonnenberg, res. mgr.) — The bill last week was up to the standard. Each number received its share of applause. This week there will be Eleanor Gordon and company in a comedy playlet, Tips on Tap ; La Petite Revue, booked as a real novelty, which includes nine people; the Walthour Trio, acrobatic cyclists ; the Five Avolos, xylophone players ; Lena Pantzer, who dances on the floor, on a wire, and in the air; Davey and Poney Moore, in The Dancing Tenderfoot ; and Millie Williams, a little Salt Lake girl, in an act called The Aerial Vocalist, and the motion pictures. R. Harbach. Claribel Becker will join James Young in vaudeville at the Orpheum next week. John Morrisey, resident manager of the San Francisco Orpheum, is visiting* his old home in St. Louis. After a short stay there he will go to New York. He is accompanied on his vacation by Mrs. Morrisey and will be gone about one month. Ed Redmond opens a season of stock at the Swain Theatre in Santa Cruz this evening. Among the new members of his company are Gerald I [arcourt, Charles Franklin and Howard Foster. Gi'orge Beebe, a former wellknown actor, known as George Emmett, who is now in business in Lakeport, was a Dramatic Review caller this week.