The morning call., 1892-03-08
TEE THEATERS.
Mr. Jefferson and Company in
"The Rivals"
Mr., Warde az the California Opera at
the Bush - Full House at the
Alcazar.

through swimmingy. The play is cut con-
siderably, and good deal compacted from
the published edition. The first scene OF
act first is eliminated and the business be-
gins with the second act in Mrs. Maaprop's
lodgings with Lydia sitting on the sofa
talking to Lucy. her maid, who has just
returned from the circulating library
with an armful Of books as fresh
food to the caprices already teem-
ing in her mistress brain on the subject OF
love. The scene opens tamely, and IL Is
not till Mrs. Malaprop (Mrs. John Drew
introduces Sir Anthony Absolute and COM
mences to knock the English language TO
pieces that the audience catch the spirit OF
the occasion. We venture to assert that
not quarters Of those present last even
ing ever sat in front of THE Rivals" before.
FIGHTING BOB"
Bob Acres (Mr. Jefferson) is the only
original conception in the cast. Mrs. Nal
aprop and Sir Anthony Absolute, for whom
originality is claimed by the author. are
types In the Mrs. Tabitha and Sir Matthew
Bramble of Smolett's Humphrey Ciinker."
What character Jefferson made of this
peculiarly constituted individual! cow
ard by nature, braggart by custom,
who could be talked into vslor
O'Trigger, but when he left Acres the
courage oozed out OF his palms One Of the
original conceptions in drawing the char
seter of Acres is the habit of Preferential or
sentimental swearing Somebody had told
him that to swear by Jove, by Bacchus, by
Juno or by Venus had gone out of fashion,
and so Bob. under instruction, coins new
system of oaths, or explosives, rather. II
he be driving, be rips out, Odds,
whips ana wheels -; If studying music.
Odds. minms and crotehets -; if
dancing, Odds, lgs and taberS II talking
of dueliug, odds, bullets and blades" and
so on. avoiding profanity, while al the same
time developing Quickness OF apprehension.
Nothing could exceed the admirable setting
Jefferson gave to Acres, with the bucollc
instincts of self-preSeryatiOn struggling
against the desire TO be considered a town
IufficT. His interviews with the conf
Dental servant. David, a plain
spoken cOuntryman, who rubs the gilt
of his town gingerbread remOrselessly,
are remarkable specimens of acting both
on the part of Mr.. jefferson and Mr.. George
w. Denham who played the servant The
business # the duel from the time a cTes,
under the diCtatiOn of Sir Lucius O'Trgger.
Indicted the challenge to Beverly. the horror
of Matthew al the missiYe Itself, and the
o0Zing Of Acres courage on the field OF
honor was wonderfully painted, and, il not
SO intended, was actually satire on the
code duellO.
MRS. MALAPROP.
Mrs John Drew was a picture as Mrs.
MaaprOp. the Tabltha Brambe of Smollett,
and " no in our own times developed as the
MIS- PartingtOn Of Ben Shillaber, the funny
man of the Boston Post In her different
eld-fashioned costumes, Mrs. Malaprop
might have stepped out OF the frame of
some grand dame in the portrait gallery
of an old English family. The audience
received her as they aid MIR. Jeffer-
son, with round after round OF APP
planse, and the old lady smiled and
bowed as IL she were renewing her youth
under such genial Influence. In one corner
Of the stage was a stand of flowers, sent by
Mr.. Harry Mann, we understand. shaped
like a horseshoe, with the words. inter-
woven Ia col0red blooms, 'She has no
rivals" a sentiment That the audience would
seem, in the heariest manner. willing to
indoTse. When the welcoming applause
died out the people in the auditorium set
tied themselves to enjoy Mrs. Drew's
world-famOus personation OF the Msla-
prop character. The perfect rep0se of
manner. and al the same time the gra ceful
proprietieS Of the old-fashioned social GUS
tom. which marked her demeanOr, as she
uneonsciously made her bIunders In the use
Of words, were simply delicious. The audi
ence caught every verbal alteration dis
tinctly, although. with the true taste Of an
accomplished actress, she laid no special
emphasis on the complaint that Lydia
allegory on the banks of the Nile" or in
compiimenting Captain Absolute on being
''as graceful as a gazette" (Which by the
way is an Interpolation. Mrs. Drew moved
and acted through all the various scenes in
sueh way as to riyet the attention of all
that anybody was present excepting the
people in the mimic life OF the house.
She was equally insansible to applause
or laughter. Oh! If some of our
young actresses would only take g
lesson from this experienced histrion.
Sir Anthony Absolute was well played by
Mr. w. f. Owen the Captain, by Mr.. j. d.
Barnes; Falkland, by Mr.. Fitzhugh Ousley.
Mir. Louis James played Sir Lucius o. Trig-
ger, the character vacated by tie death Of
neatly and like an Irish gentle
man, but at the same time we
could not help thinking OF Florence
Lydia Languish. by Miss Viola Allen. was
notTealized in that lady's hands. and Blanche
Bender as Lucy. dressed and looked
be effective. A servant-maid who is 60
between and an intriguante in love affairs
Is not mere chit of girl
"The Lions Mouth"
Had magnificent reception at the New
California. 1t has been materially changed
in many respects, more spectacular beauty
ONiH5 Elfou W tuo cSCHCo. MI w dbuc WAS
In splendid form as Rinaldo, and received
rousing call before the curtain when il
dropped on the penultimate act. His
company also supported him with
spirit Miss Adele Belgrade Is proving
herself an actress of ability, and
Miss Fanny Bowman as Marcella showed
cause for the many f1attering notices she
has been recently receiving in the East
Coming out oil the theater we were &C
eosted by an admirer of Frederick. who
ssked:
"What is this piece. anyhow"
bills"
81 know that like that chap Warde
but he suits me best In Richard":
This is sort of Shakespearean straw
that shows the course OF the wind.
The Alcazar.
Nathaps :" A Prisoner for Life wa.
played to full house at this theater las
evening. Mrs. Frances NJ Bates, who
ranks among our best professionals, vii
take benefit at the Alcazar on March, a.
We take care to direct attention to this fac
because the lady deserves an ample recog
milton at the hands Of the public. on ac.
count of capablity, responsibility and faith.
full service. Mrs. Bates is an American
by birth. but has Travelled good deal pro
fessionally and has long been an actres.
OF note at home and abroad. She spen
MANY years in Australia. where she lost be
husband, handsome Rhode Islander, VIII,
was man of note in the theatrical ant
social circles of San Francisco some years
ago: Mrs. Bates has a long list of friends
gathered since she made San Francisco he
permanent home. and no doubt these ant
the public generally will give her an ample
recognition on the 14th. dollar given a
the proper time. like word spoken in sea
son, Is very good. Mr.. Stuart Robso,
bought box for $50, returned it again. ant
bought gallery seat for $40.
The Bush-Streef.
This theater had very satisfactory at
tendance TO hear the New York Opera Com