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

dramatic depression when the frst-nighter
had often to cross Market street III his
search for novelty. Our best theaters were
closed, playing second-class attractions or
filling out the time with unduly prolonged
engagements.
The Frawley Company was very fortu-
nate in having no opposition at first 1t
found people eager to be pleased, and sur
priseG that amusement could be bought
so cheapiy. San Francisco became inter-
ested in the company; it took to attend-
ing the theater often and found additional
pleasure in comparing roles, in recognize
ing and applauding fayorite in parading
its knowledge of this or that actors per-
sonal affairs. Between the company and
its audiences feeling of kindly acquaint-
ance, of mutual fayors has grown. Not
one of the members has magnetism or
genius or beauty to make him or her a
popular idol; nevertheless San Francisco
has adopted this composite stage child
and watches its efforts with easy good
feeling which will become affection and
family pride with the youngsters develop
ing strength and ability. The Frawley
Company is not a magnificent organiza-
ton, not superb company, not dram
attic necklace of diamonds of the first
water. Indeed, some of the stones are
paste, and will in the natural course of
theatrical events be displaced and super
seeded by gems more nearly perfect. The
company is promising beginner; it has
good material in it. To San Francisco it
is the nucleus of a stock company whose
ambition and performance should steadily
mount higher and higher till we have in
time company of finished players, such
as graces New York at the Lyceum The
alter.
The main reason for the Frawley Com
pany's success is that it has kept faith with
the public. Its pretensions were modest;
its performance has been on the whole
creditable. He who looks for artistic, fin
ished acting from the Frawley Company
will be disappointed; he who prejudges its
performance by the standard of prices viii
often be agreeably surprised. The COM
pany does not appeal to the highest taste,
neither does it riot in melodrama nor
grovel in farce. 1t plays to. the large,
healthy-minded middle class and it de-
serves the success it has achieved. at
times it has been unpleasantly necessary
to remind oneself that the Columbias ad-
mission rates are only half of Baldwin
prices, but there have been occasions when
the performance was cheaper only in en-
trance fees, when it compared fayorably
with California or Baldwin productions.
Always Columbia audiences have received
their moneys worth.
The company has done its evenest work
in ''Sweet Lavender and THE Senator"
These performances are samples of its best
work as a company; but the members
have made individual successes IN other
plays.
That Mr.. Frawley would do good work
as Lieutenant Schuyler is not surprising
to any one who has studied his tempera-
ment and ability. He is peculiarly adapted
to the part, his very faults helping him in
the presentation of character so reserved
and unimpressionable. If, by some mira
Gle, Fraw ley could be made to unbend, to
lose his managerial dignity, perhaps, and
affect warmth of temperament if he has
it not, he would achieve fuller and a bet
ter kind of success. AS it is, he is limited
to certain range of quiet characterization
which he presents thoughtfully, carefully
and nearly always pleasingly. His honest
face and sincere voice have made him a
favorite with the Columbia audiences. His
work shows study and capacity for i'm
provement. He is out of his element in
the lighter comedies, a certain heaviness of
mind and body dulling that sparkling eff
fervescence which is the flower of fun.
He lacks the art of suggesting; the whole
of the character he impersonates is on the
stage, and for this reason Frawley is at his
best when presenting a simple, straight
forward role. He plays a serious part