The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 16, 1902, Page 11

HE SUNDAY CALL. 11 30me jacts oy O Rz 7 WALDH as ROMEQ AT COLUMBIA houl alvatio street 4 .OKRPHEUM MUNE SWENSON AT THE ALTAZAR Buymmecs o TLORENSE SMYTH AT Tue CALIFORNIA, HOWARD RYLD AT THt CTALIFORMNIA AT FIJHERS THEATRE obarn-stonming company, for which rea- son:my sympathies went out to them and especially to their captain, a sweet-faced little woman, who appealed to me strongly from the very first moment I saw her, and invariably I stopped each even- ing on my way to the theater to listen to her singing. e possessed a sweet voice and, accompanying her singing on thé guitar, rendered the old-fashioned hymns with sweet simplicity. But it was pitiful to see their vain attempts to at- tract an audience. Often I was the only ment closed, I found the band as usual on the street corner, but to my surprise the bass drum and the guitar were not in evidence. On inquiry I learned that the owner of the hall where the army held their jndoor meetings had attached their instrdments for non-payment of rent. The little captain was making a sorry effort to use the tambourine as an accompaniment to the hymns, but in the slarg of the stage the meeting was a ‘frost.” “In a moment my Californiz blood was STONE At tme YRAND CPLRA HOLDE AL)R” and g he became so considered too professional prerogat taking her to task he pin until she almost screamed from the pain. Instantly all Miss S flared up. an only own way. it tion, therefore, Mr. Mansfield hand and so listener, and toward the end of the week aroused. The little captain Had suddenly fic,StoeT; Then she P the captain would greet my appearance become like an oid friend. I hesitated for off to Chicago to resent with a smile and a nod. only a moment and then quickly unstrap- n Hale Company before the aston- “On Friday evening, before our engage- ping my banjo, which I carry to the thea- actor fully realized what had hap- s STAnrecn _37u0is Paok e wire FLORENCE RODERTS ter with me every night, I stepped Into the circle and before either the captain or I myself realized clearly what was happening I was not only playing the ac- comipaniment, but was singing the old familiar hymns with all the enthusiasm I used to display in my Sunday-schog class in Sacramento years ago. “Instantly I was recognized by the throng hurrying past on the way to the theater, and in a few moments a big, curious, crushing crowd had collected. The street was blockaded, but still I play- ed on as I had never played before the footlights, “In the excitement I whispered to the little captain to pass the tambourine for the usual collection. She did as directed and such a collection it was. Suddenly realizing where I was, however, I hur- ried through the crowd and off to the theater. “The next day the little captain called during the matinee and told me that the collection was not only the largest ever taken in the town, but that I had been made a Salvation Army lassie with all the privileges of the barracks, of which horor I am exceptionally proud.” o2 In the line of managerial restraint every company has its difficulties, and none more so than Richard Mansfleld’s, If the theatrical folk, gemeraily, are to be belleved. This great actor has the repu- tation of being severe and exacting to a despotic degree. His word is law and rebellion oi any sort is absolutely un- Leurd of n his compary. Therefere, to judge from the demure looking features of Florence Smyth, How- ard Kyle's leading lady, who plays the part of Alice Adams in Clyde Fitch's revolutionary drama, ‘“Nathan Hale,” at the California Theater to-night, one would never guess that she had not only had an ,encounter with the autocratic star, but what is more to the purpose had come off victorious: The play was- “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Miss Smyth had only two or three small speeches, which, though Mansfleld held them to be exceptionally important, she often rendered in a man- ner peculiarly her own. This invariably brought forth a severe Teprimand, for Perhaps there is no other profession that receives more s who have been trazined for some se vastly dif- ferent than the stage. Strange as it may seem the step from the gy to foot- lght favorite is one of the most popular. In this connection the career of Howard Kyle, will appear to- le, howev in his fath up the stuc bition to just at the destined to and become admitted at one and the same time, e was impressed into serv manager for the local theatrical nts. During one performances Iin which he had induced to leading part he was seen b Margaret Mather, who once for leading flattering from t the name of Howa th s he Mod- ‘combination. to the undertake: that she should P su heavy an actor as muck t was not fact it will be a to the great theater. that Miss Stone in of Mr. Ledley, on in Toronto, and t in Cleopat STELLA ALICE RELLAT # ¥ v g/ r~azrr 0 e Gy own long before going on the And apropos o trionic fame an has won in her the wishes of ! than once been divorce her Miss “It i all could I get a that is what may be that he m from me on the stage a “You see. quit o : t give up the stage as m L wishes me to. He is a very wealthy man and can give me everything to make home attractive, but I have tried it and I hate it. I must have my. theater and I must have my applause. I would not give it up for any man.” Of late it has become quite the fad among the most famous actresses rope and America to play male roles seri- ously. Bernhardt astonished the world with her acting of Hamlet and L’Aiglon. In the latter role dainty little Maude Adams snatched the honors away from the great Sarah ard made the plece quite her own, about which the press of two continents gossiped overmuch. But, neverthel it will astonish oven the most blase theater-goers to learn that Bianche Walsh has also caught the fever and has included “Romeo and Jullet” In her repertoire for this, her latest West- ern tour, herself playing, the part of the love-sick swain in Shakespeare’s immor- tal traged; She has played the part several times during the past few months on her way to the coast, and it is sald that as a con- trast to _her powerful emotional acting in ‘“La_Madeleine,” the new play by Harry Dam of Sacramento, which will be seen for the first time at the Columbia Theater to-morrow night, she may give an extra matinee of “Romeo and Juliet”” gurlng the single week of her engagement ere. She plays the masculine part, she says, not so much to show how pleasing to the eye she can appear in Romeo’s pictur- esque habiliments, but because she be- lieves that the poetry, the delicacy, the great tenderness and youthful ardor of this, the most romantic of all stage lov- ers, can better be portrayed by the subtle art of a woman than by the more robust expression of a man. Romeo, she ex- plains, was a mere boy, slender, delicate, almost fragile, and those who have seen Miss Walsh in the play say she is quite the living embodiment of Shakespeare’s Mdeal. It is a role that has always had a pecu- liar fascination for her and there is no doubt that if she is given managerial per- mission to present it hers her perform- ance will rival even her sensational act- ing in “La Madeleine.” From the pio- ture on this page you can judge for yourself how nearly she looks the part.