The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-06
THE THEATERS.
Presentation of "Paul KauYar"
Under Disadvantages.
Haworth's Clever Acting as the Hero-strik-
ing Pictures-1A Soap Bubble"-Good
Business at the California.

Circumstances were not favorable to a
frst-class presentation of paul Kauvar'
at the Bush-street last evening. The arri-
val of the company from the northern cir
emit was tardy, and the scenery was not in
place till short time before o'clock. Be-
sides, there was a change in the
cast In consequence of the death of Charles
II. Vandenhoff at Providence Hopilal,
Seattle, on Wednesday morning, April
3Oth, Joseph Ransome took the part of the
Due de Beaumont, and c. Z. Boardman
that OF Carrac, usually played BY Ransome.
Owing to these and other mishaps, the mu-
sicIans were not seated in the music-box
till % minutes past s. and the cur
tain did not rise till half-past. The long
wait, however, was enlivened by some
scraps of rehearsal quite audible to the
audience, although the rehearsers were
hidden by the curtain, Batting all draw
backs the drama had a fair showing as far
as the principals in the cast were con-
cerned, and the disposition Of the scenery
was effective.
ME. JOSEPH HAWoRTH,
AS the hero, was warmly received on his
entrance He has a fine stage presence, a
well-toned, flexible voice, an enunclation
clear and distinct. One listens with pleas
ure to his reading, and admires the grace
fitness Of his action. Miss Lizzie Rochelle,
in the role of Diane de Beaumont, looked,
in her high-waisted gown, like one of the
ladies of the Directory. She is an actress
of merit with something yet to learn in
the way of stage demeanor. Diane IS
the heroine, and the whole interest
of the story turns upon Paul and herself.
Paul, a man Of the people, gives shelter to
the father, high-strung old ariStOcrat, and
the daughter, Diane and Paul fall in love,
and, unknown to the blue blooded refugee,
they have been married six months at the
time the play opens. a devil, IN the person
of a renegade Marquis, called citizen
GourVe (AIr. Mark Lynch, comes
into their domestic paradise, and,
after winning PauPS friendship by the
free expression of revolutionary ideas, and,
on the quiet, the confidence of the old Duke,
because he had belonged to the order"
plays false to both with view to possess
Diane for himself In the working out Of
the drama he makes many of its situations;
among others, giving Paul an opportunity
10 DO little Sydney Carton business in i'm
personating the Duke and being taken to
the guillotine in his stead. The comedy
element-meager to a degree-is supplied
by Potin, a henpecked husband (Murray
Woods, and Nanette, his wife Miss La
Ynla White). The great want Of the drama
Is more relief in the comic way.
THE PICTURES.
The piece boasts good many striking
-..--haSeS that seem TO grow naturally out OF
the occasion, and also two particularly
strong pictures. The tirst-Kauvar's dream
at the end of the initial act-diseloses the
guillotine at its bloody work, and sur
rounded by the danes" and sans culottes
exulting over the falling of the arstocrats'
heads, and a scaffold slippery with stream
ing blood. just as this picture is dis
closed, the eXecutiOner holds up to
view the waXen head of a fair
haired woman, and the eager crowd reach
forward to catch some of the blood appar-
emily dripping from the slender severed
neck. 1t is CHASTITY sight and might do
for an Illustration Of the execution of the
Princess Lamballe. While he is swinging
the head to and fro Diane is seen ascending
the steps that lead to the ak, and then the
sleeping man springs out Of his dream with
a mighty shout, My life for hers, and the
vision disappears. The other picture is
known as the mob scene in La Vendee,
which, considering the disadvantages that
marked this first night, was well managed.
TIE MUSIC.
Louis Schmidt Sr. was in his place as
leader of the orchestra, aud gave some good
selections. Between the fourth and fifth
acts two of Mr.. Haworths compositions
were played" Mary's Dream" written in
memory of Mary Fiske) and "Sothern,"
dedicated to L. H., son OF the late Lord
Dundreary. =