The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 20, 1904, Page 19

THE SAN FRANCISCO CAL SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1904 19 and umor thically, and from the literary de 1 I think d the scene ho z dramat d 1 did so ts quaint p steal whose wif born babe, humor of th the igible thing WHTHERNE And he told in which and that amused by my respected Mr. Bailey Millard's, e to distinguish the Gayley Saxon Wakefield Saxon stanzas. fessor explained further. that of the scene Herod appears was original, he had b iterary confrer on es over the birth of the child, and ere he calls up the devils to his help, I interpolated,” the author atic contrast, too, I took of alternating the kings and rich and poor —as they eir gifts to the Christ-child. is very sweet in that 's the child is cold, and among the beasts and his arms to warm him pretty, very preity. * * * Of se, none of these old plays is suf- nt in itself to hold a modern audi- There are perhaps ten or twlve orated in ‘The Star of Bethle- I asked then nce of the Boston form Boston, it seems, had taken it very seriously. Mr. Greet and his pi »rs had produced the play there fi been very Professor of the Boston wise He liked, parti Bo: Transc ut per- Gayley she on the fev subject ed, the fashion. t 1 of thing dramatic th € ay e from the univer- ty? I hazarded in drama ayley repeated, ing over ope for stop- one thing in his is that some time here a dramatic year, in which stu- ssors of the e part. It shall of legitimate prize shall be the by university. e should get once reat play. Un- he is here, and I £ x plan to arouse ty think the university en- ining, useful to the dra- Do you certain extent,” the pro- ‘Of course it includes ¥y acquaintance with t rir(m‘a and then there is tical work h sort as this— iernizing Marl ‘Edward 1L’ such like—which was the kind of g I set young Tully and Elmer s doing. You know them? I hope, ent on, “‘to see the tone of college vastly lifted before very long. they are better now than to be. We shall have to rite them up to the Greek Theater— owe's ertainly Do vou hope to make Ibsens or Shaws here?” I asked. Both,” Professor Gayley promptly replied “Rather, though, we would ut Shakespeares and Sheridans. not wholly admire the pessimistic, ‘dirtistic’ drama. I don’t think to the ‘demnition bow- ze, of course, the bril- and momentary persuasiveness plays, but they leave a bad taste nouth.” happens to be truth and art—" Of course, it is not the purpose of a work of to teach,” Profe: 3 granted, “but it must rest upon some vital ethical underpinning, mustn’t it? The problem play is usually as one- sided as the sentimental drama of the ‘Old Homestead’ type. The world isn't made up simply of these problems. I | | | | i | CLARK PHOTO BERKELEY | | | | IVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE AUTHOR OF “THE | M EARLY DAY DRAMAS 5 : | GREET'S COMPANY OF PLAYER! | think we'd rather turn out Sheridans than Ibsens here.” I asked as I left: “Have you a photo- graph of yourself, professor, for my story—a new Californian playwright, you knov ““There is one, I think,” the professor answered vaguely but hopefully, the charming unworldliness of the Berke- leyan leaping up here, “the e is one at a little shop on Market street I believe, I think near the City Hall.” somewhere Thank you,” I laughed. —— INTERESTING PLAYS OFFERED THIS WEEK AT THE THEATERS Maxine Elliott in “Her Own Way,” a combination that stood out as almost the sole success of the last uniquely disastrous season in New York, is due to-morrow evening at the Columbia. $ R “The Runaways,” a NeWw York Ca- sino extravaganza, opens at the Cali- fornia to-night. Much may be expect- ed from the show according to its fore- going report, and the production will be identical with that of New York. PR e too—there is plenty of novelty at the theaters this week—is “The Show Girl,” that the Grand Opera- house opens with this afternoon. New, The Alcazar also offers a new play of the rural order, entitled “The Vil- lage Postmaster,” by Alice E. Ives and Jerome Eddy. It will be seen here for the first time to-morrow evening. Mr. Morosco is quite proud of the fect that in Los Angeles with his ex- cellent stock company he made “The Taming of Helen” one of the success ful plays of last season. The comedy failed to interest here even with Henry Miller and Margaret Anglin, but, nothing deterred, Mr. Morosco will offer it at the Majestic this week, and modestly challenges comparisons. . . * The Tivoli is busy rehearsing “King Dodo,” that will follow “The Me: nger Boy" still running—if a messenger boy can ever be said to run. . . . The Central also has a local miere this week, of the “stupendous™ melodmma “Queen of the White Slaves pre- . . . Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew, always — RS W) TIE MUSIC. FOILC Rfl!l‘l & TO 1 - i | | \’ | | | J = - This afternoon the new Tivoli re- ceives its baptism of grand opera—a What the old Tivoli has history we the new Tivoli may surmise. far it Curiously this is great event. meant to us in operatic all What mean we can only know. has meant nothing. the first Tivoli without a season of grand opera. Yet one feels that Mr. Leahy unwise therein. vear, for many years, has not been One has felt so sure of the grand opera, year by year, that gratitude has been rather forgotten. With the better and better perform- ances given more and more has been demanded, and only in the lack of what we had so freely is it felt just how much was so handsomely given. We shall be very ready for next year's season, Mr. Leahy, and meantime are glad that a Tivoli year shall not go by wholly withéut grand opera. This afternoon’s performance “Lucia,” and has the particular inter- est of introducing in the title role Madame Fannie Francisca, who has won so favorable opinion in the part in Furope. One is particularly glad of the opportunity to hear Madame Francis- ca in opera. Her introduction in con- cert was not fortunate one felt, so es- sentially dramatic is her instinct. At any rate the singer brings to her work a voice even wonderfully beautiful, pure, full, flexible, sweet and of a tim- bre peculiarly fine and rare. The Ed- gardo will be our old friend, Russo, and one knows him happy in the role. The cast is also fortunate in its Henry Ash- ton, that will be sung by Signor Bor- ghese, and Signor Wanrell has the part of Raymond. Then the orchestra will be importantly augmented for the oc- casion, and the chorus—well, one wants nothing better than the Tivoli chorus. Altogether the performance promises to be one of excenticnal interest. They have been working like beavers at the rehearsals, and with Mr. Steindorff at is of the baton there is little to fear as to r Come to think of it it a extraordinary condition of when an end of the world place like this can prcduce a conductor, cast, orchestra, stage manager at a maQ- ment’s notice for the production of a grand opera like “Lueci: and in the fashion in which it is surely going to be produced this afternoon at the Tivoli. Well, every one is to be there appar- ently, to rejoice at the Tivoli's grand opera christening. This afternoon, at 2 Two remarkable pupil recitals, piano, have constituted the chief musical fare the last few days. Little Enid Brandt gzave the first and Miss Enid Williams, a pupil of Robert Tolmie, the second. I think it counts up about two years since Enid Brandt last appeared, a tiny tot of ten, with little feet a foot from the pcdals, but with even then a quite L P more than welcome at the Orpheum, bring there, this afternoon, a new kketch, “When Two Hearts Are Won . . . Edward Raymond and Beatrice Tricey are chief lights of the new Chutes bill. They do a sketch en- titled “A Mr. and a Miss Mistaken.” . . . Fischer's offer ten new numbers on the bill for this week. The vaudeville irnovation is proving popular. . . . of Seats will go on sale next Tuesday morning at the box office of the Co- lumbia Theater for the two Sunday night German performances to be of- fered by the Alameda Lustspiel En- semble at that theater. The players will make their appearance on Sun- day night the 27¢h in Blumenthal and Kadelburg’s comedy, “Grossstadtluft,” and on the following unday night, will, by snecial request, give a revival of “Im Weissen Roessl.” —p ridiculously big grasp on her instru- ment. Two years have done wonders for the child—“wonderful,” “astonish- ing,” are the words that come most readily to the pen in describing her. Her technique is truly astonishing. Her octave passages, trills, scales, are play- ed with every appearance of ease and ith extraordinary fluency and bril- liancy. oniy that but the tome throughout is beautiful and the child's dynamic control, except where her in- stinet would have a larger forte than her fingers are yet capable of obtain- ing, is almost absolute. oped temperamentally canni in fact The child's She has devel- also, almost un- playing is comical thoritative. She knows exactly she ants and almost always And it is here that Enid’s work to criticism. Take the F minor. tions of Haydn, for example ing out of the theme, you will remember, was sentimentalized out of all proportion Notes were lengthened by a full half without rhyme or reason, pauses introduced and the rubato reigned. It was the same thing, though in with the Schu- mann numbe “Des Abends” and the F sharp major “Romanze’—that is, anywhere where ty offers. comparison with the ments of the little girl, edied that I am sure it little firmness in her avoided in future au- what gets it. open varia- The giv- ssentially simple, les: a the pathetic opportuni- But this is so small a fact in achieve- heroic s0 ea neec direction Enid's programme, completely mem orized, included also the Saint-Saens minor concerto- sixty-five ‘pages of it!—the “butterfly” etude of Chopin, the Sinding “Frublingsrauschen,” a charming serenata by William Mason, pres. ed to the rh]l by the composer, a theme and variations of her own, the Nicode “Tarantelle,” and the Lizst B major Polonaise. And there was much of it that you would go far to find bet- ter played. Curious. of the numbers on Miss Williams' programme, played at Mr. Tolmie’s studio, was the Haydn Andante. Oppositely from the Brandt reading, Miss Williams’ concep- tion erred on the of prosiness, that surprised in face of her quite charming interpretation of the noe- turne and polonaise of Chopin. But it lacked the Iy quality, that andt’s ren- dering was so v aggerated. Hardly fair however, to be- gin in this admir- ably consci artistic work of th ng woman Like Miss Wiliams technique, a and a scholarly pure \ul\l mellow and reverent appreciation ton. cal master: Further M strongly endowed with the sense, her interpretation of the stén conce being notabl Her Ba so, was excellent, the themes and counter themes of the fugue coming with delightful clarity and balance. She showed the poetic sense in comfortable measure in the Chopin numbers and the Brahms rhap- sody was given with remarkable breadth The Scarlattl Capriccio—a ily designed— compieted Miss Willlams' programme, highly creditable to master and stu- dent alike. Rubin- to (D minor) in particular for its picturesque qual- e Laura Kinze von Kisielnicka, the only pragramme of offers a very interesting one. an, who is a contralto, den, v be heard for Mi who will give this week, he young wor time here at Steinway Hall on y evening. Considerable inter- est on both »ay is being taken in the event r will be ted by Miss Hulda Anc m, pian- Mrs. Alice Bacon Washington will Wismer will Following and Hother Spohr), Mozart), allegro D. Heimweh (H net), ‘“‘Viatique {inze von T WOULD seem that after the birth ef the world, Nature in a 1 joyous land’s and the —in what we mort onte ve r00d, created at Is were California, after Califria — a every part of her earth—gray moun- call Amazon, site purple haze; deserts e hrobbing, sultrily caress a passionate sun; cool, sts, whose heavy trees a turquoise sky; shim- er running blue through tules; blood-splashed tretching away to a topaz = 4 sioping gently down n, whose white the soft white der embrace. es of all lands folk— nature rtist that her moods, felt e canvas for you 4 Mark Hopkins Art a stories told r gs of na- of sketches women who kK ubtle call of be v r ture— re iimir ¥ their d mistre moods. e, the , and ver, 100, who in upon unveiling e negative side of nature—the re- pellant side, and the side that sends one away heavy of heart and slow of step. Poets of the brush, is this not 2 prostitution of your divine gifts? Depression, with its gaunt, gray shadows, haunts the hearts of us with- out the biddin then why seek its gloomy companionship by abiding with a picture of woe. That the artist may paint a Calvary, he must be plunged in wretched gioom while he paints. And forever after he paints it, the gloom o’erhangs it, pervades it—if it be good art—and glcom enters the spirit of the passer- by. But happily, the keynote of the Hopkins exhibit is gladness, good cheer, and budding life and vitality— all symbols of California, the new- found home of art, the interpreter of nature. Among the clever sketches—which, by the way, are pronounced by Cap- tain Robert H. Fletcher and many of the directors of the institute as the best éver presented before in the fall ex- hibit—are those of Matteo Sandona, Ada Romer Shawhan, Eugen Neuhaus, James A. Stanton, C. P. Neilson, John M. Gemble, Will Sparks, Amy Dewing, Willis E. Davis, G. F. P. Piazzoni, E. J. Cross, Alice B. Chittenden, Anna Frances Briggs, Elmer Wachtel, Alice Richagéron, Eva ‘Withrow, Norman St. Clair, L. P. Latimer, Mary E. Stokes, sydney J. Yard, J. M. Griffen, Kate C. Thompson, J. W. Clawson, A. Altmann, with Madame de Junosa, Madame Areales, Lillian O'Ryan, Mrs. Frank- lin K. Lane and Miss Campbell show- ing miniatures. Besides these are some interesting cartoons for applied art by Mrs. Albertine Wheelan, likewise some bookplates. On the four gray sides of the Mary Searles gallery are these clever sketches shown, some, to be sure, bet- ter executed and more fascinating than cthers, but all worth while. And the dominant note in the work of the new men and women—even as with the deans of San Francisco art—is orig- inality and spontaneity. Sydney P. rd is showing a charm- ing bit of seashore, storm-swept, with waves washing high on the white sand, threatening the anchorage of pink and purple blossoms that rest like bits of amethyst there. C. P. Neilson, to whom the sentiment of the Spaniard and his civilization appeals most strongly, has some charming bits, notably his ex- quisite *| ne in Orizaba.” Piazzoni, to whom three front names were wholly superfluous to a chap whose cleverness distinguishes him from his fellows, has an alluring sketch, “Midsummer,” where a flock of fluffy sheep, a clod of a shepherd, a great softly swelling hill and a round, red sun form the features. This farm- er’s lad—as he was known at the art echool some half-dozen years ago—has in him that which makes great artists. And it’s manifest now in his new work. Delicacy characterizes him. Anna Frances Briggs has some pretty studies, all done during her summer dallying at Halfmoon Bay. And by the way, this same flame- crowned artist-maid recently had a canvas hung on the line in the new London gallery—an honor not to be lightly valued. Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. Alice B. Chittenden have both done good work, the former a bastel study and the latter “Springtime”—a pretty conceit. Sandona, why on earth did you send that uncanny, Tam O’Shanter, phantom of child-sketches, that gives one the shivers? I dare say it's good art, but a paroxysm of spinal quakes drove me away, down to your very human portraits near the door. There's a reminiscent touch of the Reaper in that child study. The fall exhibit is a famous success. May no artist who exhibits here e'er find himself without beer and skittles! =and a welcoming couch to lay him on —for these does the world owe him. On December 1, 2 and 3 the Arts and, Crafts will exhibit .t the St. Francis, and a right clever stunt is expected of them that compose it. It is presided over by a charming little woman, Miss Lillie Tobey, who does,many wonderful things in leather—and they're mnot shoes. It holds as members some of the very best people in town in applied art as well as in high art, among the latter Maynard Dixon, Xavier Mar- tinez, C. P. Neilson, John M. Gamble and a lot of clever chaps—and equally clever women. o el LilliAn O’'Ryan’s miniatures are a joy —a joy not commensurate with their size. Her portrait of Miss Marie Wells is as dainty as a summer cloud reflected in the azure bosom of a mountain lake. True, the subject was worthy of Miss Ryan's art, but the treatment is soft and tender and mellow. The same ar- tist is now busy on a portrait of Miss Ednah Robinson. Mrs. Franklin K. Lane is accredited with portraits of herself and Mr. Lane, both of which are exceptionally clever. e Cadenasso’s exhibit has been a splen- did success, artistically and financially. So, too, with Maren Froelich’'s—and thus do the artists wax happy. O At Claxton’s there’s a bust that every lover of the beautiful should see—“La Voluta,” by the famous Genoese, San- sebastiano. It is in marble with the blue veins in the -, ~ne showing hu- manly in the hea.”\ breast, in the soft, round chin, anu .n the half-con= cealed forehead, over which is drawn a filmy veil symbolic_of the subtlety of ‘women, whose souls are said to lie deep in shadows., It is one of the two San- sebastian.. in the United States. Tis Said the Fall Exbibitiop at Hopkips ls the leverest Yet Giugn— Lure B Powes & e STOEMASCENE WY 25 ASYPHEY o Sraes -