The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW CHAUIMCEY OLCOTT Now Spending His Annual Vacation Amid the Flowers of Sunny California OPENS HIS ANNUAL ENGAGEMENT AT THE Columbia Theatre Easter Sunday APRIL 12 March 28, 1914. Columbia Theatre The exquisitely delightful perform- ince of Henrietta Crosman and her ompany in The Tongues of Men will eave behind it a most pleasant mem- )ry for theatre goers, even if the nanagement cannot feel the same vay, for, to be truthful, it is discon- •erting to realize that an offering of his character will not apparently Iraw to the full measure of its merit. Kext week we will be given a nov- elty in the presence of the English :ompany, The Stratford-on-Avon Players in their Shakespeare reper- ;oire, played in the old, old manner. Cort Theatre Within the Law is playing a return ;wo-weeks' engagement here, after a short interval, and is attracting the ;ame absorbing interest that mani- fested itself upon the first visit. The same cast is in evidence and nothing 3Ut good things may be said of the work of Margaret Illington, Robert Elliott, Howard Gould, Hilda Keenan, Jules Ferrar, Joseph Slayton, Frank Camp and Neill Moran. Next week will be the final one, and then comes Evelyn Nesbitt Thaw. Alcazar Theatre In Her Lord and Master, Herbert Kelcey and Effie Shannon are giv- ing the public an unusually fine per- formance. They have not only re- vived one of their own pronounced successes, but they are helping the Alcazar Company, individually and collectively, to do some real, substan- tial shining, and to achieve a unity in their work which is not always a conspicuous feature. Herbert Kelcey plays the young Englishman whose uncompromising uprightness is so im- portant an element in the unruly hero- ine's development. Mr. Kelcey has so much in common with the person- ality of the Right Honorable Thur- ston Canning that he slips easily into the portrayal of the well-bred Eng- lishman with centuries of culture and high ideals behind him. His ances- tral hall is the scene of most of the action of the play, and the beautiful atmosphere that is associated with the [old nobility is well created here through the sympathetic rendering of the various characters connected with the household. Burt Wesner is the old butler, whose child-like pride in his sixty years' service in the old family is as great as though he were a member of it. He has played but- lers before, but this is his crowning achievement. The gentle old Lady Canning is another interesting char- acter in-as-much as it is Helen Hill's first really important part, and her intuitive understanding of the quiet dignity and delicate honor of the old gentlewoman, and her power of bring- ing them out, result in an interpreta- tion that will easily bear comi^arison with that of the more experienced actresses who have played it here be- fore. She is the picture of the fine old English gentlewoman. Into this quiet, well-ordered household comes Thurston's American bride, the young Indiana, fresh from the convention- al life of the Middle West—the un- controlled, self-willed, high-spirited daughter of sterling, though over-in- dulgent parents. The development of her .spiritual sense of moral respon- sibility toward her fellow being's forms the motif of the play, which INIiss Shannon evolves with all her charming sympathy and insight. Ker- nan Cripps and Louise Brownell are excellent rough-diamond parents. Ed- mond Lowe is handsome and vital as Indiana's backwoods lover, and Adele Belgarde revels in the part of the ultra- modern grandmother, who wears the extreme of style, even to colored wigs, but whose underlying substratum of common sense is a potent factor in bringing Indiana to her senses. It is a long time since her humorous bent could be given free rein, but she uses it here with balance and discretion. Howard Hickman plays the world- weary Lord Nelson Stafford, David W. Butler is a powdered footman, and ]\Iargaret Arnold, as an enticing maid, has a lively tilt with the Eng- lish valet. Flash, whose obsequious- ness and servility are excellently drawn by Ralph Bell. Her Lord and Master is bright, clean comedy, with just enough problem to keep the in- terest keen without over-taxing the analytical sense, and the play goes with a smoothness and spirit that make it a thoroughly delightful per- formance. Gaiety Theatre This is the last week of The Candy Shop, one of the greatest musical comedy triumphs ever brought to the city. After tonight's performance the company will close and later a new company, with some of The Candy Shop principals, will be seen in a new piece, The Echo. In the interval a great feature film will be displayed, opening tomorrow. Savoy Theatre The promises made for the Harry Lauder singing and talking pictures at tbe Savoy have been more than vin- dicated by the pictures themselves. Perfection in synchronization is a noticeable part of the entertainment. She's Ma Dai.sy, She's the Lass for Me, The Saftest o' the Family, Parted on the Shore, I Love a Lassie, A Wee Dooch an' Doris, and other selections from Lauder's repertoire of songs are given, with the accompanying patter. ]\Iotion i)ictures also show Lauder on his trip across the country and in this city, notably at the 1915 fair grounds. There is a singer in the orchestra pit and some Scotch pipers to help out the show. Matinees are given daily. The Tivoli A series of misfortunes has beset the grand opera season, and it is to be regretted that San Francico's tra- ditional name for grand opera suc- cess is receiving a great blow. It is doubtful if we will have another grand opera season for some years to come. Her Soul and Her Body lielasco and ])a\is will start re- hearsals for Her Soul and Her I'ody next Tuesday. Supporting Mrs. Crane will be Viola Lada, Kathryn Lawrence, Helen Hill, Eleanor FIal)er, Edmond Lowe, Jack Eraser, Wm. Dills, Douglas Crane and sev- eral others. Edward Lada will gc) along as musical director. Al Iloogs is booking the tour and will have charge of things on the road. Charley Pike will be company man- ager. Mabel Darragh Almost Wins a Farm Mabel Darragh, prima donna for the Jack Golden company, had an un- usual ex])crience in San Jose this week. She opened Sunday with the song, You Made Me Love You, and I Did Not Want to Do It, using a s])ot on the first convenient bald head in liie audience. As luck would have it, the spot spotted a typical old farmer with si)inach adornment, and Mabel made the most of the find. At the second show the spot discovered the same old bald head, in the same old scat, and it began to be interesting. For three days the farmer was a steady visitor, enjoying with great glee his unusual notoriety. When the bill was changed Wednesday the company in- troduced as a finale to a song a march through the audience, and there was Mr. Farmer, this time with wifey. In passing him Miss Darragh was halted, and the farmer insisted on introducing his wife. But wife evidently did not take to hubby's infatuation, for she made short work of the acknowledg- ment, and soon had hubby hustled from the show house. And apparent- ly that is the end of hubby's show go- ing, for he has not been back yet. Lucius Henderson Comes Lucius Henderson, formerly leading man in support of well-known stars and recently convicted of the film pro- ducing habit, has been engaged as general producer of the California Motion Picture Company of this city, an 1 will soon be operating in San Ra- fael, where the company has leased eight acres and where a studio and other buildings will be erected. Mr. Henderson has secured H. L. Gates as scenario editor. Fie will organize a company in three weeks. Personal Mention A new musical comedy stock is be- ing organized for Bisbee, Ariz. Avis M.\nor joined the Orphcum Stock Company at Gustine last Wed- nesday. During the season of Willard Mack and Marjorie Rambeau at the Alcazar Theatre, beginning on Easter Mon- day night, these two gifted people will be sCcn in the first production in stock of Charles Kenyon's sensationally suc- cessful I'lay. Kindling. Julia Helkne Dillon is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Dil- lon, in Seattle. This young lady ar- rived March 18, and is the reci]iicnt of many social attentions. Around the Seattle Stock Company, where Jimmy Dillon is a popular member, the ver- dict is, Julia Helene is "some l)al)y. " Congratulations. ]\ioKKis B. DuDLKV. Several years ago well known as a Coast agent, but now a big figure in the film game, is in Los Angeles, closing up a new big deal. Mr. Dudley is also interested with Zellah Covington in the hitter's farce. The Elixir of Youth, which goes on in one of the Harris theatres in New York on August the first. Ed.mond Lowe is slated to play the lead with the Bclasco & Davis road show which goes out in two weeks. Mr. Lowe is a fortunate young man. His rise on the stage has been rai)id and be is worthy of it. .Another bit of good fortune came to him a few months ago. It was an inheritance of aljout $80,000 that will help the future considerably. Dates Ahead W11 ITl' S1 .A V !•: TR.\ 1'FIC — .Arbuckle. March 28; Willows, 29; Colusa, ; \\'inters, 31. SM.ASHING THE VICE TRCS T PiCTl'RKS (Chas. Thall ahead)— San Jose, March 25-April 2; Sacra- mento, 3-5; Stockton, 6-8; .Auburn, 9; Reno, 11-13. SMASHING THE VICE TRUST PICTURES fW. H. Fullwood ahead)—Denver, A])ril 5 and week. (iii). R. Matlson and .Au.sta I'lKKCE (Mrs. Matison) are in town for a week l)efore leaving for San Diego to visit Airs. Matison's motlicr. Last season Mr. Matison was with The Lion and the Mouse Company.