Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-28
BAY CITY DRAMA.
INTERESTING GOSSIP ABOUT SAN
FRANCISCO THEATERS.
The Personnel of the Company-News
Notes and Gossip.
Special Correspondence to the HRRALp.l

! Special Correspondence to the HRRALD.I
SAN FRANCISCO, March rs, 1892.
At last 1 have something to write
about. You have been getting attrac-
tions in Los Angeles before we have had
them in San Francisco lately, and in
consequence there has been dearth of
interesting material. But now the Bos
tonians are here, and are giving at the
Baldwin that most charming of comic
operas, Smith and DeKoven's Robin
Hood. 1t is true you saw it in Los An
geles last year, but time brings changes,
and not only has the production in gen.
eral been improved, but the company
has in some respects been strengthened.
There is no opera have ever seen that
Hood has as presented by the Boston
ians. 1t is true that if it had been pre-
sented by an ordinary company it would
have probably been received with in
difference, but that does not lessen its
value. Robin Hood is an opera with an
unusual number of roles of almost equal
|
strong people in the principal parts and
medlocrity to fill out the cast. The per-
fectly balanced organization known as
the Bostonians are able to give it just
the presentation it requires, and the
result is harmonious ensemble OF
words and music, acting and singing,
the equal of which it is much to be
doubted has never been seen in this
country before. Robin Hood, as given
by these people, captivates you, willy
nilly, and gives you about as perfect
enjoyment as you can find within the
walls of theater.
Most of the old people are still with
the company, but there are some new
faces and voices, and for the better
rather than for the worse. OF course
dear old Barnabee must top the list. In
my humble opinion there is not COM
edian on the operatic stage his equal,
and l have seen about all of them. Rare
quality in comic opera comedian, he
can sing, and his comedy is most ar
tistic. His High Sheriff of Nottingham
is veritable creation, and is something
to remember afterwards with the keen
est pleasure. Tom Karl and Edwin w.
Hot, as last year, alternate in the title
role, and each in his way is strong.
They are equally fitted for the part in
appearance, for both are large, fine
looking men. w. H. Macdonald is still
the Little John, and is singing splen-
didly. Eugene Cowles has improved in
his performance of Will Scarlett, and
uses his magnificent basso with i'm
mense effect. George B. Nottingham
is still the ideal Friar Tuck, and Peter
Lang is again singing the solo of Guy of
Osborne. They have two new prime
donn2 who alternate in the part of
Marian, Camille D'Arville and Caroline
Milzner Hamilton. l will make no COM
parison, for both are fine and will create
sensation when they appear in Los
Angeles. Mrs. Hamilton is San Fran
ciscan, and this is only her first season
on the stage. Jessie Bartlett Davis and
Flora Finlayson are still alternating as
Allan-a-Dale, and you know and admire
them both. Josephine Bartlett is con.
tinuing her clever impersonation Of
Dame burden and Maud Ulmer. A new
representative of Annabel. The produc
ton has made an enormous hit here,
and the seat rack has been cleaned out
every night, sometimes before the rising
OF the curtain.
**x
All the Comforts of Home is at the
California, and it is proving its title to
be termed popular success by doing a
good business, though it was given at
the Baldwin for four weeks a year ago.
You have seen it in Los Angeles l be-
lieve once before and will remember
what a jolly comedy it was. 1t is
cleverly presented by the company at
the California, which includes quite a
number of last years favorites. Fl. A.
Morey is playing Egbert Pettibone. the
husband whose jealousy causes all the
trouble. and the wife is played by Pearl
Means. Both are new in the piece this
season and both do we'll. Goldie
Andrews, another new member-that is,
new to us in the part--plays Emily
Pettibone very nicely. s. Miller Kent
is playing Henry Miller's old part OF
Alfred Hastings, and oddly enough he
resembles that popular actor somewhat
in voice and manner. He gives an ex-
cellent performance of the part. Frank
Lamb is rendering his last years sue
cess as Tom Mellow, can gets 'alf."
Jacques Martin is playing Christopher
Dabney, the nervous man, in place of
Joe Humphreys, who is occupied in New
York staging Charles .Frohman's new
productions. Herbert Ayling is still
playing the dude and the Scotchman
effectively, and Maud Haslam is still
the Fife Orilauski, and she plays it well,
too. You will remember Samuel Ed
wards felicitious performance of Theo-
dore Bender, the retired produce dealer.
He is playing the part again this year,
and is as delightful as ever. Kate
Devier Wilson is playing Mrs. Bender,
as when the company was last here, and
is giving strong performance. Trela
Foltz, San Francisco girl, plays
Evangeline charmingly, and J. B Hollis
is still the representative of the timid
lover, Victor Smythe. 1t is very good
performance all through.
x%x
The Spider and the Fly is doing a
large business at the Bush and seems to
have caught on. This is it's last week
Ola Olsen ia hpinp piyen at the AcaZar