San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

August 2i, 1909 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 5 Important Changes are Noted in the Personnel of the Belasco Stock in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, August 19.— Things theatrical are moving along at a very brisk pace, considering this is the dull season. The International Grand Opera Company closed a most successful two weeks last Saturday night. The Belasco company is soon to lose two of its members who will be greatly missed. Miss Noyes will join one of Henry B. Harris' traveling companies and Sheldon Lewis will join a New York company opening late in the fall. Lillian Hayward is with us again. She is playing the part of Mrs. Withers in the production of Jack Straw at the Burbank this week. Christine Nielson is in town on her way to Boston, where she will study grand opera under Henry Russell. Armstrong's Going Some will open the Auditorium Monday evening, Sept. 6. A week later will come The Witching Hour, to be presented by the John Mason company. Florence Rittenhouse will succeed Beatrice Noyes at the Belasco and Frank E. Camp will replace Sheldon Lewis. Mr. Camp will make his first appearance with the company Monday night, Sept. 6, in The Squawman, the play that will be used to celebrate the return of Lewis S. Stone to the Belasco stage. Mr. Blackwood, while in New York City, secured the franchise for Los Angeles of the Stock Producing Managers' Association, an organization that resembles very closely the theatrical syndicate as applied to stock companies. Mr. Blackwood has announced that the new leading woman of the Belasco Theatre company is Thais Magrane. Miss Magrane will make her first appearance in Three Wreeks. Miss Magrane has played stock engagements in Philadelphia, New Orleans, Geveland and Chicago. Last summer she played a stock starring engagement in St. Louis, and this summer she has been appearing at the head of a stock organization in Providence, R. 1. BELASCO — The Belasco company is giving a very fine performance of A Royal Family this week. Each player is perfectly cast and the production leaves nothing to be desired. Miss Holmes is a most lovable Princess Angela, and Richard Bennett an adorable Prince Victor. Sheldon Lewis gives a very fine portrayal of Cardinal Casano. The Father Anselm of Richard Vivian is not overplayed in the least; it is just simple and true. One of the best characters in the play is the Baron Holdensen of Mr. Morrison. Ida Lewis is great as the Queen Mother. Miss Farrington is at home as the Queen and Miss Noyes is hard to recognize as the spoiled Prince Charles. The minor parts are all well taken. The costumes are stunning and the staging artistic and appropriate. BURBANK— Much interest is being displayed by the patrons of the Burbank Theatre this week in A. Byron Beasley, who assumes the part of leading man of the company. The play for the week is Jack Straw, in which John Drew appeared at the Mason a short time ago. Mr. Beasley as Jack Straw has a role of no great acting possibilities, but he makes of the part exactly what the author intended. The hard acting part of the piece is the part played by Maude Beattv, that of Mrs. ParkerJennings. Although Miss Beatty overacts the part at times it shows that she has given the role a great deal of hard study, and there is much in her portrayal to be commended. Harry Mcstayer gives a fine character study as Lord Serlo. Lovell Alice Taylor is charming as Lady Wanley. Lillian Hayward returns to local work as Mrs. Withers. Willis Marks is cast as Parker-Jennings. Henry Stockbridge is the son and Blanche Hall is charmingly herself as the daughter. The comedy is pleasing and is being given excellent patronage. MASON — That dainty, modern little comedy, The Climax, is being given its first Western presentation at the Mason Opera I louse this week. There are only four characters and one scene in the piece. This play calls for a peculiar combination of music and dialogue. Ruby Bridges, who plays Adelina, has a small but well trained and pleasing voice. Walter Wilson as the elder Golfanti does the most of the real acting of the piece. Albert Latscha is good as the younger Golfanti and Edwin August is the doctor. The cast is well balanced and the whole performance very satisfactory. The engagement is for two weeks. GRAND— The Blackwood-Stone company at the' Grand arc offering for the week The Devil's Mine. Nearly all of the favorites of the company appear in the cast. Particularly good work is done by George Webb. Grace Rati worth, Zora Bates, Frank Frayne and Franklvn Hall. OR PH F.I'M— A very good Orpheum bill is headed by Julius Tannen, monologist. His work is clean and upto-date and he does it all in an easy, pleasing manner. Lily Lena, an English comedienne, is a singer of popular songs. Elaborate electrical effects are a part of the Gibson Electrified (iirl Review. The other new act is furnished by the Three Donals in some acrobatic stunts. The holdovers include Charlotte Parry in her character change act. The Conistock Mysterj : The Three Leightoris; Selma Braatz, the girl juggler; and Helena Frederick in The Patriot. New motion pictures are shown. LOS ANGELES — Eva Mudge in her lightning change act called The Military Maid, and Albini. the magi cian, head the Los Angeles bill for the current week. The other acts are Bessie Allen, singing and dancing soubrette; Rae and Porsche, in the comedy. Just Like a Woman; The Telegraph Four; and Billy Windom, the famous minstrel, in The Colored Nurse Girl. There are also new motion pictures. A very good bill. FISCHER'S— A Parisian Beauty is the one-act musical comedy at Fischer's this week. It abounds throughout with witticisms, ludicrous situations and lines that were made to order for laugh producing. The scheme of the playlet lies around a widow of Paris bereft Of facial beauty but not lacking in bodily adornment, who wishes again to become a bride. I ler path is not strewn with roses, and she only succeeds in marrying a husband after he lias fainted. In addition to the chorus number the Rube Quartet comes in for a share of applause, Arthur Clam age leads the most striking number the chorus renditions in My Gal I rem The chorus girls are dressed as country lads and lassies. In Rainbow, led by Estellc Praeger, the girls are dressed in Indian costumes that are very striking. I XIOCE— The bill at the Unique this week might easily be construed by the audience as one engaged to live up to all that the name of the house implies. Roberts. I laynes and Roberts. Tbe Cowboy, the Swell and the Lady, are as funny as when they appeared at ths Orpheum some time ago. The trio have several new songs. Their dancing and many changes of costumes dsserve mention. Garvin Gilmaine, although suffering from a severe hoarseness, presented bis impersonations of histrionic stars, past and present, in a manner which wins for him the appreciation of the audience. Mr. Gilmaine essays the portrayal of Richard Mansfield, E. H. Sothern, James Lewis, Edwin Booth and David Warfield successfully. The one-act comedy, The Christening, as presented by the Unique players, is very laughable. James Kelly as Dennis Mulcabv, and Al Franks as Michael Muldoon, have parts for which they are suited admirably. Florence Emery. SAN JOSE, August IS.— At the Victory Theatre Harold Nelson, in conjunction with tbe I'M Redmond company, is appearing in The Prisoner of Zenda to great business. At tbe Jose the bill consists of Lawrence and Edwards' comedy playlet. The New Alderman; Princess Wlanderoff. Russian musician and dancer; Marguerite and Ifanlon, London's latest acrobatic creation; Jack Symonds, the Man of Ease; Arnold Aue, Swiss yodler ; Lizette Holdsworth. violinist ; motion pictures. Personals Manager Abe Cohn may continue stock at the American. At present he is negotiating with Paul McAllister to head it. Charley Kavanac.h was in town Tuesday from Seattle for the Ferris Hartman company, on his way to Los Angeles, where the ex-Tivoli comedian opens at the Grand in three weeks. Pietro Sosso and Auda Due, who have been playing leads with the Elleford company, returned to town last Monday. Mr. Sosso will play the heavy at the American next week. Harrison Ford, a handsome and talented young actor now playing at Elitch's Gardens, Denver, has been engaged for juveniles at the Alcazar Theatre of this city. Richard GOLDEN, the comedian, died on the houseboat "Stroller," in Gravescnd B;iy, on Monday, August Oth, Mr. Golden and his wife had been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Newt m Porter, and had for some time been suffering from Blight's disease, but the seriousness of his condition was not apparent until his untimely end came. Richard Golden was for years star of Old Jed Prouty. He had only recently returned from London, where he had appeared successfully at the music halls in a sketch and later in the chief comedy role in The Dollar Princess. Mr. Golden left a widow, who formerly was Miss Katherine Kettclman, of Detroit, and a daughter by his first wife, Dora Wiley.