San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

February 17, 1900 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW with mediocrity. And why not? Will you tell me what there is to beckon women and men of brain and culture into the profession — or to develop them when they get there? Most plays are interpreted quite as well as they deserve to be. If they could only be done a little worse — done to a speedy death, it would be a jolly good thing, and the mourners would be wanting. When some of them do give up the ghost they will be refused decent burial. In the midst of this mediocrity there are a few actresses ripe for big parts, but where are the parts? * * * Take Keith Wakeman, for instance. A woman of strength, of culture, of mind, of soul— beautiful, powerful. I am convinced she could take any man's brilliant comedy (mind, I said brilliant) and likewise his tragedy and carry them with skill and grace triumphantly to success — and she is playing Leo. What is the part of Leo ? A touch and a go and nothing at all. It is utterly beneath her brain and heart, yet she gives it a charm that will not allow there is anything amiss. Still if I were she, I should go out into the open after the performance and do the Catalline Orations — just for exercise and recreation. I believe she would sleep better. Five nights have I watched her and am not yet wearied. Ah, but she is beautiful. But above her beauty, above her grace, above her strength, the woman's dominant stage charm to me is purity. As she stands upon the stage in her bridal robe and veil, I am conscious of that clutch at the heart, that nameless pain one always feels when girlhood passes through the church door to the new life beyond. And this very purity is part of her power for noble work. If she be forced into cheap farce, nature will wring her hands and weep. Mrs. French Sheldon has chosen well to write the effort of her life about her. She may trust it in her hands without a tremor. May it be a masterpiece and ring as such over the continents ! * # * , TO KIETH WAKEMAN I'll plant thee a garden, fair ladie, In the cool of a quiet dell, And choose rny blooms right craftily, For the stories the blossoms tell. The nightshade will whisper sorcery, The hawthorne will sing of hope, The laurel will echo victory, And there shall be heliotrope. Of native grace shall the cowslip call, For thoughts shall the pansies crowd, For happy youth there are lilies tall, Of truth shall the fern be proud. And master of all shall the lily be, The lily that voices purity. C. T. Two noteworthy plays will soon be presented at the Alcazar ; one, The Conquerors, a recent Empire Theatre success, and the other, Olga Nethersole's Sap ho, a famous novel dramatization. Zfire Guards for Theatres The Fire Commissioners are developing a scheme to minimize the possibility of danger from fires in theatres. This week they have been in consultation with the local theatrical managers. The idea will be to place two experienced firemen at the disposal of each theatre. The men will be on duty from 7 to 1 2 P. M. A half hour before the theatres open they will inspect the electric apparatus and all appliances for light and explosive effects; see that the contrivances for fire extinguishing are in perfect condition, and that combustibles are surrounded with the proper safeguards. The men shall be in full uniform and stand one at each side of the entrance while the audience is being seated. When the curtain is ready to rise one will retain his place at the entrance and the other will go behind the scenes and see that everything of an imflammable character is handled with proper precaution. He will hold himself ready to act in any emergency. After the play the firemen will make a second tour of inspection and satisfy themselves that everything is safe before they leave the theatre. Kahn Was Surprised Here is a story that started out in the columns of the St. Louis GlobeDemocrat, and has since been going the rounds of the Eastern papers: "Julius Kahn, the new Congressman from San Francisco, was an actor several years before he studied law, practiced at the bar, and got into politics. He has faced the gallery gods in every city of the United States in his time. But he admits that he never encountered such a knock-out as occurred to him at a Washington dinner party the other night. The actorCongressman rose to speak, and led off with the remark that he supposed the toast-master in his remarks about Congress being a place where there was a lot of acting had reference to the fact that he had 'passed some years of his life upon the stage.' The words were no sooner out than in a perfectly serious tone somebody at the remotest table inquired, 'Whom did you drive for?' " Returning One by One One by one, they manage to come back, glad to be once more in the old town. Arthur Boyce, after quite ;m extended absence in the Fast, is once more in the Tivoli fold, quite content to stay. Mr. Boyce was engaged with the big production, A Chinese Romance but the show did not take, and he turned his attention to vaudeville, scoring hits in various houses. He returns with several very fine letters, telling of distinct successes on many occasions. But like all who have enjoyed an engagement at the Tivoli, Mr. Boyce says it suits him. ORPHEUAV THEATER HOPJOIjUrjTJ n. 1. THK ORPHKl'M CO., (Limited) Lessees. J. C. COHKN, President and Manager Professionals intending to visit Australia. Japan, China or Manila are invited to communicate with us for dates and appearances, address The Orphkum Co., Ltd., Honolulu, H. I. P. O. Box 100 Or, L. F. STONK, Laugham Hotel, Sole San Francisco Agent. Pacific Coast Managers, Send Your Open Time, Quick for Here's Our Paper (We have got it.) 8 kinds of stands 4 3 sheets 18 " Lithos 2 " Snipes 2 " Cloth Banners Cards, Heralds, Novelties Mr. Plaster of Paris The Laughable Cyclone Making Merry Millions of Men. AN ALL-STAR CAST Breaking Records from Maine to Oregon. Seven days behind three advance men and an ocean of the flashiest seven-color Lithograph Paper ever turned out. For Terms and Information, Address, WALTER LINDSAY, DRAMATIC REVIEW OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL Tut Modern High Art |lll*>tratorsoeAmerica. American % "process Engraving (a \ 304 BATTERY STREET. TO T'b MalfToije. ',M UiO'r&vCniJS i| b -(iiiclaljy' f rt)l! CATALOGUE. nniih\MHMMk> MWSMPtRS... ItlTtSMUOSuu mm San Francisco. ARCHIE LEVY'S Amus ement Association The Theatrical Exchange of the Pacific Coast. Booking for Thirty-Eight Houses. Rooms 116-117-118-119-120 No. 6 EDDY STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. TAKE ELEVATOR 'PHONE BLACK lTOl m "A Stitch in time saves nine". " BAY CITY CLOTHING RENOVATORY ROOM 19 > a 1.00-SUIT* CLEANED AND PRESSED 100 F.ITGKNK HOKHJ K Secretary and Manager S. I). Valkn i I N I President J. K. KocilK Vice-Prest. and Trcas THE FRAN CISVALENTINE CO. 103-109 Union Square Ave., cor. (irant Ave. (Formerly Morton Street) POSTER PRINTERS Pictorial Paper of all Kinds AGK.NTS FOR AI.F. F.ASTFKN HOUS8S Only ('.round Floor Printing House in San Francisco. Within one block of the Newspapers. WILLIAM T>. WASSON Fnrniahea Sli e tc li «' x , Songs n n (I P 1 a ADDRESS, PRESS CLUB, SAN FRANCISCO The Dramatic Qevieux $3.00 Per Year