Arizona republican., 1890-06-01


 manner in which theatres in the territory have been controlled by that water-tank manager and fakir, Fiske of Fresno. So long as he had any control over the houses good attractions would not come this way. Managers at last have begun to realize this and most of them have either gotten loose from him or are pre- pairing to do so. With local managers doing their own booking there ought to be good list of attractions secured for next winter.
 Wilson Barrett opened at San Fran cisco last Monday night in "Claudian" The Baldwin was crowded with one of the most fashionable audiences of the season, and Mir. Barrett completely cap tivated his hearers. All the papers de- voted much space to him, the Chronicle and Examiner giving illustrations of scenes and characters in the plays. The engagement at the Baldwin is for three weeks and promises to be one of the most successful ones ever played in the house.
 The following interesting San Fran cisco gossip is taken from a letter re- ceived few days ago, from one of the most accomplished dramatic critics on the coast.
 'I saw Rhea in Josephine on Tuesday night. It is very hard to understand her. She cannot seem to overcome her accent. Her company was fair. Harris had a perfect makeup as Napoleon and did some extremely good work. The costuming was picturesque and correct. Josephine is a prose poem rather than play. It is splendidly written, but has no dramatic strength and not a single element of popularity.
 'Saw Sothern, in The Highest Bidder on Wednesday evening. think he has improved, if anything, since last season. His company is not as good. Bishop is sadly missed. Blackstone plays his part and, though clever actor, is not Bishop. The man who plays the part which Blackstone played last season is not up to his predecessor. Charlotte rittel I do not like as well as Belle Archer. Belle Archer, though not much of an actress, can look sweet in love scene. Perhaps, thongh, this is merely prejudice, arising from the others having been first seen in their several parts. But am sure about Bishop-they can't replace him.
 "And l saw Crane, in The Senator, 'on Thursday night. I don't wonder it was success in New York. It just breathes Americanism. It is like The Henrietta in that respect. The WUe, for instance, with few changes, might be located in England or anywhere else, as well as in this country. But The Henrietta and The Senator could not be located out side of the United States. In'The Senator Crane has undoubtedly got the character of his life, and he has made with it the hit of his life. The play is bright all through. There is not dull line in it and his splendid company would not let it drag if there was. Georgie Drew Barrymore makes hit almost equal to that of Crane himself in the character of a susceptible young widow.
 "By jove, but would like to see her as the Widow Opdyke in The Henrietta She has got stacks of go in her. So have they all, for that matter, excepting young man who is purposly made dull, or rather slow, who gets excited dea liberately something like Captain Heartseasein Shenandoah Besides creat- ing great deal of merriment he acts as foil to the others go. That is the secret of the success of the production. Whole stacks of go. Good work by all, and splendid character work by MT. Crane and Mrs. Barrymore. It is to be here four weeks, then goes to Portland. l wish you could see it.'
 Elizabeth Emmett was awarded an absolute divorce, at Albany, N. Y., Wednesday, from J. K. Emmett, the comedian. He made no opposi- tion to the proceedings. It was understood at the. beginning of the suit that Emmett was to present her with the Albany Villa and $l00, ,000 in cash, but in view of the story that she intends to enter convent, these generous intentions may not be carried into effect.
 That excellent dramatic paper the San Francisco Music and Drama grows better and better under Jack Thrum's able management. MT. Thrum com pines excellent business ability with genuine newspaper genius, and from little, puny weakling that was losing money when he took hold of it three years ago he has raised Music and Drama to the front rank of journals of it's class. It is not outrivalled by any, and equalled by not to exceed one. It is the recognized dramatic authority for all the Great West.
 Denman Thompson's "Old Homestead" opens at the New California theatre, San Francisco, June l6, for four weeks run.
 That greatest of all American plays, Shenandoah" played to 5000 in five nights and matinee at Los Angeles last week, the largest receipts in one week at regular prices in the history of the house.
 Wilson Barrett has two theatres in England under his management and has two companies on the road--one in Eng