San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

February 24, 1900 The cHfill Company s Success Already down in Los Angeles the James Neill Company have established themselves as great favorites. The Record of that city says: "Mr. Xeill has begun well. If he continues to give as good productions of as good plays as A Bachelor's Romance during his seven weeks' engagement at the Burbank, he will break all records." In another place the paper says: "A Bachelor's Romance is full of heart throbs and gently mingles laughter and sorrow; a clean, wholesome play, charmingly acted by the Neill Company. Julia Dean is a dainty, winsome ingenue and James Neill throws a distinct individuality into Sol Smith Russel's old part . Death of Edwin Mayo Edwin Mayo of the Pudd'nhead Wilson Company dropped dead in Quebec, Monday afternoon in the Chateau Frant entrance at 2 o'clock. Mr. Mayo was the son of the late Frank Mayo, for whom the play Pudd'nhead Wilson was written. Mayo and his wife were stopping at the Froutenac. Mayo was chatting with Edwin Varney, manager of the Academy of Music, until after 2 o'clock, when Varney started to take his leave. Mayo arose to see him out and suddenly fell back in his chair. He bled profusely from the mouth and was dead before a doctor, who was called, could get to the hotel. Edwin Mayo was born in Canton, Pa., about thirty five years ago. He was a tall, stout man of commanding appearance and had many of the idiosyncrasies and characteristics of his father. There was also a strong likeness about the face, and a notable adaptability to the dry humor which Frank Mayo made so much the attraction of Pudd'nhead Wilson. He was raised in the atmosphere of the playhouse and absorbed its traditions. His first appearance on the stage was with his father in Davy Crockett, and when the elder Mayo toured in Nordeck, he took his parent's place and starred as the hero in Davy Crockett. After the death of Frank Mayo, Edwin took the leading role in Pud d'nhead Wilson and duplicated his father's success. He was considered a faithful imitator of the originator ot the character. He last played in San Francisco at the California Theatre during January, 1899. He leaves a widow, Frances Graham Mayo, who is a member of the Pudd'nhead Wilson Company. The sudden end of Mr. Mayo yesterday recalls the death of his father on a train near Omaha on February 8, 1896. The elder Mayo, like his son, passed away very Unexpectedly. He was sitting and talking with several friends when he was suddenly stricken with an attack of heart failure. cAssociated cManagers The regular managers' meeting was held yesterday at the Orpheum and a number ot thingsof a charitable nature were discussed and attended to. Not a week passes but instances of benefactions occur that the public learn nothing of One case, that of old Mr. Wallace and wife of Oakland, who were at one time variety performers, was particularly distressing, for as was told to Melville Marx, who investigated the matter, by the kind hearted old French landlady who had been helping the distressed couple, many an evening the little Wallace children had gone to bed hungry. The meeting adopted measures that would immediately insure the addition of the necessaries of life to the Wallaces. Two other cases of urgency were settled, one of meeting half of the payment of a hospital bill and the other of aiding the family of a well known professional, who is lying dangerously ill and in sore straits. In Town W. S. Ford— Advance for MooreRoberts Company, which opens at the California next week. An old-time Portland, Oregon, manager, having been manager of the Park. Eczema Positively Cured Or no charge. Consultation and one treatment free. Prof. R. K. Shipley, specialist skin diseases and tape worms. [206 Market street, opposite Sixth. Sans Gene by the ^frawleys Last Saturday the Frawleys gave an extra treat to their friends and did Sardou's interesting comedy, Sans Gene, Mary Van Buren assuming the title role and giving an interesting performance, if not quite convincing. Frawley himself made a great deal of the part of the Corsican Emperor, and although a great deal of the effect of acting Napoleon comes from the makeup, the assumption by the actor-manager was well done, and in voice, walk and general mannerisms, there was before us a very convincing personality. Harrington Reynolds was a strong Marshal Lefebre and Francis Byine a dashing, handsome De Neipperg. Outside of Miss Van Buren the feminine members of the cast were not called upon to do much, and they dressed stunningly and looked very charming. Hugh Emmett's Tour "Since writing you at Buffalo," says Mr. Fvtnmett, "our little company has made some big jumps, taking in Ohio, Wisconsin and tonight play Canton, 111., our last stand in this State, to morrow going into Iowa, and next week will find us in Missouri. Received five Reviews at Granville, 111., and as usual, found them of great interest." Read the Dramatic Review. Paralysis from a Tooth William McDonald, the well-known basso of the Bostonians, is the victim of a painful misfortune which has kept him confined to his bed and prevented his public appearance in his old home. Some time ago he commenced to experience considerable trouble with an aching tooth. He applied various household remedies, but as they afforded no relief, he concluded to see a dentist. This he did last week. The dentist examined the tooth and told McDonald the best thing for him was to have the molar out, assuring him at the same time that the operation would in no wise affect bis singing. McDonald consented, had the tooth out, and has been ever since laid up in bed with a swollen mouth and jaw which hardly permit of his speaking. The trouble is thought to be a partial paralysis of the cords of the throat resulting from the shock of the operation and the effects of the drugs used in its accomplishment. Two years ago McDonald was a blacksmith at Redwood City. His glorious voice brought him to the notice of the Bostonians, who offered him an engagement, which he accepted, and he has been a success with them from the very first. Mme. Melba to Wed The newspapers of Berlin on February 15 announce that Mine. Nellie Melba, the prima dona, is engaged to marry Herr Dr. Joseph Joachim, the famous violin virtuoso. Herr Joachim is 69 years old and Mine. Melba is 34. Melba has been singing in concert here for a month past. She created a furore of enthusiasm among Berlin's musical devotees. So thoroughly did the cantatrice infatuate Berlin that there were public expressions of grief when an attack of influenza forced her retirement from the concert stage lor a fortnight. The Kaiser was one of Mme. Melba's most devoted auditors at hei concerts, at which Joachim played the violin accompaniments, and he "commanded" her to sing the title role in the opera "Lucia" the mad scene in which Melba acts with thrilling realism. The above report as to Melba's intended marriage with the aged violinist is denied by Joachim's intimate friends, who point to the fact that Melba has never yet secured a divorce from her present husband. Camille D'Arvii.le, so they are saying in the East, will be married in the spring to E. W. Crellin of San Francisco, and at the same time retire from the stage to reside on the Coast. She was born in Holland, and her real name is Neetye-Dijkstra She made her debut in Amsterdam when she was 15 years old. Mr. Crellin is one of the best known young men in Oakland. He is superintendent of the Morgan Oyster Company and president of the Ruby Hill Vineyard Company, and has a host of friends in this city, where he has been residing for the last year.