San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

6 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW January 6th, 1900 AT THE LiOCAL THEATERS A CO SA The Columbia "TpHE Christian continues to hold in' terestat the Columbia and to draw large audiences. Gradually people are getting to comprehend the magnificent portrayal of Lord Robert Ure by Edward Emery, and to appreciate it as one of the most artistic and convincing performances seen in San Francisco for a long time. Owing to the illness of J. M. Colville, Frank Weston has been giving us a very acceptable John Storm. The play will finish its run next week. The molt T'HH brilliant extravaganza, Little * Bo-Peep, continues to draw enthusiastic audiences at the Tivoli. It is full of life and merriment, bright catchy songs, gorgeous costumes and picturesque scenic effects. Anna Lichter, with her sweet voice and charming personality, makes a bewitching Bo-Peep, and Charlotte Beckwith, in a costume of white and gold, is lovely as Fairy Goodluck. Wm. Schuster as Baby Bunting, Annie Meyers, jaunty and vivacious in the role of Little Boy Blue, Alf Wheelan as Old Mother Hubbard, are some of the interesting characters. Tom Greene makes an excellent Mephisto, but in spite of his makeup sings like an angel, his voice being fresh, ringing and musical. Ferris Hartman, with his usual fund of good humor and wit, keeps things lively from first to last, bursts of laughter and applause greeting his songs and sallies. Miss Ida Wyatt, clever in her songs and dancing, is justly a drawing card. The scene in the Japanese tea garden, with an array of pretty girls in fetching costumes, and the forest scene where Tom Greene sings with a rousing chorus of huntsmen, are bright bits of the charming holiday spectacle. Parasol and fan dances are introduced and the curtain falls upon the Butterfly transformation scene of brilliant color and marvellous beauty. Mary Frances Francis. Ne<w c/llhambra Tiik famous Irish comedians, Mur' ray and Mack, are at the Alhambra this week in their operatic farce, Finnigan's Ball, and they have been favored with splendid houses. Finnigan's Ball is by farthe best attraction presented at the Alhambra since its opening, and it is to be regretted that it will not remain another week. Murray and Mack are of necessity the life of the play and they keep their audiences in uproarious laughter from start to finish with their famous witticisms. They are ably assisted by Chas. Barry, who played the part of Weary Walker. His makeup, dialect and general characterization were excellent, especially in his imitation of Sousa. Jas. Conlan played the part of Widow Gallagher to perfection, and Kittie Beck cavorts around and does some clever dancing. The Grurson Sisters sing a few ragtime melodies in an acceptable manner, and the Primrose Quintette secure numerous encores with their catchy songs. Grand Opera House O i x B A i ), the C hristmas extravaganza, ^ is running the second week at this popular house, and crowded houses attest the real worth of this gorgeous spectacular display. The applause is frequent and loud, as the intensely interesting features appear and then vanish. Wm. Wolff is indefatigable in his untiring energies, and is the center around whom revolve the other brilliant satellites. The clever and amusing specialties introduced this week but added to the interest. Mr. Jones has certainly made a great hit with his holiday production this year. Senorita Matilditi has scored a hit with our lovers of the ballet with her grace and charm of dancing. The Amazon march is a dazzling feature and the finale, The Evolution of Nature, a revelation of perfect stage production. The Alcazar OHIMMIH FADDEN is playing its ^ second week at the Alcazar with fully the success of the first — for who can resist the chance of a glimpse at the Bowery where "they do such things and they say such things" in so awfully only a way. Its the opportunity of a life-time to make the acquaintance of such true slum types asCh immie, the little brick ! and the redoubtable Mrs. Murphy. Marie "Howe, in the latter role, has made the hit of the season. So clever a characterization, so finished in all the comical details of gesture and make up, of voice and manner, shows what can be done in a subordinate part and yet not encroach on the principals. Mr. Seabury, as Chimmie, has succeeded admirably in fusing the conflicting elements of character in this boy representative of the Bowery, the almost blind and wholly guileless loyalty to his "foine" friends, yet keen, quick out-witting of trickery that "ain't no farmer's." Miss Crosby is the Frenchiest of French maids, "en passant," as electrifying in unexpected flashes of explosion as the real article, and as artful in contrition. Miss Foster, as Fanny Van Cortland, has all the grace of a "t'oroughbred," yet is a shade too condescending in manner, perhaps, too coldly calmly superior to her "entoire age" from her Bowery proteges, Chimmie, his mother, and Maggie, to her papa and rival lovers. George Nichols as Larry, Ernest Howell as Moxie, represent the unhappy side of the Bowery life, and so complete the picture Mr. Townsend has so cleverly and truthfully drawn of a phase of life almost undreamt of by a large majority even of the people in whose very midst the Bowery lives out its own noisy, throbbing life. The California A r the California this week T. Dan** iel Frawley gives the first production in America of Seymour Hicks and Fred G.Latham's Adelphi melodrama, With Flying Colors, though what the name has to do with anythingconcerning the play, is a mystery. Five acts, with sixteen scenes, and the shortest of short intervals, make up a long evening of constantly recurring surprises. The play is elaborately staged, every detail being carried out with an exactness and a lavish display of extravagant expenditure which the character of the play does not warrant. It speaks volumes, however, for Mr. Frawley's artistic and conscientious carrying out of every possible stage effect, which is one of the many reasons for his great success in the career he has so well mapped out for himself. There being forty-two actors who have speaking parts in this ever-changing, neverending melodrama — not to mention the hordes who make up the howling mob in several scenes — it is obviously impossible to write up all the various characters and their doings. Mr. Fra«-ley as Lieut. Dare, is cordially applauded at every entrance by his admirers in the audience and as Lieut. Dare is oftimes at the mercy of the heavy villian of the play, his fortunes are watched with eager interest. Francis Byrne as James Strangeways, not only acted, but was, the said villian, the quiet man of dauntless nerve, whom you instinctively loathe, but yet admire for his cool assumption of authority. H. S. Duffield as Sir John Derrick the Banker, was the typical English gentleman of quiet refinement and little force of character. Frank Mathieu, his son, did the happy-go-lucky, spendthrift part very creditably. Harrington Reynolds as the Bank Manager, did a delightful bit of acting as the dignified, slightly gray business man whom one could but admire in spite of his villiany. Wallace Shaw, as Mr. Weldon of Scotland Yards, went quietly about his work as the sleuthhound, did in the genuine detective style. Clarence Chase as a midshipman deserves especial mention for the very artistic manner in which he carries out his part, evidently a male flirt to the manner born. Mr. Chas. B. Welch as a Lieutenant — the matinee girls Idol — is a handsome, dashing officer whom all the ladies adore. Mary Hampton, as the Banker's daughter, carries out her heavy role with credit to herself. Miss Van Buren as Polly is full of life, and her cockney speech with that of her lover, Harry Belt (Mr. J. R. Amory) is excellent. Mr. Amory kept the audience on good terms with himself by his irresistably funny sayings and doings. Marian Barney, as Mrs. Hackett, is a l)eautiful woman doing an odious character, which even her late repentance does not atone for. Theodore Hamilton as Gen. Bellingfield.a retired officer, was the very man for theplace. One could almost imagine himself at the Presidio in days not long past with this huge, self-complacent officer in charge. Reginald Travers, Clarence Montaine, Phosa McAllister and Pearl Landers were all notable for good work in their several parts. Fred Niblo is en route with the Behman show.