The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04

ton of time and experience. From the
dove-like Mrs. Rolf Miss Archer turned to
stage adventuring. She played Fiji ORR
tanski, the dancer, the "gutta-percha girl,
and certain naughty Countess ii" Moths"
But she was very bad wicked woman. Her
face and her voice are ever at war with her
words. Miss Archer is too self-conscious
and too complacent. Nature has been
generous to her, and the stage has need of
so pretty a woman but one has ears as
well as eyes, and an actress to be success
full must please both senses.
Mr.. Leslie is Woodworking member of
the company; his name appears on almost
every programme, yet despite the elabora-
ton of makeup and business he is not
pleasing actor. He was carcature as lie
Due de Fouche Fonblanque. But his
work in "Moths" was better. Mr.. Leslie
has no originality save in the construction
of false noses; his Cuisines" is only the
regulation low comedy manner, and he has
rigidity of temperament which gives to
all his roles painful family resem blance.
With all its faults and it's many virtues
the F-awley Company will average up very
well. 1t has made a place for itself in San
Francisco and will be welcomed back when
its wanderings are over.
Every step in advance which San Fran
cisco takes in theatrical matters is fol-
lowed by corresponding improvement in
the country towns. There is modest cir
cult from Portland to Los Angeles, from
Oakland to Denver, which is the legitimate
field of the Western company with repu-
tation for good work in San francisco.
But that reputation, unless it is honestly
earned ard lived up to faithfully, will no
more avail with new audiences in the
country than does the glamour OF a metro
politan hundred night run with US, when
our curiosity has once been satisfied. San
Francisco will cheerfully recommend the
Frawley Company to other Western cities,
claiming not that it is perfect organiza-
ton, not that it includes single genius,
but that it can afford an evenings pleas
ant entertainment with good play and
fairly able players MIRIAM NICHOLSON.
Mr.. William Gillette, playwright and
comedian, will begin two weeks engage
Inent at the Bald win tomorrow night.
His play, TOO Much Johnson" ran for
ten months in New Y ork, and San Fran
cisco is the second City to see it. 1t is
comedy whose fun consists mainly of
peculiarly entangled situations, and the
substitution of one individual for another,
winding up with an elaborate complica-
ton of THE Private Secretary" sort.
Augustus Billings, who is described as
gay and festive married man, succeeds
in placating his mother-in-law and starts
off to Cuba, where he tells his wife he has
bought plantation. OF course mother
in-law and wife follow, and the other
characters turn up in true comedy style.
Billings piles lie upon lie to explain the
queer statements forced upon him by cir
cumstances, until the situation becomes
untenable, and the tangle is unraveled at
the end of the third act. Gillette, of
course, is Billings, the part of Mrs. Bill
lings is played by Maud Haslam, and Miss
Kate Meek is the mother-in-law.
Next week is the farewell week of the
Frawley Company. The request roper
toire Is as follows: "All the Comforts of
Home" Monday and Tuesday, THE
Arabian Nights Wednesday and Thurs
day, Young Mrs. Winthrop" Friday
evening, Saturday matinee and evening
Moths" and 1.-The Senator" will close the
engagement on Sunday.
The Tivoli will put on "Martha" next
week, when a new basso, George Broder-
lex, win make his first appearance as
Plunkett. Laura Willard and Alice Mel
sen will alternate in Lady Harriets role,
Alice Garlic will have an excellent .oppor--
tunity as Nancy, her favorite role, and
Pache will sing Lionel, one OF his best
parts when he was member CT the Juch
and Tavary opera companies.
'The Royal MILDLY" will be the next
opera, and Gounod's Faust is in prepare
ton.
nv
There will be ten new members on the
Ornheum programme next week The