San Francisco dramatic review (1899)

December 4. IQ09 THE SAN FRANCISCO DRAMATIC REVIEW 5 Los Angeles is Awaiting the Annual Ball of the Theatrical Treasurers' Association LOS ANGELES, Dec. 2.— Mr. Morosco's company is this week playing The Heir to the Hoorah. while Mr. Blackwood announces that the sequel to this play. Hoorah for the Heir! will soon be produced at the local Belasco. Another play announced for an early presentation at the Belasco is Gertrude Nelson Andre ws new play, rhrough a Window. Mrs. Andrews will assist in the staging of the piece.. Charles Ruggles has been engaged for another year with the Belasco company. The Theatrical Treasurers' Association has decided to give another ball. It will take place January 27. 1010. in the GoldbergHosier Assembly rooms. It will be one of the social functions of the season. More details later. Ferris Hartman has at last yielded to the popular demand and next week we will have the pleasure of again hearing Mr. Walsh sing the title role in The Love Tales of Hoffman. Are we really to have a new Orpheum. or is it only a periodical joke? At any rate the old theatre has been recarpeted in bright red. and that helps some. Mr. Morosco announces that the Burbank's production of St. Elmo will be made next week, with A. Byron Beasley in the name role. Mr. Morosco hurries forward his own production and issues a warning against its presentation elsewhere. Beatrice Xoyes, who will be remembered for her excellent work with the Belasco Company, is now playing the leading role in one of the Eastern Blue Mouse companies. Miss Xoyes recently played several performances in The Ringmaster, getting up in the part in twenty-four hours. AUDITORIUM— When you sit through a most enjoyable evening watching The Man from Home, you most heartily endorse the judgment and patronage of Mr. C. People and his wife, which has made for the play's great popularity and success. Next day, when you think it all over and try to put a mental finger on the "why," you're a bit puzzled. Constructively there isn't any wonderful genius displayed in this play by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson, neither is there remarkable brilliancy of dialogue or startling originality of plot, though in no one of these ways is it mediocre by any means. But, nevertheless, there's a world of pithy satire scattered through the lines of The Man; a plenitude of heart interest in the course of the four acts, sufficient comedy of the "light" order to please the most frivolous, and, by no means least, though enumerated last, a lot of very good acting. So finally you conclude that its "just •good because," and let it go at that. Fresh from its long "runs" in New York and Chicago. Liebler & Co. have provided a really good allround company for the tour of the Shubert houses. Henry Hall, who has the title role, makes of his "attorney-at-law, from Kokomo, End.," a character most lovable, with the style of unctuous drollness which made Sol Smith Russell so great a public idol. The rugged honesty of the man is appealing, and Mr. Hall makes both his comedy and his heroics seem real. C harles 1). Herman plays Grand Duke \ asilivitch very cleverly, imparting a courtliness of demeanor and speech quite ideal in the character. Mary Elizabeth Forbes, who is cast as the titleworshiping American heroine, is no stranger to us. and her work as Miss Granger-Simpson is but another strong credit mark for her. Vaughan Trevor has played several parts similar to the empty-headed English noble of the present cast, but none better than he plays the youthful Hon. Almeric St. Aubyn. Harrington Reynolds is quite at home as Lord Hawcastle. while the Ivanhoff of John Martin is a wellacted bit. Emma MefTcrt. Bertha Welby and the others in the cast of principals are all well suited to their parts. 'The play is elaborately and Suitably mounted. BELASCO— The Climbers, by the late Clyde Fitch, is the attraction at the Belasco for the week. The play has been given before at the same house and also at the Burbank. It is an inteiesting story, but also a depressing one, and does not leave an altogether pleasant taste in the mouth. There are three characters in the play that stand out apart from the rest. These are. the husband, the wife, and the man in love with the wife. Frank Camp as Dick Sterling the husband, is consistent in his interpretation of the role. Mr. Stone plays Xed Warden in a quiet and refined manner that is characteristic of the Belasco's leading man. Miss Magrane does well in the trying role of Blanche Sterling, the wife. Ida Lewis plays Mrs. Hunter; Miss Taylor has the ingenue role. Fay Bainter is also seen to advantage in the part of Jessie Hunter. Other parts are well taken by William Yerance, Richard Vivian, Howird Scott, Charles Ruggles, Grace Gardner and Adele Farrington. 'The setting of the stage is particularly attractive, especially the hermitage scene. The performance does credit to the companv. 1 f U R I J A X K— Paid Arm st ron g's. play. The Heir to the Hoorah, is being given a very pleasing revival at the Burbank this week. This comedy is not a great play, but it is an interesting one and also very real. We are introduced to a new member of the company this week. David Landau makes his first appearance as Dave Lacy, brother of Joe. His impersonation is excellent and gives promise of fine things in the future. Mr. Beasley is convincing and strong as Joe Lacy. The women's parts arc sort of thankless roles, but are well handled by Blanche Hall as Mrs. Joe Lacy ; Louise Royce as the mother-in-law; Lovcll Alice Taylor as Mrs. Kate Brand, and Margo Duffet as a maiden aunt of the Lacys. Mr. Hartford is the villain. Other parts are well taken by Harry Mestayer. Henry Stockbridge, John Burton and Willis Marks. The piece is well staged and once again Miss Taylor has an opportunity to wear some stunning gowns. M .\ | ESTIC — 'The Singing Bandits, a mediocre vehicle being used by Tom l'ersse and his talented wife. Edith Mason, is the attraction at the Majestic this week. It is a story of love and brigandage in the Italian mountains, and serves to introduce several standards like the sextette from Lucia, which are sung with finish and spirit. Miss Mason's voice is one of those clear, beautiful sopranos, used with utmost intelligence an l makes one long to hear her in something worthier of her gifts. Bernice Holmes uses her Splendid contralto in as finished, if not as brilliant, a manner as Miss Mason does her soprano. Harold Reeves, a baritone of no mean capabilities and schooling, adds to the small but efficient cast of but eight people. MASON — After a half week's darkness, the Wyatt playhouse reopens tonight for three nights and a matinee of Victor Moore & Co., in George M. Cohan's 'The Talk of New York. This is heralded as a worthy play-sequel to Forty-five Minutes from Broadway, and will re-introduce Mr. Moore in his famous role of Kid Burns. A mention of the piece will be included in next week's letter. GRAXD— Richard Carle wrote a lot of himself into 'The Tenderfoot, yet somehow F"erris Hartman seems to fit just as well into the role of Zachary Pettibone as did the authorcreator. And this without giving tangible evidence of imitation. His microbe-curing lemon and the mule, "Rupert," assist largely in the funmaking. Plot? Oh, what's the use? There's as much of an one as Carle ever supplies, but the play's just a case of "everybody have fun with the star," and they all do. Josie Hart's sartorial display is worthy of note, so for that matter is her acting, and Josephine Islieb does some commendable singing. By far the best solo numbers of the score fall to the lot of Oscar Walch. who plays and sings well the part of the cowboysoldier of fortune. A good character bit is contributed by Walter Catlett as the Chinese servant, 1 lop Lee, while his dancing elicits unusual praise. An adequate mounting and the usual Hartman chorus numbers aid in making the offering worth while. ORPHEUM — The Drums of Doom, a sketch as sordid and dreary as its name forebodes, is splendidly portrayed by Minnie Scligman and her company. Unadulterated misery and despair are depicted in a masterly manner, both in the lines, by Mr. Stuart, and in the acting of Miss Seligman. Nell Lockwood and Hazel Bryson, both well known locally, return with their song material, and are receiving the warmest of welcomes, which they well deserve for good work. The Three Bounding Gordons do excellent work in a series of "bounds." 'The Bootblack Quartette in fetching songs and honest humor constitute a pair of well received new teams. As she was last week, Mile. Bianci is the most artistic number on the bill, with her magnificent work. Also, Ed Lavine is a clever number of last week. The balance of the holdov ers are Kelso, Walsh and Melrose, with their acrobatic performance, and Hal Godfrey in a new sketch of his own. A Very Bad Boy. LOS ANGELES— The bill at the Los Angeles is headed by Jack Fallen and May C arson in a n skating specialty that i.s really \> clever and quite out of the ordinary. An exceptionally good musical number is given by \\ illison and Stouaker. 'They sing some Irish ballads well. All there is to recommend the act of Will J. Harris and Harry Robinson in A Bunch of Kids are a fewbright and snappy songs. Walter Spencer and Barney W illiams offer a sketch act that is not too bad. Frank J. Barker, assisted by Allen Smith, appears in \ Hotel Room in Mid-Air. Parker is a very clever equilibrist. Edith Haney, "the pocket ed'iion comedienne, begins her a" with a doll impersonation and adds an Anna Held song and a ( ierman character ballad. IISC 1 1 PR'S— The Kclly-Massey entertainers at the little First Street house have a diverting little farce in My Uncle from Japan, this week. It concerns the numerous complications arising from the action of an amorous youngster who marries, out of hand, the young woman to whom he has been sent as a matrimonial ambassador by his uncle, who has fallen in love with the girl's picture. John Kelly, makes much of the mistreated uncle, while ('has. h'igg is suitably cast as the dashing nephew, and Harry Oakes elicits much fun as a henpecked husband. Lillian Massey, Josephine LeRoy and Nan Halperin complete the cast. There are several well-rendered song numbers in which both principals and chorus are seen and heard to advantage. UNI O UE — M me. H entz has changed her mind again (woman's unalterable prerogative). 'This time it is "owing to urgent request," and the announced change of policy to straight vaudeville has been indefinitely postponed. The patrons of the house are to be favored as of yore with a double vaudeville allotment each week, and one of Al Frank's playlets. This week, 'The Irish Eskimos is the howling farce presented by Waldo, Dc Vere and Gates; Carberry and Nelson offer A Night with the T. M. A.'s, while the stock company is seen in A Good Job. w ith Al Franks, James Spencer. Frank Morton. Annie Bauman and Dawn De Lane in the cast. FLORENCE EMERY.. DEL MONTI-. — The following members of the Land of Nod company, which gave two performances in the T. A. Work Theatre, at Monterey, on Thanksgiving day, reached Del Monte on Monday, the 22nd. and remained until Friday, the 26th : O. E. Mayhood, Mae Adams, Kattryn George, S. E. Rork. wife and daughter, Mary Welch. Dorothy Ellis. Bcssilce Merrill, George Fox, Ed. Coe and Olive Allen. On Tuesday and Wednesday the Thespians wandered about the beautiful grounds of Del Monte, rode horseback, explored the antiquities <>f Monterey, or motored along the Seventeen-mile I )rive, enjoying their rest greatly. On Saturday evening. November 27, nearly all the guests of the Hotel Del Monte gathered in the Art Gallery to listen to a recital on the fine organ recently installed there. Dr. IF J. Stewart's masterly renderings wi re appreciated highly." ARTHUR INKERSLEY.