San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

une 14, 1913. THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 9 Columbia Theatre Bella Donna and Nazimova are a ombination of play possibilites and cthv^ achievements. The book dram- tized offers many fine opportunities or the su])erb acting of this Polish rtist. Strong and startling as the lav is, Nazimova does not spare any- hing in flashing on the understand- ng of her audience every bit of abil- :y she can make use of to bring out ividly the salient points of the play. )ramatized by James B. Fagan, Sella Donna, in dramatic form, fol- 3VVS more closely the .story of the 00k than most dramatizations do, and or that reason hel])s to hold the spell- ound attention of the audience, "harks F"rohman has been lavish in iroviding a splendid company and very scenic accessory that might go oward making a ])erfect jjerformancc nd production. Charles Bryant, who ilays the role of Dr. Isaacson, is a all, rangy actor of good style, much orcefulness in a quiet way, which re- ninds one more or less of William "lillette. There, is, though, more in lis attitude than in his manner of peech. Edward Fielding, a good ac- or well knov>'n to us out here, is well ast as Dr. Hartley and Herbert Per- ;y, a good looking juvenile actor, lays the part of Nigel Armine, plcas- ngly. Robert Whitworth is strong nd convincing as Mahmond I>ar- )udi. Amy Veness plays Mrs. Tarchmont with a fine air of good )reeding and blue blood dignity, and laus l')Ogel, William Hassen and <omaine Callender give worth to small )arts. The scene on the yacht's deck vas a triumph of stage mechanics, ind the lighting effects all through vere superb. But through all the e.\- ellencies of the performance the per- onality of Mrs. Chepstow as pre- ;ented by Mme. Nazimova was all- lominating. This sinuous, eerie, alto- ether dift'erent actress, has been itted with a role that will always be issociated with her. After seeing the xrformance it would be hard to be atisfied with any other woman in the >art of Bella Donna. Capacity au- liences have been present all week ind the .second week's sale is im- nense. Alcazar Theatre If the first-night audience is any in- lication, the public is determined to :ake enthusia.stic advantage of this opportunity of seeing Leo Ditrichstein nd his associate artists during their season at the Alcazar. Delightful as The Concert was when the Columbia management presented it several months ago, this second hearing makes it, if ])ossible, more delightful, closer acquaintance only em])hasizing the finish of the actors and the deli- cate sul)tlety of the play itself. To hear pco])lc, trained in the best tradi- tions of the stage, s])cak ])ure English with the cultured (liction an;l modu- lated voices of Mr. Ditrichstein and Miss Irving is not only a liberal edu- cation for the ])ul)lic in general but a fine ideal toward which our local ac- tors would do well to strive. In s|)ite of the light comedy manner. The Con- cert is really a finely drawn character study of the arti.stic temperament— of the superman whose genius is sup- posed to place him above the conven- tions before which ordinary humanity mu.st bow. All its conlradictorv liphls and shades of character, which alter- nately attract and repel, are outlined with master strokes and vitalized into a living, breathing, human being through Ditrichstein's intuitive, re- soiu'ccfid, comprehensive magnetism. And his work is ably suj^plemcnted by his supporting com])an\- wliich in- cludes some local ])e()|)le as well as .some members of the original com- pany—notably Cora W'itherspoon, who is still irresistibly comic as the temperamental but ungainly Miss Merk, and Madge West, the charm- ingly feminine Flora Dallas. The Helen Arany of Isalxl Irving is very satisfactor}', her well-bred, self-pos- session making her very convincing as the s\m])athetic, understanding wife wlio is also a thorough wo- man of the world. Xot the least interesting of her work is w ith Louis I'ennisou, who adajjts himself to the role of Doctor Dallas with an ease that .s]icaks volumes for the Alcazar standard which is further emphasized in Anna McNaughton and Burt Wes- ner as the Irish caretakers of .Vrany's bungalow. The love-sick maidens are Alice Patch, Elizabeth Becker, Ethve McFarland, Leah Hatch, Willow .Man, .Anne Livingstone and Peggy Page. With the attractive stage set- ting which is an almost exact replica of the former one at the Columbia, the finishing touch is given to a tlior- oughly delightful performance. The Tivoli ilie .Serenade is ])leasing Tivoli regulars this week, and goes with a snap and dash most refreshing. The vocal abilities of both the ])rincipals and chorus are given an excellent chance in The Serenade, and Manager Leahy's collection of song birds shows the wisdom of his choice and a])|)ears to much greater advantage than in When Johhy Comes Marching Home. Rena \'iviene, danseuse of the Madrid ()])era, and her .solo Cupid and 1. with ute obligato, receives many recalls every night. John R. Phillips, the new tenor, has become an imme- diate favorite, and he also scores heavily with his solo, I Envy the Bird. Robert G. Pitkin, as the doddering old Duke of Santa Cniz; Teddy Webb, as the broken-down tenor, Colombo, and Oliver Le Noir, as the tailor with vocal aspirations, consti- tute a trio of fuumakers that ket^]) Cort Theatre Hanky Panky will conclude its third week tonight and make way for the big Savage show, Everywoman, which comes to us with a wonderful record of two years' success in the East. Savoy Theatre This theatre will be reopened next Monday afternoon when the .\laska-Siheria motion pictures will begin an engagement limited to two weeks, I hese nidv ing ])ictures, taken under the patronage of the Carnegie Museum, are a revelation of life and affairs in the h'rigid Znne that has never been e(|ualed. Tug of War 'I'eams to pidl in (he 'i'ug of War 'J'ournamenl which starts at the Pa- vilion Rink luxl Tuesday night and continues over three days are working nightly for the big money i)rizes that the Internalional Tug of War Associ- Scnw from Bella Ihiiiiui. in ■:K'liiili Miiir. XaciiiKirn is af/'rariii^i; at Ihc Cohiiiibia Theatre. ation has ])ut uj). The teams to com- pete are the American, Irish, Danish, luiglish, Swedish, Canadian, .\usliian, and Italian teams. Personal Mention R.\\MoNi) Ai'i>i.Ki!v has retired from the .\ffilialed .Amu.scment Company's show No. T. Edwaui) Imki.di nc, will be seen in Mme. Nazimova's support next sea- ,son in a new I'lay. Li'.oiw I lowwi^ii has joined (he Coo- ley-.Sloner comi)any in San lU-rnardi- 110 lo play second business. The father of IIowaud h'osii'.u died in Sacramento lasi Sunday from a sudden attack of at^nle indigestion. l.l'.O .\NI) P.MM.INI'. I I ll;LI'.NI!KANI) will nptn with Manager liislvop's forcts at ^e Liberty Playhouse in ()akland next week. (ii'.oKCK I'r.ancks BivVro, is in ad- vance of Raymond llitchcock this sea.son with Charles V. I'rown. man- ager, ack with the company. Mi-.Ri,i': Li:wis is now jjlaying with llie .Sherman Slock Comjiany in Iowa. She has caught on nicely and is a great favorite with theatre- goers. Cll\^\^l'.^■ .Scrni I'.UN joined F.d Keduioud ill .Sacramento lliis weei<, lo succeed Roscoe Kanis who will play juveniles for (ieorge Howard at the .\venue Tlieatie in \ ancoiuer, o])eniiig June 30. Mahici. RikcI'.i.man, ihe grand op- era singer, was niarricil to Marcus L. Samuels, a vouul; attorney ol" San h'rancisco, in \'ai>a. .Saturday even- ing. May ,^1 ill tlie pieseiKH' of the liartiits of tlu' contracting parties. Raiibi l\a|ilaii of .San l'"rancisco, ol1i- ^iated. Immediately aflir the cere- mony. Mr. and Mrs. .Samuels lel'l for a niolor lour m|' the N'nsemite \'al- ie\' and iiiti iid to make their home pt:rm;ineiill\ at the Laconia apart- ments on ilarrisdii Street, Oakland. In an interview Miss Riegleman said: ■'i\'o, niy marriage does not mean that I will give u]) my career for 1 leave in .Si pioinlu r on a concert toni" ihroiigh Tex.is ])reparatory lo the iipeiiiiig 111 (111' u])ei";i season."