San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

October 16, 1909 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 5 The Third Degree Has Hit Los Angeles With Convincing Force LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14.— Florence Oakley Pryor has been renewing old acquaintances here and in Pasadena during her visit in Pasadena. She is the same charming young woman that we all knew and loved during her engagement at the Belasco. We understand that she is • soon to return to Oakland to continue her stage work. Ferris Hartman and his company will soon be with us again, and we will be glad to see them all. On Sunday, Oct. 17, Mr. Hartman will open his season at the Grand in The Yankee Consul. Following this, Mr. Hartman will give a number of the latest New York musical comedy successes for the first time by a stock organization. George Broadhurst has taken up his residence in our fair city and will remain here for the next ten months. While he is here he will write a play for Lillian Russell and also one for Grace George. Florence Reed will not be featured by the Shuberts, but instead will be starred by Wagenhals & Kember in Avery Hopwood's comedy, Seven Days. Blanche Hall resumes her place as leading woman of the Burbank next Sunday night. Alfred Metzger, of the San Francisco Musical Review, is in Los Angeles for a few days. Howard Scott returns to the Belasco this week and is seen in his old part of Kellerman in the production of Old Heidelberg. Maude Beatty has gone to San Francisco to join the Kolb and Dill forces. She takes the place made vacant by Maybelle Baker. Word has been received by some local theatrical people that the company in which "Bill" Desmond was playing the lead, in New Orleans, has closed, and "Bill" is on his way to Kansas City, to play leading roles with the Woodward Stock Company. His opening bill is The Christian. There is a Los Angeles girl playing with the A Knight for a Day Company at the Majestic this week. This is Lonnie Nelson ; she lived in the city for fifteen years and four years ago went on the stage. This is her first experience in musical comedy. George Webb has severed his connection with the company at the Grand and has gone to Fresno to play leads with a new musical comedy company managed by Nat Mager. AUDITORIUM— Corinne returns to please her many local admirers, and this time she has a very good piece, which is more than can be said of her last vehicle. Mile. Mischief is a Viennese operetta in three acts. It would be somewhat difficult to tell the story of this piece, but it' is entertaining and pleasing from start to finish and it gives Corinne ample opportunity for the display of her own personality. Corinne is Rosette, the sweetheart of one Andre Claire, an artist. Rosette has several exciting experiences, caused from the fact that she goes to the barracks in male attire. There is a rollicking old man, a silly young man and several women in prominent parts. Unusual taste is displayed in the costuming of the chorus, and the stage settings are excellent. The male chorus is particularly strong, and the singing throughout is all that it should be. There is a snap and go tothe performance, and the piece is well adapted to the talents of the star. BELASCO — Once more we have the pleasure of seeing the Belasco Company in that ever-popular piece, ( )ld Heidelberg. Many of the company have their old parts, but there are new faces in familiar roles. It is safe to say that there has never been any better presentation of Old Heidelberg, and it is difficult to imagine one that could be as good. Lewis Stone is seen at his best in the role of Karl Meinz ; it is one of the best things he has done. The exuberance of youth and the sadness brought about by grave responsibilities are so well brought out in Mr. Stone's characterization of the part, that his Karl is very real. Miss Magrane is a very lovable, winsome Kathie. She thoroughly understands her part, as shown in the scene where Kathie and Karl say good-bye forever. It might so easily be overdone, but it is not. Mr. Applebee, as Dr. Juttner, has the best opportunity that has yet been given him, and he is making a tremendous success of the part. The Lutz of Frank Camp is very good. Mr. Scott makes his reappearance with the company in his old part of Kellerman. Mr. Vivian is also seen in one of his old roles, that of Von Ansterberg. Ida Lewis does a good bit of character work as Frau Dorfel. Mr. Giglyn, Mr. Hamer and Mr. Cook all do good work in their respective parts. The staging is appropriate. BURBANK— A Society Pilot, the work of Oliver Morosco and Dr. C. W. Bachman, is the offering of the Burbank Company for the week. The story is that of a bankrupt young man who becomes the secretary of a millionaire from Texas, and the "society pilot" of his d?ughter. John Burton plays the part of Bill Mason, the millionaire, and Lillian Burkhart is cast as the daughter. Mr. Beasley is Ned Singleton, the "Society Pilot." He does well in the part. Mr. Hartford plays Winstanley, the designing Englishman. Mr. Mestayer has the part of the piece, the Baron. His characterization' of the part is, to say the least, clever. The cast is a large one, and the parts are all very well taken. There is ample oportunity for the display of handsome, gowns and the women of the company are not slow to grasp this opportunity. Beside Miss Burkhardt there are the following women, who are seen to advantage in good parts: Lovell Alice Taylor, Miss Duffet and Mrs. Florence Oberle. The stage settings are elaborate. MASON— The Third Degree, a powerful and vital drama, from the pen of Charles Klein, is proving a most interesting performance. The play deals with a system used in the modern police department, about which there has been much argument. The subject has been handled in a clever, masterful style and is splendidly staged. Paul Everton, who recently headed the Western production of The Lion and the Mouse, gives an excellent picture of the far-seeing, calculating lawyer. Fernanda Eliscu makes the most difficult role of Annie convincingly real. The balance of the cast is capable. With acompelling heart interest, The Third Degree is a strong play artistically presented. MAJESTIC— A Knight for a Day is one of the best in the line of musical shows that has been here this season. The plot can hardly be discerned with a spy-glass, but it is rilled with the laugh-getting stuff, and there is plenty of spice and snap in the whole performance. Edward Hume is a breezy little comedian, as funny as he looks, and Grace De Mar is an able partner to his fun. Edward Lynch, well known in Los Angeles, is the leading man. The chorus is a pretty one, well worth looking at, and the piece as a whole is well produced and entertains. GRAND — What Women Will Do is the thrilling title of the play being put on by the melodramatic company at the Grand this week. There is a plot to this play and also a lesson taught, and it is not at all a bad play. George Webb, Robert Leonard, Grace Rauworth, Lillian Hayward and the other members of the company are all seen in god parts, and the play is given in an attractive manner. This week marks the close of the season of melodrama at the Grand, and next week will serve to introduce us again to Ferris Hartman and his able company of players in The Yankee Consul. O R P H E U M— Heading this week's bill is a compact and vivid piece of work showing a jury debating the guilt or innocence of an accused murderer, while they indulge in a little poker-playing and treat the audience to some very good singing. The guilt is finally fastened on the right man in a most sensational manner, and the sketch is splendidly presented. Al Wyn and Ed Lee, in The Billiken Freshman, poke fun at the college youth in an inimitable manner, while they draw much unconstrained laughter from the audience. Chas Montrell is a clever juggler in a clever act. Rosa Crouch and George Welch sing, dance and crack jokes, and keep things moving fast. The holdovers are the Arlington Four, Gardner and Revere, Luca and that excellent musical sketch, At the Country Club. The bill is finished with fine set of moving pictures. FISCHER'S— Charles Alphin and his company offer for the week, Off for the North Pole. It is a satire dealing with the amusing project of Com. Peary, who has succeeded in getting Abe Erlanger and William Brady to finance a scheme to send a musical company, composed of New York's greatest stars to Cook's Theatre, North Pole, to enlighten the benighted Eskimo in American entertainment. The company is composed of Lillian Russell (Maude Rockwell), Eva Tanguay (Blossom Seeley), and Geo. M. Cohan (Dave Morris), surrounded by a dazzling Yankee chorus. Jules Mendel impersonates Abe Erlanger, while William Brady appears in the person of Harry Oaks. Flo Slicrlack is cast as Miss Phitt, wardrobe mistress, almost. The scene is laid upon the deck of the good ship Roosevelt and te under the command of Peary (Richard Kipling). LOS ANGELES— The bill at the Los Angeles is headed by the Three Roehrs, in their loop the loop in revolving globe. The performer give a remarkable and daring exhibition of bicycle riding. Mitchell and Cain are a very funny team and appear in the skit called The Frenchman and the Other Fellow. A musical number is furnished by the Italian singer, Vera de Bassini. Miss Bassini has a clear voice, and her selections are well given. The three La Maze Brothers appear in a comedy acrobatic act. Tom I'ateman sings character songs and does some eccentric dancing. Emily and Jessie Dodd present a character sketch entitled Dutton's Claim. New motion pictures complete the bill. UNIQUE — A good bill is being given at the Unique for the current week. Jack Harrington is a very clever cartoonist, and his work shows that he has devoted much time to the study of his art. Frank Jones and Lillian Walton do good work in their playlet, Our Country Cousin. Who Is Who? is the oneact comedy in which the Unique players appear. Al Franks is the young bachelor who goes a-wooing and who is mistaken for the new servant. James Spencer is good as the servant. Herbert Gramor makes much of his part, that of an irascible old man. Misses Rose and Janicki, as the servant and the daughter, respectively, are pleasing. There are several new and catchy songs introduced. An illustrated song and motion pictures conclude a very excellent bill. WALKER'S— A lively show, presenting a very charming widow is The Jolly Widow, at the Walker Theatre. The lines are full of good comedy, and the singing and dancr ing clever. The closing number, The Anvil Chorus, in which CharlesTIgg and Annie Bauman do the' vocal work, has an unusually pretty setting with special lighting effects. The plot concerns a widow looking for her seventh. Miss Bauman i» charming as the widow. Mayme Praeger works alone in a song number. Clamage, Leonard, Mayme Praeger and Gail Henry comprise a quartette who do a specialty song and dance. Estelle Praeger and Charles Figg sing Just Someone in a very pleasing manner. FLORENCE EMERY. Impressive Services At Funeral of Mrs. Saunders Impressive services were held over the remains of Mrs. Elizabeth Saunders, at the chapel of the I. O. O. F., Wednesday afternoon. Marry friends assembled to pay their last respect to the revered player. The services were conducted by Rev. George C. Adams of the First Congregational Church. Among the friends seated about the bier was Frederick Franks, who had played with Mrs. Saunders in many dramatic works at the California Theatre years ago, and who stated that since the death of the famous actress he believed himself to be the only surviving member of that once celebrated company. Mrs. Mortimer and the faithful nurse, Miss Kara Olsen, were present. The pall bearers were J. J. Gottlob, Melville Marx, W. H. Leahy and W. L. Grecnbaum.