San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

November 27. 1909 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW M Coh an and His Royal Americans are Making Records in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES. Nov. 25.— Next week will witness a new member added to the Burbank company. David Landau. Mr. Morosco's new second man. will make his first appearance in The Heir to the Hoorah. He will play heavies and juvenile leads. Mr. Morosco's new leading woman is Frances Nordstrom. She will appear first in The Girl of the Golden West, which opens Dec. 26. Helen Holmes. former leading woman at the Belasco Theatre, is in the cast of The City at the Hyperion Theatre. New Haven. Conn. Nat Goodwin is expected to spend a part of the present winter in Los Angeles. There will be several changes in the personnel of the company at Fischer's in the next two weeks. Next Monday Josephine Lerov. prima donna, and Nan Halperin. soubrette. will join the company. December 6. Dan Mason, a German comedian, will become a member of the company. Clarence Drown, manager of the Orpehum, has left with his family for a vacation trip to Honolulu. They will also make a visit to San Francisco. Jessie Mae Hall, who will be pleasantly remembered for her work with the Burbank company, is making good with the Al Trchaern company at San Antonio. Oliver Morosco telegraphed from New York yesterday that he had obtained the only authorized version of St. Elmo for early production at the Burbank Theatre. The play is a dramatization by William Holcomb of Augusta J. Evans' well known novel of the same name, the dramatic rights to which are controlled absolutely by Mr. Holcomb and his partner, Yaughan Glaser. John H. Blackwood returned from New York last night. AUDITORIUM— The attraction at the Shubert house for the week is The Gay Musician. This is the first local presentation of the piece, although it ran in New York for a long time. It is a real comic opera, and unlike many that we see has a well defined plot. Harry Benham, who plays the title role, shares the honors with Texas Guinan, who is a charming young woman, possessed of a very excellent voice and wonderful ability as a comedienne. Lottie Kendall as the deceived and jealous wife acts well and sings attractively. Margaret Crawford plays Matilda Yager in a truly wonderful manner. It seems as it Mr. Edwards had written the part for her so well does it suit her. Freda Klingel is pleasing as Hilda Branson. Roger Gray is convincing in the part of Samuel Lyons, the theatrical manager. He has a good voice, which shows careful training. The principals and chorus dance well and sing well and the songs arc catchy. The comedy is good and the whole show a real success. BELASCO— Channing Pollock's dramatization of Miriam Michaelson's novel. In the Bishop's Carriage, is being produced by the Belasco company this week. The play itself is strong, interesting and appealing and tells a consistent -story. In the main the parts are well taken. Miss Magrane does not seem at home in the role of Nan the nipper. There is not enough of the bravado in her portrayal ; she is just not suited to the part of the reckless Nan. Mr. Stone does well as William Latimer, but this is not one of his best pieces of work. Frank Cam]), as Tom Dorgan the crook, does excellently. Mr. Yerance is receiving a cordial welcome this week on the event of his return to the lielasco company. He is seen to advantage in the part of Edward Ramsay. Miss Adcle Farrington has the small part of Mag Monahan. Miss Lewis is Mrs. Edward Ramsay and Miss Beth Taylor plays the daughter. The balance of the company are well cast. BURBANK — The Dairy Farm, Eleanor Merron's rural drama, is holding the boards at the Burbank. Two years ago this same play was given by the Burbank company, and main of those in that cas.t are appearing in the cast of the present offering. The scene of the play is laid in New York State in a farming community and tells the story of true love that does not run smooth. Everything is pleasingly settled in the last act and the wrong is made right. Mr. Beasley and Miss Hall are seen in the leading roles. Willis Marks is very real in the part of Simon Crum, the village Shylock. Harry Mestayer is Joel Whitbeck, the village peddler; Flenry Stockbridge is Jehu Sparmley ; Lovell Alice Taylor is very amusing as Jane Perkins; John Burton is excellent in the role of Squire Hurley: Margo Duffet, Louise Royce, David Hartford, H. S. Duffield and Frederick Gilbert are all well cast. Florence Oberle makes an ideal negro mammy. The performance is very satisfactory. MASON — The management of the Mason is happier this week than for many moons, and Mr. W'yatt is wearing a smile that will not come off. The reason. They are actually turning people away this week, all because of George M. Cohan and his excellent company. The Yankee Prince is a great show and Cohan is greater than his show. The story' is that of an American boyr PercySpringer, who wants the hand of an American girl, Evelyn Fielding. Her father wants her to sell herself to gain an English title and her mother is equally anxious that she should marry the American. The American wins in the end. Josephine Cohan is not with the present company, but her place is taken by Miss Lila Rhodes, who is dainty, pretty and a fine dancer ; she also wears some beautiful gowns. Jerry and Helen Cohan, father ami mother of George, play Mr. and Mrs. Fielding; Frank Hollius is the English Earl to whom Mr. Fielding wishes to marry his daughter; Tom Lewis, who has been seen before in Mime of the Cohan shows, is cast as Steve Daly, and Sam Ryan is the Irishman, John Fagan. The company includes twelve principals and a chorus of forty. The music is all good, but the three best numbers are I'm Awfully Strong for You, The A-1!-C's of U S. A. and M-o-n-e-y. The Yankee Prince is the best musical comedy we have had here this season. MAJESTIC — With the same horse race, the same pickaninny band and the same Colonel Sandusky Doolittle. corner Old Kentucky, ever welcome and always popular. Burt G. Clark is still portraying the big, ready witted Colonel, and familiarity with his role tends to make it a finished performance. Frank Dayton also returns as the rich young turfman. Joseph Slaytor as' Horace Holton supplies the villainy. Mildred Johnson is a most satisfying Madge. The pickaninny band, which is to < >ld Kentucky what the bloodhounds are to Uncle Tom's Cabin, prove themselves equal to the occasion. GRAND — The Hartman company is giving us a very pleasing revival of that popular Oriental musical comedy, The Chinese Honeymoon. It is a bright pretty performance with catchy music, a good looking, well drilled chorus, an up to date show. Mr. Hartman is happy in the role of Mr. Pineapple. He is extremely funny in the part. Muggins Davics is Fi Fi. Walter Catlett is seen in the part of the Lord Chancellor and Joseph Fogarty the Emperor. Josie Hart is Mrs. Pineapple. Walter De Leon has two new songs in the show. They are both very clever; one is Mamie and the other My Mother Didn't Bring Me Up That Wav. QRPHEUM — < )n With the Dance brings to us Mile. Bianci, beautiful in face and figure and a superb dancer. Her interpretative dances, The Dresden China Dance, Egyptienne, La Danse en Volant and Satanella are beyond comparison. Added to the grace of her movements are her exquisite costumes, each a study in itself. "General" Ed La Vine is here on his annual visit, with his inimitable foolishness. Hal Godfrey, with his company, came from London with a sketch called The Liar. Edmund Keno. Walsh and Melrose have something new and something good in the way of gymnastics. George Bloomquist and his company are still adding to the gayety of the bill with Nerve, and the Flowards as Messenger Boy and Thespians continue to amuse with their songs and parodies. Ballerini's talented dogs fill out the holdovers. LOS ANGELES— There is good vaudeville at the Los Angeles for the current week. The bill is headed by Anna Eva Fay, telepathist. She does some stunts that are uncxplainable. A novel act is furnished by Irma Orbasany's trained cockatoos. Elsie Crescy and her company appear in a skit entitled Fagin's Pupil. William (ahill furnishes a very amusing monologue and Dorothy Vaughan is a clever comedienne. Moving pictures complete the bill. FISCHER'S— The Kelly-Massey company are offering My Friend's Wife this week. James T. Kelly has a light comedy role of Bobby Wilson, and Charles Figg is cast as Richard Gardner. Miss Massey is the pretended wife of Gardner and MKs Clark, the daughter of Gardner's uncle (Harry Oakcs). Anna Robinson is the young fun-making daughter. The chorus is doing some excellent work. There are several 5 tine song numbers in the product Un. ( >LY M PIC — A. Mutt at the R is the title of the piece being pui by the Alphin-Fargo company at U t ilvmpic. Besides the original Mutt the cast includes his wife, I ma Mutt, Little Jeff and all the family. Dave Morris impersonates Mutt with a makeup, that is truly wonderful. Jules .Mendel plays the German saloonkeeper. Blossom Seeley plays the part of the French maid. Maude Rockwell portrays the female racetrack fan in love with a sporting bookmaker I Richard Kipling). Rose Ledman is cast as Ima Mutt and Leonard Brisbane and Henry Auerbach are also well cast. UNIQUE— The vaudeville part of the prograni at the Unique is furnished by the Earl sisters with character songs and changes, and Waldo. Devere and Gates in a comedy sketch. The Irish Eskimos. The Unique comedy company plays Neighborly Neighbors. The story is of one Lent Barlow (Al Franks), .who falls in love with the daughter (Annie Baumann ) of old Hawkins (Herbert Cramer). The latter has been fighting the Barlows for years to gain the possession of certain property. He finally does give his consent. Laurel Atkins-Blair, Dawn De Lane, Hazel Salmon and James Spencer all have good roles. FL< )RF.\'( F EM FRY. NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 20.— Tulane Theatre — Fritzi Scheff in her new opera, The Prima Donna, sang herself into high favor of big houses during the week. Charles Dillingham has surrounded the star with an expensive production. The cast is large and capable, the costumes showy and costly, and the scenic effects in keeping with a high grade production. The music of the opera is tuneful, a number of selections being pretentious, while the dialogue is clean cut and witty. Brushing aside any comparisons with her vehicle when last seen here, Mile. Modeste, there can be no question but that the artist has improved greatly in vocal attainments, taking rank as possibly the leading lyric soprano on the light opera stagey Miss Schcff's style is distinctive. She is not a stage beauty, but is full of chic and magnetism, and with her well known ability to wear gowns that are the best products of the dressmaker's art she presents a striking stage picture. John E. Hazzard is a comedian of unctions, easy methods. He knows how to sing a topical soul; effectively. The chorus was above the usual comic opera standards in that vocal abilities were apparent. Next week, Robert Mantell; 28, Rose Stahl. Crescent Theatre — Strongheart, with Burton L. King in the title role, plaved to big business. The supporting cast, particularly the male roles was strong. Next week Al. 11. W ilson. W. L. McCONNELL. The Elleford Company had exceptional success during their Yallejo engagement last week. They played to capacity business. \TAYMAN-F< >LTZ ( '< ).— I Ianford, Nov. 28-Oec. 4; Bakersfield, 512; Oxnard, 13-18; Los Angeles, 1924.