The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 2, 1904, Page 19

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, OCTOBER o “y 1904 1 P Ben season re’'s day? membered, potted nto his last years tradition espeare himself the 1s almost aces of its reresis in prese him ine t e a k . . P s, h s e spoken thelr “cz Lord,” at has added other clever folk and the Central to make and an to make it. The be better purposes, both he footlights. Man- Oliver Mo- more alertly and ed upon success. that their initial be efforts with the Majestic company have not been so to say brilliant. » e But it is the Majestic stage as out- let for budding genius, with M Rambeau and Mr. Stack as represent- atives, that I wish to consider. The last time I saw these young thespians was at a dramatic school matinee, given by _the Paul Gerson school of acting. Tardily 1 here subscribe to having seen thers some uncommonly good work. It was, however, neither Miss Rambeau’s nor Mr. Stack’s. Cu- rious ambitious w e latter's ef- fort, almost impertir audacious. Yet one could npathize with the exalted fashion of his ideal. Mr. begin with, committed a Hermann Suderman’'s a powerful and brilliant g itself with Ger- Possibly the transla- but its attempt to re- e German in the American times weir funny. too, was Stack’s d-Prince-Karl Fritz, akeup to a as faithful replica l:=' k as the devise. Yet the the imitation and nati virile and auda- the work aroused a certain y. The play itself is recom- led =1r'\"m' to those in search of rajser—the ama- red. »peared as Barbara Southern sketch, Marse Van remembers chief- n overdone petulance, childishness, fai and presence as Miss Rambeau's The importance of an” came in with Miss Mar- Mr. ro ely cious sy techni competence After ail though, it is not necessary find you out itself before very ong. Miss Jles was the little nigger Sacharissa, and a truly delight- 3 character was over- but positively , careless ne- voice, gesture, handed up from old and Miss Iles walked t on her bare feet atom of self-consciousness. orth w ng. While T am about it, Mr. Gerson ex- hibited another pupil that I am tempt- ed to prophesy for. This is one Lester who gave a guite powerful lit- of a coward horse- st r by Martin v e. The audience of a dramati the most rev- natinee is not o Poor Mr ck found that out ed on with an awkward But even the who sat in a fluffy about the Stack impressed by the ealer takes refuge ih the on the in him man from away s sweetheart The Sheriff promises to help e, believing him innocent. and confesses. Mr. Merle, wt first attempt at play-wri irie Judgment,” unfortunately eriff into a cad here. He former friend out into the storm-swept desert. Mr. Alden's portrait of the horse- stealer sticks in the memory. More than cleverly, with the genuine tem- peramental quality, he gave the man's e rottenness, cowardice, his alter- nations of hope and fear as the Sherift decides his fate. The make-up was excellent, and Mr. Alden's facial ex- pressions suggest she veteran. How the student owes to Mr. rson one can hardly decide, but there is even notable material here, unless I am egregiously mistaken. W e To the Majestic, then, the student may now look for new opportunities, with Mr. Stack as “a soldier,” and Mis Rambeau, with three lines, as pioneers. f—the if is large—the ambitions of Mr. Bishop and Mr. Morosco are real- ized, the theater may become such a dramatic incubator as was the old California in its glorious days. But McCulloughs and Barretts are scarce, and the day may be distant. Mean- time, Mr. J. H. Gilmour and Miss Grace Reals rule the roost, with earnestness if without distinction, and Mr. Bishop has put out a hand to the student. b ST oy I wonder if they have not a Tony Lumpkin up at the Majestic in the per- son of Henry Stockbridge? His work in “Captain Barrington” this week strongly suggests the possibility. “Cap- tain Barrington™ is to be remembered also for a nalve and charming moment filled by Miss Linda Arvidson. The logic of her work was, however, at fault. Did she mean to suggest willing- ness or unwillingness to endure Cap- Arizonan desert, th won ity, MISIC TR £ | f | i | | | | i | I | | | | | | | | | | PART OF BEAUTY CHORUS WHICH THIS WEEK WILL AID FRANK DANIELS IN “THE OFFICE BOY.” | + + - - - tain Barrington's caresses? be missed by any one interested in.that not as with the latter deplorable any rate the Bronson Howard play Some one has put it that no one can always “strike twelve.”” I won- if the unfortunate conditions of first “York State Folks” perform- dered the ances—their scenery turned up two hours late—had knocked off a chime or two in their case. Curiosity, and per- haps liking for the people that are try- ing to produce something at least sweet and wholesome—if sometimes irritat- ing from its wholesale conventional- ism, took me down again to the Grand Opera-house to see. 1 was pleased to find the performance even surprisingly better than on Sunday night. Its lines, then vague, were sharp, its colors strengthened. The character studies that are the strength of the story stood out, and the play developed consistent atmosphere. Ray the old Yoy« organist I found again lovable, and Mr. Lackaye, though still frequently inar- ticulate, is amply convincing as the irasgible wagon works master. Two or three of the smaller parts unexpect- edly loomed up. Harry Crosby as Lem Dunbar, the horse trader, and George W. Mahare as Ben Tuttle, the shop- keeper, both develop as clever charac- ter studies. Miss “‘”‘i Stevens as Mrs. Lyddy Martin, the ppressed wife of Martin (Lackaye), is another. One re- members gratefully her broom-buying episode—and George W. Mahare's broom-selling, as well as the pathos of her pinched white face and bowed shoulders. The play itself will be enjoyed by all to whom village life appeals. It is a truthful, photographically truthful, picture, and clean, wholesome, human. If to his accurate faculty of depiction Mr. Sidman, who made the play, had added the iméginative faculty, “York State Folks” might have been, what it almost is, the best of the rural dramas. One change of viewpoint, the. change of the traditional attitude of the son to the overbearing father, and the trick would have been done. “York State Folks,” however, pleasantly 'inaugu- rates the combination season at the Grand Opera-house, that has forth- coming several ha:ldso:ne attractions. A series of articles that should not theatrical affairs, is the lively history of the American Theatrical Syndicate, now appearing in Frank Leslie’s Mag- azine. The article has the impartial appearance, and purports to give frankly the good and evil results of the dramatic monopoly. All sides of the subject are discu: remains unacquainted with any of the laws governing® its theatrical supply it will not be Frank Leslie’s fault. The articles are by the editors of the mag- azine, and are the result of more than two years' research. The first of the series—there are to be three—appears in the October number, and is pro- fusely illustrated with portraits of the dramatic magnates. — QUAINT MIRACLE PLAY “EVERYMAN" WILL BE PRESENTED THIS WEEK “Everyman,” the miracle play that was so_happily introduced here last season by Ben Greet's company, 1 the list of this week's drar ic at- tractions. The play will be staged at the same place, Lyric Hall, given prac- tically ame co Ev Mr 1 and with ryman, Miss Greet's com- pany, Jll appear in “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Twe Night" for its second week, has been notably augmented. Several members of the Eastern “Everyman” company ha added their strength to the original o ganization, and even better p ances may be expected this y last. The open air productio You Like It"” at Mills College will one of the features of the cngagement, be another the first production of the nesw miracle play by Profes viey of the University of California, “The Star of Bethlehem. 5 e Musical comedy wili invest two stages this week, those of the umbia and the California. To the Columbia comes Frank Daniels, funny in every- thing and said to be funnier than usual in “The Office Boy,” in which he has been starring ever since his adventures with “Miss Simplicity.” It is promised d, and if the public. effort “The Office Boy” has something besides Mr. Daniels to depend on. The music. is said to be good, a sufficiency of fun is in evidence, and there will be other comedians on the floor. The beauty chorus is featured. With Daniels. comes also Alfred Hickman, Sidney Toler, Belle Jerome. Sallie Fisher and Clara . “The Tender fm that found much favor in New York even after its in ception in Chicago, is the California’s current issue of musical comedy. Philip Ryley, who trod many merry measures with:the Dunn and Ryley Company at the California, and has since Tweedle- punched himself into fame in 1, heads the company. positively” fifty-nine peopie more the cast, a pretty girl chorus included. “The Tenderfoot” ran for two hundred and fifty nights in Chicago, and for cne hundred in New York. It is by Richard Carle. The engagement be- gins this evening. o a5l Fischer's o on to-morrow oth ew burlesque by Howard co * entitled “Down the Line. 1 devoutly to be hoped that Mr. Jacott will be better treated than his predecessor, Mr. Crawford, in the matter of stage management and cenie investmen Both in “Miss Ma- ma case ludicrously insuf- nt its wer ¢ decided 11 week Alcazar. Mr. “Camiile” his engagement at ring Mr. Whittlesey, ing better than M i mand Duval can be looked Lawtén will assume the na ind not a little may be expected fror this clever young woman. Whittlesey for the upon of Bar- the Those that like the truly rural will enjoy “York te Folks” at the Grand Opera-house which this after- noon enters upen second week. PR It is ‘auite’ vossible that in Henry Stockbridge the Mafestic will have a good Bertie the Lamb, “The Henri- otta” being the week's bill. Mr. Stack- bridge is a promising comedian. At is of the cleverest American comedies and should serve as an attractive medi- um for the whole company. * ‘eme “The Serenade™ is running very successfully at the Tivoli. The Amer- ican premiere of “Der Rastebinder” fol- lows. The overa is one of the most pronounced European comic opera successes of recent years. O “Dealers in White Women” will be the Central's offering this week. It promises to afford the usual thrills. 753 . The Barrys. Lydia and Emily, and George Felix are the leading skitsters of the Orpheum bill this week. They present a piece by Edward R. Burton entitled “The Boy Next Door” that has been very well received. CRET R James and Bonnie Farley will mi- grate from the Orpheum to the Chutes this week. They head the bill. Fegat STARS THR()I ouT THE LAND ARE TRYING OUT NEW PRODUCTIONS George Bernard Shaw sent recently Arnold Daly the seenario of a new one-act play’entitled “How He Lied to Her Husband,” which Shaw has dedi- cated to “Arnold Daly and Candida Enthusiasts.” The play will be pro- duced by Daly, as a companion pieee to “The Man of Destiny.” to “Weather Beaten Benson,” with Ezra Kendall inthe stellar role, was pre- sented - for the first time at Young's Pier, Atlantic City, September 1, and scored an emphatic hit Edna May and an excellent company presented for the first time in America the English musical comedy. “The School Girl.” and the production is said to be successful. “The Royal Chef,” a musical comedy that was favorably received in Chicago, was produeed in New York at the Lyric Theater on September 1. The Manhattan Theater. New York. opened September 14, with a highly successful presentation of “Becky = Modestly, but quite in the right di- rection, the music department of our Public Library is growing. It will be' remembered that the department.was’ established a little. more than a year ago—and it should not be forgotte that it was at the suggestion of Mme Emilia Tojetti, president of the music section 9f the California Club. -An admirable little collection, largely: con-- tributed to by the same philanthropic - hand, was ' got together. Opera, . naturally, here, was most impertantly represented, but orchestral and piano literature are both in satisfactory evi: dence. The year has hrought mapy! additions to the list, if not so many as might have been reasonably Hoped for. Perhaps the department is as yet too new to expect large recognition of’ its usefulness. ‘It may well be that the musical philanthropist .has :even. forgotten its modest existence. The cause owns no brass band, like thé crusade for pure milk—¢this. hopetully, is a small tootle in the direction, dedi- cated to the aforesaid philanthropist; a tiny trombene phrase in his ear as it were. Three of him and her, however, have not forgotten. The.year's pri- vate gifts were contributed by the. ever faithful Mme. Tojetti, Miss Cuth- ~ bert and Professor Lisser. . The re- mainder of the acquisitions the city pocket has paid for. As will be seen, the character of the additions is not- ably worthy. There is net a dis- pensable page in the collection. The Mendelssohn, Bach and Beethoven ac- quisitions are in particular valuable, and the Mozart, Schumann_ and Schit- bert works importantly augmented. Orchestral compositions . are in evidence, and the solo literiaturé of string, brass and woodwind is repre- sented by only two violint conipesitions. Herein is where the philanthropist has been idle. dubitably ‘e here as everywhere else pr raries— I have three in -that have fallen into disuse. Commonly these col- lections are of orchestral and certed musie, but, course, iriclude all varieties of al expression. Sentiment is sometimes the reasoh for their retention, but quite as frequ it is.sheer thoughtlessness that.gives them to the dust, and occasionally a pardonable puzzlement as what to do with them. Let me suggest the Public Library as. their It is at least as noble .end in a ptinid beet! little th mind con- musi ently s belly deed picture a wort destiny best beloved music. tomes?—giving an hour’s forgetting to the weary, joy. to the home, light to the student—may- hap, who knows, to a new Beethoven? This and more is the gentlé of the free music library Ma murder,” Haweis says, among foolishness, “has been committed upon the piano.” If not quite, this near- ly enough true. "It is > more possibla sonata and watch yourself and go on be- to play a Beethoven tha main angry slam a door n to times lieving that this is a cold, cold world:* The former process is asanter ‘for the neighbors, that all. (Mostly, that is.) But. compute therefore prophyl ic value of Baethoven sonata in the Public Library, and— remember that disy d ection. The year's harvest since-Septemiber; 1903, has been fair. After all, if San Francisco were anything but ‘the musically flbered city she is, it were perhaps one to be a little proud ‘of. As it is, we must do better next yean. This Hofmann week. The long- looked-for recitals will take place at the = Alhambra next Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Saturday &ft- ernoon. Undoubtedly Hofmann is one of the foremost of I ites, cal pianistic favor- and most worthily. He is an ad- mirably equipped artist on every side. From the wonder child he has devel- oped sanely into the mature virtuoso, and gives evidence of further artistic development at every visit. Mr. Hof- mann's programmes I have already printed, but mention again that the Beethoven “Waldstein” Sonata comes on Tuesday night, the E minor prelude and fugue of Mendelssohn, the Chopin B minor scherzo and a tone fantasy, “Through the Clouds,” by Hofmahn himself. The Sousa dates are set for the week of October 16, beginning with a Sunday evening concert. Twelve concerts will be given by the March King at the Alhambra. i Sharp.” There are many interesting productions to be made at this theater during the season, amiong which- are “Monna Vanna,” “Hedda Gabler,” a new play by C. M. S. McLellan. and plays by Johi Luther Long, Hermann Sudermann, J. Hartley Manners and Carina Jordan. = | Belasco, Mayer and Price have ses cured the Western rights to “The Light That Failed.” —p GAMBLE “It's b > hill c with the overhead that only spher can Italy, which is, in siscer. EXHIBITI That exhibit from Gamble's clever brush is a-doin sionary work here- abouts, for people—that is, the passing people—are pausing to peep in at these exquisite bits of “concentrated nature.” Rea Californians ARE getting to a point of appreciating pictures of home creation—but, alas! the apprecia- tion only comes in spots, and not in the spots, good friend, that you might gu Among the most fascinating of the thirty-three canvases by Gambie are “Arroyo Seco, Twilight,” “The Oak,” “Wild Flowers Near Lake Merced"— all ecstasies of color and feeling, and Californian to the last lay-on of the brush, ON WIN ATTENTION— Next month H. W. Hansen, the fa- mous painter of the desert and its den- izens, will hold an exhibit at the same gallery, 1o be followed by Grace Hud- son’s “Indian Children and Their Camp- fire Studies.” . . . . Now that Amedee Joullin has wan- dered back to his native heath, and survived the welcome of his friends, and enemies, he’s going to work, and the Carnfel River country, with its fa- mous old mission and its bending bay, has lured him. He goes down there sketching some time next week. And, by the way, Chris Jorgensen threatens to locate in the pines that sock"to the song of the sea, where he, too. may paint the forest and the sea, without so much as moving his easel. Monterey helds some strange, allur- ing charm for the folk who paint. The latest acquisition to the colony /in the old town—the town that holds more “legends” and ’'dobe huts that Teme- cula—is Artist Fonda, he who won much favorable mention a few years ago by his clever work. Sketching there? Ah, friend, herein lies a tale—a tale Wherein the ideal is worsted by the real. Fonda is not sketching—only for play. He’s raising chickens; yes, chickens!—and for pay. Not ill-bred, ordinary, mongrel chick- ens, to be sure, but high-stepping aris- tocrats who have organized among themselves a high-bred smart set."And - this is the vocation of a clever artist— and in his venture bevond the world beautiful, he is not alone. Other art- ists who love their art, but who have need of lucre, are with him on his five- acre chicken ranch. Fellow Californians, is it with our paintings-as with our prunes—we don’t appreciate them? Does it take some “wiz” from abroad to tell us that they’'re good? There's Cucuel. San Francisco didn't know. who he was until he scored a hit in Berlin, Paris and elsewhere over the water—then San Francisco discovered him and blew incense over his hand- some head until he fled. wide e Chrig Jorgensen has been having the U Laura Bride Powers time of his life up in the high Sierras, whither he journeyed with Mrs. Jor- gensen and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Powers. Lake Tenaya, fair mirror of the mountains round about, held the artist and his friends in the thrall of its beauty for two full weeks, when a mass of sketches were taken of the new Te- naya country. In most of these, new views of Yo- semite appeared from above the valley, far up in the rugged mountains in whose lap the valley lies. " 8. Maynard Dixon has just finished an attractive Arizona scene. Dixon and Arizona are coming to be synonymous. Its tone is peaceful, with a deep power of repression hidden beneath its still- ness. Mr. Dixon generously lent the canvas to the Sequoia Club, at whose recent reception it received much at- tention. Between puffs young Dixon is deing clever work, much of which is finding a home on Eastern walls. But tis ever thus. What a mystic charm there is in the vagueness of distance! PRy C. P. Mieldon, the young Englishman who has caught the spirit of the Span- jard and his day; of the romantic mis- sions and their ruined walls, goes forth next month to sketch another series of mission pictures. To such as he—and to all whe flow where fancy leads—success!