San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

December 23rd, 1899 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW Mile. Fifi in a most artistic manner. Next week, the 17th, we have Hoyt's A Stranger in New York, which opens with a Sunday matinee. This is a new departure for the Tabor, as it will be the first Sunday matinee ever given in this house. This doesn't look much like the threatened Sunday closing of which I wrote a few weeks ago. The New Lyceuin gives us this week as a top-liner, Marshall P. Wilder, and it was several minutes Monday night after this bright, witty little man made his first appearance, before he could go on with his remarks, owing to the reception he received. He is without d ubt one of the best entertainers in his line that this country has ever produced. He possesses much of that indefinable something called magnetism. He has proven the best drawing-card this house has yet had, which is saying a great deal when one considers the big business they have done there for the past few weeks. The "smart set"c >nsider it quite the proper thing to go to the Lyceum and see "vodeville," and where the smart set go, there must we all follow. Managers Mays and Harley have surrounded Mr. Wilder with some excellent artists this week, including Kherns and Cole, Sanford and Darlington, Nadine, Gardner and Hunt, Esher Sisters, Si Stebbins, the Helmrich family of acrobats (local), and Ferguson and Cowper. At the Denver, A Breach of Promise had two big houses Sunday, but for some unknown reason the business has since fallen off. From an artistic point of view this is the best company Mr. Readick has offered his patrons this season. It is one of those comedies that is a go from start to finish, and the specialties are all good. Miss Nellie Seunett is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. She is very clever in all she does, but makes it too apparent that she is working hard, making one feel uncomfortable for her. I can just imagine that I see her before the curtain goes up saying to the members of the company, "Now ladies and gentlemen, this piece must make a hit here, so work," and they all do work. Next week Coon Hollow. On the evening of Dec. 6, the students of the Broadway Dramatic School gave a most commendable performance of the three-act comedy, Confusion, to a large and wellpleased audience. The following pupils appeared in the cast: Messrs. George Dostal, Charles Brokate, W. E. Troutman, W. A. Parker, C. O. Brown, and the Misses Merlin Maine, Margaret Allen, Fanny Marinoff and Katharyn Swift. The Faculty of this school will give their first public recital on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 19, at the Lyceum Theater. Mr. Thomas Kierns, of your city, was a caller at my office last week. He tells me his health has improved greatly since his arrival in Colorado. The younger of the Roschetta Brothers, barrel jumpers, received a bad fall while doing his act at the Lyceum last week, but has fully recovered. The latest addition to the Art Gallery is a large portrait of Miss Viola Allen as Glory Quayle. Merry Xmas. Bob Bell. CHICAGO Special Correspondence Chicago, Dec. 16. — Mrs. Leslie Carter, who is playing Zaza at Powers Theater has certainly reached the pinnacle of emotional acting. It is unfortunate that most of the intense plays adapted to strongly emotional artists frequently become offensive in their morbid suggestiveness. Surely some would prefer the intense character developed in purity, sweetness and strength. Can even the art of a Bernhardt, Nethersole or Carter atone for the shockingness of the theme ? The play, Zaza, which was adapted by Mr. Belasco from the French was first written by Pierre Berton and Charles Simons, and the character Zaza, a child of the Paris slums, a lawless music hall singer, was played by Mme. Rejane with greai success, in P«ris for one whole winter. The plot is very simple, but has enough of the earthly grande passion to suit the popular demand and give to refinement some moral qualms. Mrs. Carter's production of the role has a tendencv to palliate, if not to elevate it. Mrs. Carter issupported by Charles A.Stevenson, Marie Bates, Mark Smith, Hugo Toland, Helen Tracy, Herbert Milward and Elizabeth Belknap. This is Mrs. Carter's first appearance in Chicago for l wo years. At McVicke 'sTheater Stanislaus Strange's version of the Sienkiewicz' romance, Quo Vadis, is now running. Mr. F.C. Whitney, who is here in Chicago himself presents for the first time on any stage this diama, to which is attached some of the same interest that has been aroused by the presentation of the drama, Ben Hur. In the play Mr. Strange has endeavored to follow along legitimate lines the much talked-of and read story of Heudrik Sienkiewicz. There is a fine scenic display, representing the Petronius peristyle, the garden of Aulus, Plautius' House and the gardens arid palace of Nero. Music and dancers are also features A chorus of twenty voices with a score composed for this play by Julian Edwards, is given. The aim of the author has been to write a play — not a spectacular play — but a dramatic story, and in this he has succeeded wotd jrfully well. The drama, Quo Yadis, illustrates very pathetically what the Christians suffered and endured during that extremely brutal reign of Nero. The most valuable point in the play is the bringing out the character of Nero and the intrigues of his court against the Christians. Edmund D. Lyons represents Nero as the terrible monster history has depicted. Petronius, one of the strongest and most magnetic characters in the play, is taken by Arthur Forrest. Joseph Haworth makes a fine manly Yinicius. Chilo, the Greek, is represented by Horace Lewis in rather a fantastic style. Lygia, the Christian girl, is played by Roselle Knott, and Elmer Grandin takes the part of Ursus. The play as a whole is well received and enjoyed by the audience at every performance, notwithstanding that the opening night was in Chicago instead of London or New York. Willie Collier in his new farce, Mr, Smooth , has been very popular and has been well received by highly appreciative audiences at the Grand Opera House. He has a good company and also a good farce. Mr. Collier's wife, Louise Allen, who plays an important part in the drama Mr. Smooth, was formerly a danseuse. Next at the Grand comes an old favorite, Sol Smith Russell, in Hon. John Grigsby and A Poor Relation, and following future bookings we find Stuart Robson in his new play Oliver Goldsmith. Stuart Robson has with him a fine company. His support includes Jeffreys Lewis, Henry E. Dixey, Walter Hale, Clifford Leigh, Florence Rockwell, Ellen Mortimer and Beaumont Smith. The veteran Weaver takes the part of Dr. Johnson. The Studebaker opens on Christmas week with a spectacular production of Verdi's Aida. At the Columbia this week the Bostouians are giving the new opera The Smugglers of Badayez. Next week Robin Hood and The Serenade will be rendered. Alabama is running at the Dearborn for this week with the change to The Butterflies, a beautiful little comedy, in prospect for next week's performance. At the Great Northern The Evil Eye is produced with the most delightful and strange stage effects. The play is taken from a legend of the Rhine and gives opportunity for great scenic display. The King ot the Opium Ring is the attraction at the Academy of Music at present. The story comes from the Chinese quarter of San Francisco. Chicago must wait sometime before witnessing that marvelous drama Ben Hur. The play will continue at the Broadway Theater until next June. The Carpetbagger, written by Opie Read and Frank Pixley was given here with good results at McVicker's last Sunday night. Tim Murphy has made a success in it, and it is truly a pretty comedy. Amos Carey. COLUMBIA rut l I A 1 • I N 0 THtATLR California Theater Zu BEGINNING CHRISTMAS NIGHT LIMITED ENGAGEMENT, Liebler X: Co. present Hall Caines poweiful play The Christian EVERY EVENING (SUNDAY EXCEPTED) MATINEE SATURDAY AND NEW YEAR'S DAY Orphe 1 um POUOERE; THORNE AND CARLETON: CLAUDE THARDO; 11ARRIGAN, THE TRAMP JUGGLER ; LA SYLPHE; MR. and MRS. EDWIN MILTON ROYLE AND CO. GERTRUDE RUTLEDGE; LLEWELLYN SISTERS; THE AVERYS. Reserved seats, 25 Cents; Balcony 10 Cents; Opera Chairs and Box Seats. 50 Cents MATINEES WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY SPECIAL MATINEE CHRISTMAS DAY • HAIR GOODS Headquarters for the Pacific Coast SWITCHES 16 inches $1 00 21 inches $5 00 18 20 20 22 22 24 1 50 2 00 2 50 3 50 4 50 4 00 24 26 28 28 30 7 00 8 00 10 00 12 00 15 00 Very Fine Wigs to Order, $20.00 Look perfectly natural. HAIR DRESSING 25c* G. LEDERER 123 Stockton Strtet oPP. City d Parii MAIL ORDERS FILLED Siebe<S: Green.. Bill Posters and General Advertisers. Post for all the Leading San Francisco Theaters. Finest locations in the city. The lar House RESERVATIONS BY PHONE MAIN 1731 COMMENCING CHRISTMAS EYE., SUNDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 2ITH, 1899. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28TH, The Frawley Co. In Augustus Pitou's Tremendous Success, Cumberland 'Ol By Franklin Fyles. Co Author of " The Girl I Left Behind Me," etc. A True Scenic Picture of Historic Events. Produced upon a Most Elaborate Scale. EXTRA MATINEE Monday. CHRISTMAS DAY. Getting Ready With Flying Colors Alcazar Theater Fred Bei.asco. Lessee. Mark Thali.. Manager 'PHONE MAIN 254. BEGINNING WITH CHRISTMAS MATINEE A Sumptuous Holiday Treat in Ned Townsund's Scintillating Dramatization Chimmie Fadden SEATS SELLINtl TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE REGULAR MATINEES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. GRAND OPERA HOUSE Telephone Main 532 Strauss' Pretty Waltz Opera Die Fledermaus (The Bat) IN ENGLISH LAST PERFORMANCE SUNDAY NIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY MATINEE AND REST OF WEEK Magnificent Production of David Henderson's Sinbad, or the Maid of Balsora Popular Prices— 50c, 35c, 25c, 15c and 10c. A good reserved seat at Saturday Matinee, 25 ctl. lirauch Ticket Office Emporium. TivoliOperaHouse Gorgeous Holiday Production of Our Annual Extravaganza LITTLE BOPEEP TO NIGHT TO NIGHT TO NIGHT SPECIAL MATINEES CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY AND EVERY SATURDAY. A Superb Cast including Ferris Hartmau. Brilliant Scenery Costumes and Effects. Magnificent Transformation. BUTTERFLIES Popular prices, 25 and 50 cents. Telephone for Seats, BUSH 9. "GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH" New Alhambra Theater (The People's Plsy House) BLLIMQHOUM & Mott, Lessees and Managers Eddy and Jones Streets. Telephone South 770 COMMENCING SUNDAY NIGHT WITH CHRISTMAS MATINEE LAST WEEK OF Black Patti TROUBADOURS The Greatest Colored Show on Earth. NEXT THE ORIGINAL MURRAY AND MACK IN Finnigan's Ball Prices: Kvening— 15c, 25c, BfCi 50c and 75c. Matinees -15c, 25c, 86c and 50c. OBERON O'Parell -Street, Near Stockton. GRAND CONCERT EVERY NIGHT by the American Ladies' Orchestra, Louis N. Ritzau conductor. Stuart and La Croix, ductlst.", and Antonio Vargas, baritone. New Moving Pictures. Admission Free. Ernest Hastings Leading Man, Alcazar Stock Company.