The morning call., 1891-05-05
The G. A. r. Have Gala Night
at the New California.
Hetrmann's Diablerie-0liver Byron in His
Element =" Formosa " - The Mendels-
sOhns-" The Beggar Student"
A Gala Night.

party and General ]. H. Dickinson and
party. Colonel Smedberg and party. and
others, representing the State militia, be-
sides a large delegation of the guber-
Material staff, were in the loges. These were
ornamented by regimental col0rs, pretty
guidOns and the national flag, all gracefully
draped. The bright uniforms of the mill
tary enhanced the picture, and then many
in the audience, no doubt, had taken
active part in the real scenes of warfare
that in mimic form were passing before
them on the stage. The players inspired by
the audience eXerted themselves, and we
venture to say Shenandoah" has rarely
been played so closely and vigorously.
Facts in the BaIdwin's Future.
1t is good news for San Francisco theater-
gcers that Manager Hayman has secured
Mr.. A. NJ. Palmer's Home Company from
the Madson-square Theater for another tour
of the West. This capable and favorite Or
ganization has met with one of the biggest
successes of their career in the presentation
of Augustus Thomas new play Alabama"
There is no doubt now about the genuine
ness of the success, and the play will be
given a very handsome production at the
Baldwin Theater late in the summer
Again, we are to have the "Lilliputian
Spectacular Operate Company" the greatest
novelty of the theatrical world at present.
In an age Of development novelty is
always an attraction. No one seems able or
willing to describe exactly the entertainment
given by the Lilliputians; butt has created
q great sensation in New York, Philadel-
phia, Chicago and elsewhere. That it IS
unique cannot be doubted. Manager Hay
man has secured it for a brief engagement
at the Baldwin, following Charles Fr0h-
mans Stock Company, and it is safe to say
that San FrancIsco's love for novelty will be
emphatically asserted on that occasion.
This week will close the run of 1.-THE
County Fair" at the Baldwin. 1t will be
followed by 81 Men and Women" for which
ample preparations are already being made.
FormOsa" at the POweIl-street.
It would not be a surprise if the new
Powell-street made hit with Dion Bouci-
cault's "Formosa. or the Railroad to Ruin"
1t has not been played for many years, and
as an uneXaggeTated and at the same time
impressive picture of London fast life as it
really is cannot be excelled. 1t is as much
superior to anything that ever came out of
the dramatic workshop of Simms and
Pettitt as Shakespeare is above Massinger
or Beaumont and Fletcher. The finish
of BOucicault has never been rivaled,
not even approached, by later play
wTights of the English school. Be-
sides, the company 10 whom the
realization OF the phases Of character in this
drama is intTusted is quite UP to and, IN
many eases, above the average. Gardens
Major Jorum, the superannuated blackeg,
is a good study, and the same may be said OF
his pal, Compton Kerr, persOuated by Har-
old. Laurence Hanley has neat cuncep-
ton of Tom Burroughs, and the title role,
as played by Lillian Andrews, gives the dra-
ia Ii lor No mo
of the world can fail to detect. Herbert
has struck something in old Boxer that suits
him, and sings an English song like old
Tom Beazley in the boat-hOuse at Batter
sea. The bOat-race by the Oxford and
Cam bridge eight is effective.
Herrmann's DIabIerie:
The devil was to pay at the Bush-street
last evening, and the public crowded the
theater to see the debt discharged. Herr
mann, the wOnder-w Orker, is just as de-
bonair in figure and Mephistolike in face as
ever, and calls his spirits from the air with
the same facility that he has shown any
time these scores of years past, while the
pretty figure and agreeable face of Nine.
Hermann is pleasant AMI humanizing re-
lief to tile weird aud uncanny tricks of her
husband. With the exception of Stro-
beika," the story of which has been
already given, this modern magician
has no new illusions. Tie trick is me-
chanical one, and not very picturesque or
dramatic in its working out 1t is. in fact,
an old friend under a new face the sub
stitution dodge behind curtain, with time
given to one Of the two parties concerned
TO rush by side passage to the front OF
the house, then down the center passage
way of the auditorium, shouting Here
am; here / am !" In his palming and
sleight of hand novelties, Hermann is ex-
ceedingly good. lie is even greater adept
if that were possible than before.
'Across the Continent
This very profitable chestnut flied the
AlcaZar with an eager crowd last evening.
Oliver Byron was in melOdramatic glory as
Joe Ferris, "the ferret" and all the other
characters moved around him as satellites.
The play is a ripe one for sensations. You
may have any kind, almost that you wish;
but they lie for the most part on the dark
side of human nature. Even Ben Cotton
is brought In as Representative
colored gentleman; it is not easy
to know why he appears on the scene, but
he has his say and makes laugh. Then
Mabel Bowman, who is fast growing out of
the infant phenomenon stage, plays two
characters, Master Jack Adderly in the first
scene and Dolore, an Italian street-arab in
the third. In fact, Across the Continent"
is in its nature and construction what
much mixed; but it draws, and will continue
to draw all this week.
The MendeJssOhns.
At the Metropolitan Temple last evening,
this favorte and long established musical
organization gave the first of series of
three concerts, with which they propose to
entertain the music-lovers of our city. We
wish the coming of the Mendelssohns had
been al Eastertde, as was originally contem-
plated, before the hubbub of the Bernhardt
and the Presidential festivities, and also the
mild Juror that Divide Musin recently created,
because the musical merit of the company
would then have had the full recognition it
deserves, and which it cannot have now in
the somewhat distracted state of public at
tentiGn. As its, however, those who we're
present at the Temple-and there was a
goodly number-have no reason to regret
their attendance. They heard delightful
music, both vocal and instrumental, the re-
membrauce of which cannot soon fade from