The San Francisco Dramatic Review (1908)

June 6, 1914 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 9 Columbia Theatre This is the second and last week of Neptune's Daughter, the Annette Kel- lennann picture taken in Bermuda. Commencing tomorrow, Richard Ben- nett and company will start a two- weeks' engagement i n Damaged Goods. Cort Theatre William Hodge opened a two- weeks' engagement at the Cort on Sunday evening in The Road to Hap- piness, a rustic melodrama from the pen of one Lawrence Whitman. The play is of mixed genealogy, that part that does not take after Hazel Kirke following closely the lines laid down in The Old Homestead and Shore Acres, with a touch of Peg o' My Heart and The Faith Healer by way of flavor—the combination at least is original. Needless to say, the Peg o' My tleart portion has by far the best of the argument, not merely because it is a concession to the modern taste, but because whatever is truly, genu- inely human must always appeal,- no matter how factitious and spurious the environment in which it finds it- self. And Jim Whitman is human, tenderly, ideally human; a character conceived like Peg in inspiration, that glows, also like Peg, in situations es- sentially false and theatrical. Jim Whitman it is that carries The Road to Happiness to success ahead of far better plays—Jim Whitman as we find him at the Cort, for just how much of truth the role owes to its inter- preter is a question. Certainly Wm. Hodge is remarkable for quiet con- vincing" work, and almost carries con- viction to the play itself. His art is unimpeachable, reticent but telling, his personality is warm and friendly, w'hile his remarkable enunciation is the joy of the back row; I know of no one who sends the sense so far afield with so little apparent effort. There are other things that might truthfully be said in praise of Mr. Hodge, that have in fact been written about him so often that they go without the say- ing; all that seems necessary to add is the "We concur." However, it may be novel to notice that he makes a very good curtain speech, something in the manner of De Wolf Hopper. The rest of the play is made up of types that are very well portrayed by the assisting company. Scott Cooper emphasizes the petty brutal despotism of Benjamin Ilardcastle, but might be more intelligible if he would speak a little slower at times. George Lund is an acceptable and gentlemanly vil- lain, almost too good looking. Tay- lor Carroll is noticeably good as the hypocritical minister of the Gospel. Eva Ilardcastle is played by Reeva (jreenvvood, whose expressive face and simple sincerity bring out the im- portance of the role. Gertrude Hitz has the more difficult part of Viola, who is unjustly accu.sed of what the Frencli term dishonesty, and she is effective and very dainty and respon- Nive in the garden scene. Opposite her is Walter, ])layed by Adin I). Wil- son, and A. W. Clark and Edwin Mel- vin appear momentarily as Asa Hard- castle and Judge Stevenson respec- tively, while A. L. Evans is a popu- lar figure on Senator, the spavined horse. Mrs. Hardcastle and Martha, the overworked eldest Ilardcastle daughter, are in the capable hands of Marion Brust and Marie Haynes. Perhaps the best bit of characteriza- tion, after Mr. Hodge, is the William Ackernian of Howard Morgan. It is plaintive and appealing, the refine- ment of rural comedy. Eugenie Woodward is the cheerful Mrs. Wood- ward, a study in optimism and one of the lessons of the play. The Road to Happiness also illustrates, though somewhat crudely, one of the funda- mental principles of good drama— that, because of the action, one or more of the people in the story are different at the fall of the curtain; there has been a change of heart, an interior growth, a development of character, a something beyond the mere photographic presentation of facts. Perhaps this means that the author will not be satisfied with less than the whole truth another time. Alcazar Theatre Commencing Tluirsdav Matinee, June 4, iai4, THEIR MARKET VALUE In four acts. By Willard Mack CAST John Lomax Willard Mack Richard Ellis Livingstone Howard C. Hickman Franklyn Abbott Ralph Bell Col. Caleb Jones A. Burt W'esncr Rev. Edward Woolcot Kernan Cripps Burnie .\bbott Charles Compton Butler A. Burton Lucy Milligan, the Colonel's ward. . . . Dorcas Matthews Mrs. Huston Philbrick.... Louise Brownell Mary Abbott Marjorie Rambeau The la.st of tlie new Willard Mack plays was presented Thursday, and like the rest pleased Alcazar audiences uncommonly well. The opening- matinee was large and on Thurs- day night there was present the largest mid-week audience the theatre has seen in a long time. .Xiul the enthu- siasm and applause was unusual. So it may be safely said that Their Mar- ket Value is a success. Unlike the other Mack plays, this one is a dress- suit drama, and Miss Rambeau is al- lowed the opportunity of appearing in her glad rags, and the change is a most pleasing one. The author, with a rare modesty, gives himself a small part, and to Miss Rambeau is also given a small, if decidedly pleasing role. Dorcas Matthews has what has developed into the leading female part, that of a wronged young girl. Miss Matthews played it with cjuiet and ef- fective charm. As the bad boy who led the young girl astray, Howard Hickman had a strong part, which he presented effectively. Kernan Cripps wore the garb of a minister and was not altogether hajjpy in the character. The firm, dominating style of Cripp's work and his robust personality is not altogether suited to the popular con- ception of the .spiritual characteristics of a minister of the holy church. Chas. Conipton portrayed the young fellow with a steady crush on the ladies of the theatrical profession, and it is not far from the truth to say that he de- veloped a part that came pretty near to stealing the show. Burt Wesner and Louise Brownell, as the elderly couple, were responsible for some pleasing moments in two rather con- ventional characters. Mack made his usual terse and characteristic curtain sjieech, and the audience enjoyed it as much as any part of the show. .so MUCH FOR .so MUCH The first part of the week was de- voted to a revival of So Much for So Much, for three days. It is undoubt- edly the best thing in the Mack rciK-r- toire. Gaiety Theatre The Isle of Bong Bong, chock full of enjoyable musical numbers and much pleasing comedy, will on next week enter into the final stages of its local engagement, after which the Gaiety management will present .A Knight for a Day. Governor Johnson to Dedicate Theatre SANTA CRCZ. June 3.—An ac- ceptance was received today from Governor Hiram W. Johnson to speak here Saturday night at the dedication of the Outdoor Theatre, just com- pleted on the banks of the San Lor- enzo River, where a week of historical pageants is to be prcjduced the last week in June. "Peg" leaves New York After 604 Performances Oliver Morosco terminated Laurette Taylor's run in Peg o' My Heart at the Cort Theatre, New York, May 30, after a record-breaking run of 604 per- formances. In commemoration of the farewell performance satin programs were distributed. These are hand- somely illustrated with portraits of Miss Taylor and the members of her supporting company who have figured in the run. This constitutes a world's record for a woman star in one play. It is also the record run of the Ameri- can stage for the pa.st twenty-one years. The Dram-Vfic Review has been remembered with one of the sou- venir programs—a tasty, elegant af- fair. Marcus Loew Leases Another N. Y. Theatre Marcus Loew has leased the Fulton Theatre, Brooklyn, for fifteen years. The house which has been playing the Loew bookings for some time, will go to the Loew circuit's direct opera- tion June 8. Arthur Lighton, the Ful- ton's manager, will be retained in charge of the Shubert, P)rooklyn, while Willie Sheehan will go to the Inilton. Lily Hall Caine, Sister of Novelist, is Dead LONDON, June 2.—Lily Hall Caine, the actress and sister of Hall Caine, died last night. Her husband was the late George D. Day, dramatic author and manager. Rough Stuff The first of Willard Mack's sketches to get started locally is the stirring dramatic playlet. Rough Stuff, which will l)c seen at Pantagcs ]m-o1)- ably a week from Sunday. The cast is headed by Vane Calvert. I'rances Roiicrls. Raymond llaltoii. W. W^ Craig, Wm. Raymond and Margaret Manners. Personal Mention Miss Lvkkns, leading woman for the Manion-Clamaii players, will close next week. The Comi)anv is playing Lehi, Utah. HucH O'CoNNELL returned to Chi- cago yesterday. H. L. "Buck" Massie, the well- known circus agent, is a guest at the Continental Hotel. G. ICknest Robin and wife have re- turned from the East and are taking a vacation in McCloud. Oliver Bailey and wife and Clift" Thompson are spending the summer at Lake Alice, Washington. James Po.st is at present. resting in the mountains at Smith's Creek, Santa Clara County, where the fishing is good. (Gertrude De Graee, earlier in the season with the Bert Porter Conii)aiiy in Utah, arrived in town this week on a visit to her mother. Arthur Austin is meeting with en- couraging success in directing the tour of Estha Williams in .V Man's Game in Eastern territory. Charley Saulsburc, and llow.\ki) McCoy have left for Santa Cruz to introduce the tango craze to the crowds at that beach resort. Charley Gunn has closed his sea- son in Cincinnati and is leading sup- port to Mary Servoss during the lat- ter's season in Cleveland. Ralph Graves, a Washington. 1). C, dramatic critic, is doing tlie Coast for the first time, ahead of Richard Bennett's Damaged Goods. IsABELLE Fletcher writes from Sacramento that her engagement there is proving a most pleasant one. Nice company; nice management. Louis Bennison, for a numljer of seasons with the Alcazar Company, is one of the hits of Richard Bennett's New York cast in Damaged Goods. A theatre is being built in Watson- villc by people interested in the new Appleton Hotel, and when finished will be occupied by Turner & Dahnkin, the moving-picture people. Clara Byers, looking handsomer than ever, has recovered from her re- cent accident and is daily commuting between this city and the California Motion Picture Studio in San Rafael. Helen Mills, of San Luis Obis])o. left yesterday for Italy, where she will sing a season in grand opera prepara- tory to appearing in the United States. Miss Mills is an accomplished contral- to. Leon Mooser arrived from New York last Monflay, en route to China and the Philippines, where some very easy money awaits him. Geo. Moor will make a trip to the Coast next month. Roland Olivicr, the Sacramento playwright, has placed one of his short plays. Little bace, a quaint tabloid comedy, with Ifolbrook Blinn, who will use it with his Princess Tiieatrc stock in New York next season. Jack Livin(7.ston will a])j)ear in the support of Alack and Rambeau in ()akland, o])ening the second week. Beth T.wlor and Marta Golden and several others of Ye Lilierty com pany, Oakland, motored to San Jo.se last Tuesday on a suri)ri.se visit to the Redmond company, and rehearsals stop])ed fur (|nite a time. iVIiNNETTic i)ARRETT Iias received a verdict of $1250 for breach of con- tract against Archil)ald Selwyn. Miss Barrett was engaged to apijcar in the role of Agnes Lynch in "VVilhin the Law, in one of the I^astern companies, and after being billed for the part the management obtaiijed the services of Idorcnce Nash in her place.