The San Francisco call., 1895-12-21
ALL LOOKING STAGEWARD,
A Number of Clever Players
Appear at the California
Theater.
A Local Play That, Like Bo.Peep's
Sheep, Had left Its Tail
Behind It."

The second public performance of the
Columbia School of Dramatic Art, which
took place yesterday afternoon at the CO.
lumbia Theater, revealed one or two would
De actresses of very decided ability. The
performance also showed that the women
possess the lions share of the talent.
The three young ladies who claim espe-
cial attention are Miss Daisy Belle Sharp,
Miss Beatrice Browning and Miss Eleanor
Perrin. Miss Sharp, who played the lead
ing role in the comedietta, stated on the
programme to be bv "a local author" was
hampered by her leading man, who forgot
his lines and frequently left her bereft of
cues, but the young lady triumphed over
her poor support by throwing herself heart
and soul into her part and acting with a
fervor and sincerity that would have
brought her much larger measure of ap-
plause If her effort had not been ham,
pered by her associates. AS it was she
gave decided promise of making an excel
lent emotional actress.
Miss Beatrice Browning had very small
comedy role in the "local' play, but she
threw so much spirit and meaning into
her lines, besides showing herself to he the
possessor of an exceptionally fine speaking
voice. that she must be classed among
the most promising of yesterdays debut
antes. AS for the play itself, which was
peared to have beginning and middle,
but no denouement. If it did possess that
necessary characteristic of play it was
blurred out, SO to speak. in the film which
obscured Asa Lee Willard's memory and
made his lines, at times, conjectural.
ia mes Keane, who played the part of Miss
S harp's lover, knew his part like book,
but he might have entered into q compact
to dismiss the audience by certain hour,
for he recited what he had to say as if he
wanted to get the greatest possible mum ber
of words in before the umpire called
'time.''
The best all-round performance was that
of Francois Coppee's charming little play,
THE Violin Maker of Cremona." Louis
Butler, as the deformed musician, proved
himself to be the stellar luminary among
the men pupils. His acting was excellent,
and, as his support was good, he won the
applause he deserved. DR.. William
Sprague was good as the old maestro, and
Norman Merrill acted the part of Sandro
satisfactorily. As Giannina, Miss Freda
Gallick acted prettily and conscientiously.
Frances Hodgson Burnett's play, ''Tea
at O'Clock" is rather much-ado-about
nothing affair, but it received satisfactory
representation. Miss Eleanor Perrin was
remarkably graceful and effective as Mrs.
Effingham. Vera Leslie showed ability in
the little part of Arabelle Coddington,
JamesKeane did better work as Mr.. .Grayson
than he did in the ''local'' play. E. Las
treto clustered effectively as General Sabre
tache, and as DR.. Grantley William Henri
was humorous and well made up.
Miss Helen Trafton, Miss George Elliott,
George Phillips. Clement Hopkins and r.
w. Travers all did good work in knowing
their lines and rendering them effectively.
There was a large audience present,
which did not warm into any particular
enthusiasm till Francois Coppee's play was
reached. Some pretty dancing was done
by eight young ladies of the school, and
the following Young ladies, who had been
excellently trained by Eugene Schmidt,
sang two sextets: Miss Beatrice Brown
ing, Miss Edna Elsmere, Miss Adele Stone,
Miss Gladys Wynn, Miss Loys Webber,
Miss Georgia Stewart.