Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-11-09
IN SAN FRANCISCO.
DRAMATIC NEWS AND GENERAL
COMMENT.
Fanny Davenpcrt's Production of Cleo
patra-McDowelps Playing Striking
Feature-News Notes.
Special correspondence to the HERALD.

Special correspondence to the HERALD.
SAN Francisco, Nov. 3, 1901.
Fanny Davenport's production of Gle
opatra is the grandest stage pageant
ever saw. 1t is really magnificent.
Scenery and costumes are almost per-
feet ia their historical accuracy, and in
beauty are equal to any ever put on the
stage. 1t is not best that should de-
scribe the scenes in detail, for it is bet
ter that you should see and admire
wholly for yourselves. One scene l
must mention, however, and that is the
great storm scene in the fifth act. 1t is
8 marvellous representation of thunder
tempest. The scene is laid at the Tenn
pie OF Isis in Alexandria. Antony, with
a handful OF his men, is within the
walls; Octavius, with his army, is with
ous. Antony's officers denounce Cleo
patra as a sorceress, and demand her
death. She invokes the aid of Tyhon,
the god of storms, to conjure up tenn
pest that shall destroy the forces of Oc-
tayius. She calls on Typhon and the
thunder answers her. Again she calls,
and the rumbling is louder and nearer
as the scene gradually darkens. Again
she calls, and there is flash of light
ming and deep roll OF thunder, and the
rain begins to fall. Then the priests
and priestesses issue from the temple
chanting hymn to Typhon. The
flashes OF lightning grow brighter and
more livid and the thunder tones
deeper, while the mantle of darkness
creeps over the scene. The effect is
very weird and impressive. Cleopatra,
waving her long white mantle, calls for
the last time upon Typhon, calling upon
him to hurl his thunderbolts upon the
camp of Octavius. For a moment ab
soiute darkness then a sound as
though the very heavens had split open,
continuing with roll upon roll and re-
verheration upon reverberation OF the
heaviest thunder. The sky is illumined
with fash upon flash of vivid lightning,
while tall palms are swayed and bent
by the wind. 1t is the most superb
stage effect, without any question, that
has ever been created. The apening
night men cheered themselves hoarse
and the whole audience went wild with
enthusiasm.
The acting is in every way
satisfactory. 1t would be invidious
to compare Fanny Davenport with
III Ju6 TUE. III
it cay, she gives an admirable perform
ance, one which can be seen and studied
with great pleasure. She is an artist
even if she is not a genius. Melbourne
MacDowell is the striking feature of the
performance as Mark Antony. He gives
a splendid rendition of the role, and
looks every inch the modest Roman of
them ALL" Theodore Roberts, whom
you will remember in Los Angeles for
his performance of the artist in La
Tosca, plays the part of Kephron,
slave, and does splendid work. The
other roles are in good hands, but these
three are the parts of the piece.
NOTES.
A Straight Tip is doing big business
at the California. You don't see it in
Los Angeles. 1t is clever speciality
farce.
Lillian Lewis has been giving us the
horrors at the Bush-street. Thank
Heaven for your escape.
Dollars and Sense is being cleverly
performed at the Alcazar, and really
strong performance OF Der Freischutz is
on at the ivoli.
The Columbia Opera company at the
Orpheum has collapsed.
Attractions at San Francisco theaters
for week of the 9th: At the Baldwin,
Rosina Vokes; at the California, Yenn
Yenson at the Bush-street, Mckee
Rankin in the Canuck; at the Alcazar,
the Fugitive. HENRY l.. MERRITT.