The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-27
AT THE THEATERS.
John Jacks Benefit a
Real Bumper.
The War Play a Success Grove
Street" The Arabian Nights"
Burlesque Crowds the Tivoli.

StockwelPs Theater was crowded last
evening, the occasion being the produc-
ton of the new war play, maine ana
Georgia" ard, incidentally, the benefit of
that wellapproved veteran actor. John
Jack, who, judged by his speech at the
Democratic club on Saturday evening last
is quite as good a politician as he is an
actor. Maine and Georgia" is full of
interest, as such plays usually are. The
one fault to be found with it is
the takiness in many of the scenes, and
1t may be added that the talk is common
place ana tile scenes thereby are rendered
tedious. 1t has great similarity to the
piece formerly produced at the Alcazar.
but there is enough new business intro
duced to give 1t an air of novelty Mr.
Francis Powers. new man, who PLAYED
the part of Carroll Snow, did very we'll
with his part; much better than Hereward
Hoyt did as Patrick Cork, journalist.
He affected the Irish brogue, but by
the way III which he treated it the
"swate speech" of the Emerald Isle evi.
IDENTIFY did not belong to him. 1t was hard
md narrow. Il lacked softuess and
breadth: L. r. Stockwell as Absalom j.
Bates, the Maine farmer. who enlisted for
an idea, made the audience laugh by his
peculiar speech and action. but good deal
OF the business. particularly in the Ander-
sonVllle prison scene, was sacrificed in
his favor. Miss Polly Stockwell, who was
burdened with three characters-M Marie, a
French waif Gabriel drummer
boy, and Sister Claire. a nun-showed her
capabilities as an actress by the way in
which she adapted herself to each Of the
characters assumed. She has not mis-
taken her profession, il It be her purpose
TO adopt it. Miss Ethel Brandon had also
an arduous duty to perform in personating
Ruby Golden. the Virginia girl, and
Sister GeneVieve. the conventual. The
piece was beautifully staged. Money has
been spent on it without doubt. The
Andersonville prison was d picture,
and the battle at Gordon's Mill, Ca,
alive with the incidents OF
active war The last act. after the
war, at the New England home Of Carroll
Snow, was most agreeable one. There
was reunion, and a general settlement
for the benefit of all concerned. The
orchestra, under the direction of Mr..
Genaro Salvierna, gave an admirable Sc
lection of appropriate music. The piece
ought to. and no doubt will, have profit
able run.
The attraction at the Tivoli was the
production of the burlesuue on the
ARABIAN Nights" story of "Ali Baba. >"
1t is called ALI Bahia Up to Date"
Such crowd as attended 10 witness it
has seldom been seen inside the walls of
this popular theater. 1t is no use to
criticize the performance; description,
and not criticism, is only needed when
such pieces are offered to the public
Sufficient to say the management eX-
hausted themselves to make it as bril-
liant as possible, and the people engaged
entered into the spirit of the time, which
was to play the Arabian Nights" story
out of all resemblance to the original
and at the same time to give
an entertainment with which every one in
the crowded audience was pleased. Tilie
Salinger did Ali Baba, the poor wooden
ter, neatly, and FORTS Hartman, as Cas-
sim, rich merchant, outdid himself IN the
cOmlcallty of the situation. Miss Oracle
Plaisted was the faithful slave Morgiana.
Miss Fanny Liddiard GiZi, the dude lieu
tenant of forty thieves, and both filled
their respective roles admirably. The
settings were rich in spectacular effects
and reflected credit on the stage manager.
The production is venture on the part of
tho Iivoli people, and from the appear
ance OF the house last night 1t will be a
profitable one.
At the Grove-street last evening 1.-THE
Phoenix" was performed. with Clarence /.
Arper in the lead. to a large attendance.
This was the same piece that was per-
formed on Sunday afternoon for the
widows and orphans of the three firemen
who lost their lives in the Ashbury
Heights fire, the result of which will not
be made known until Wednesday night.
as by that time the account will be finally
made up.
"hentuck." the racing sensation, was re-
peated at the National and will be con-
tinued all the weex. 1t is bright and
stirring in its features. and ought 20 draw
full houses.