The San Francisco call., 1895-07-30

draughts of his sons apartments are very
natural and expressive. And nothing
could be gentler or sweeter than Kelcey's
tone as he gives voice to those biting little
undutiful remarks as to parents.
The best role in the play is that of Mrs.
Cheveley. She is an English Forget Me,
Not, an ineffably dainty, well-bred, we'll
dressed adventures. She doesn't smoke a
cigarette, perhaps, because smoking has
become far too respectable she does not
gloa., nor make vain threats. But like all
stage adventuresses she is in love with the
man who checkmates her, and she does
play upon his sympathy by affecting
womanly weakness. Still it's an excellent
part, and Miss Annie Irish is equal to it.
Just once she offends and challenges un-
pardonable comparison with Stephanie de
Mohrivart by giving vent to melodra-
matte laugh as she leaves the Sec
ond scene triumphant. But Mrs.
Cheveley was not intended to be melo-
dramatic. She herself would have been
the first to condemn anything so human
and natural. Miss Irish speaks the spark
ling, clear-cut epigrams that fall to her
with saucy distinctness and a significance
of infection that make her worthy the part
she has to play.
Mrs. Walcot has an opportunity as Lady
Markby to show that she is an actress of
experience, excellent taste and Judgment
Miss Irving's Lady Chiltern is the most
satisfactory work she has done here and
il Katherine Florence could forget occa-
sionally that she is very, very lovely
young woman she could make Mabel
Chiltern more artistic character.
The stage setting last night was un-
usually pretty, the ladies' gowns are beau
tiful and becoming, and throughout the
whole play there is delicate, sure touch
which speaks of capable, tasteful stage
management. MIRIAM NICHOLSON.
Columbia Theater.
The Frawley Company made quite a melo-
dramatic departure in producing "The En-
sign" at the Columbia Theater last night
Hitherto battle, murder and sudden death
have been almost strangers to the theater pre-
sided over by Messrs. Friedlander & Gottlob
and it was hardly to be expected that the COM
pany could rush suddenly into the breach and
declaim and shout as though it had been doing
sensational work all season, but taken alto
gether the Frawley troupe performed the work
required of them in "The Ensign very salts
factorily.
Inc pIOt OF LQe naval drama is one that to
some extent taxes the audience to follow and
there are bald places where the interest de-
pends entirely on the individual characters
Macklyn Arbuckle, who possesses the precious
gift of sinking his own personality In that of
the role he happens to be interpreting, pre-
sented a careful study of Cockswain Dudley the
old man-of- wars man. In the court-martial
scene Daniel Frawley gave vent to an ebulli-
ton of emotion which brought him the warm
est applause his personal efforts have yet
secured at the Columbia Theater. AS q rule
Frawley errs by oVermuch suppression of his
feelings, and the result is occasionally fiat and
Improbable.
Charles w. King was gentlemanly and pol
ished as the English officer and all the women
were to be commended with the exception of
Miss Lansing Rowan, who has some idea of act
ing but whose lack of grace and ease make her
poor substitute for pretty, yivacious Blanche
Bates.
California Theater.
"a Black Sheep was embellished last night
by the Introduction of several bright new
songs and dances. Miss Wells Trilby dance
was the success of the evening. The little lady
looked charming from the crown of her tow
colored wig to the tips of her dainty pink toes,
and she introduced some skillful high-kicking
into her dance which brought her two we'll
deserved encores.
Tivoli 0pera-House.
The good old tunes OF Vincent Wallaces
"Maritana" evidently found responsive echo
in the breasts of the audience at the Tiyoli last
nipht FncOres were laYished upou each ia