The San Francisco call., 1895-11-05
At THE CITY THEATERS,
Hoyt's Latest, "A Contented
Woman" Well Received
at the Baldwin.
The CALIFORNIA; Reopening-Morosco'
Diamond Breaker" a Success.
The Crushed Tragedian."

In his latest farce-comedy, ga Contented
Woman" Hevt has let his imagination
loose upon what may occur when women
run for Office. His somewhat sardonic
picture contains humorous situations and
bright dialogue, and its whimsicaIities az
forded plenty OF amusement TO the audi
ence that almost filled the Baldwin Thea
ter last night.
Grace Holme, the contented woman, De-
comes discontented woman early in the
play, owing to the exasperating GOODNESS
and condescending airs of superiority as
sumed by her husband, Benton Holme,
who is running for the Office OF Mayor.
Mrs. Holme is blessed-or perhaps, un-
der the circumstances, it would be better
TO say cursed-with b an aunt Jim, . who be-
longs to the shrie king sisterhood. "It's
just such women as you who make the
cause OF suffrage so hard" says Mrs.
Holme when she has found her aunt out
You make it hard by making it ridicu-
lous."
But when Grace Holme first be-
comes discontented with her hus-
bands lordly airs she has not found
her aunt out. and that lady has little diff
Guilty in inducing her to run for office as
Mayor against her own husband. From
lessons, which makes the audience feel in
clined to say, Serve him right; in fact,
little pity IS excited for the wretched man,
even when his wife requests him to cook
the dinner, in order that the maids may
60 out 10 vote-''men do everything bet
ter tnan women" she urges, quoting his
own words. After that he cannot plead
lncompetency, even in the culinary depart
ment.
Ii is no exaggeration to say that Caro-
line Miskel Hoyt, as Grace Holme, was
revelation. She is beautiful, but her
power does not lie in her looks. She
proved herself to be a eomedienne. able TO
satirize in a refined, delightful and thor
oughly humorous manner, and that IS q
power possessed by few men and fewer
women. Indeed it is surprising how few
actresses can Just exaggerate character
through to make II a good satire without
descending 10 caricature ard bUrlesque.
! Wood for instance, are very much more
mature and experienced than Mrs. Hovt.
The conception OF Grace Holme was wOmsnly
/ winning, but II was full OF humoT, in a word
| ii made the audience laugh, while 1t charmed
/ them and won their sympathy. Mrs. Rose
/ Snyder gave an amusing rendering OF the ter
/ rible aunt sfJim," who insisted on going 10 the
/ polls in gents pants" and 70 whom even
/ worse things than having her pockets picked
happened es q consequence Poor Uncle
Todie, Jim's better half was well acted by G.
/ 0ber-
| Contented Woman" was that OF the nimble-
wftted young bachelor, part in which Frank
Lane was thoroughly 81 home. W. H. Currie
| sustained the rather thsnkless role OF Holme
/ Several strOng-minded friends OF Aunt ''Jinn
/ helped TO make thinks unpleasant for the men
/ during the prediction proceedings. In the
/ end Grace, who had been torn almost 10 rib
/ bons at the polls by her constituents, resigns
( the idea OF assuming the Mayors office and be-
! comes again "a contented woman"
rlrz- n T-f4n or y a-la I-7-r
| eeived call for q speech, 70 which he re-
| sponded in 8 few humorous words.