The San Francisco call., 1896-03-17
At THE CITY THEATERS,
captain Impudence' Makes Quite
a Hit at the Cali.
fornia.
"A Texas Steer" Comes to the Colum.
bia = Continuous Show at
the AlcaZar.

1t is some time since San Francisco has
seen as good production of its kind as
Milton Royle's Captain Impudence,"
which opened at the California Theater
last night.
The drama, which has been playing all
along the road by its other name of
Mexico" depicts scenes supposed to have
happened during the Mexican war.
A number of United States officers,
resplendent in full dress uniforms,
as well as many Mexican veterans con-
spicuous by their badges, had turned out
to welcome Captain Impudence." The
latter grew quite enthusiastic over the
picturesque scenes, particularly the inter-
ior view of the fortress at Chapultepec,
but they were heard to mu rmur that in
their experiences they had lighted upon
more fig hting and less love-making.
Captain Impudence" does not pretend,
however, to be war drama. 1t is pretty
and effective story of what might have
happened when the United States troops
were in Mexico if the sisters and
cousins and aunts of the officers had
the army. and if a dashing and
ingenious young captain, in love with his
majors daughter, had had the somewhat
questionable happiness of winning the
uncaught affections OF a beautiful Sc
norita, who loved him as tenderly and
humbly as the majors daughter loved
him pertly and imperiously.
OF course in critical moments Miss Lu-
cretia Bugg, the majors daughter, as
sumed the com mmand-daughters of officers
always do IN war dramas-but Miss Lu
cretia defed her parent before the
privates in a manner that must have
been very humiiating to the ma
lor. On one occasion, when the
downtrodden man had comm anded
Captain Impudence's arrest for permitting
the senorita to escape, Lucretia struck an
attitude, and-with the whole regiment
looking on-commanded the major to
refrain. Needless to say, that officer at
once recognized the superior wisdom of
his daughters judgment.
1t was this audacious young lady that
Captain Impudence tried to subdue by
high handed method of love-making.
which so incensed her that she solemnly
vowed not to marry till her parent, who
was a wiGower, should marry also. The cap
tain, a part which Milton Royle played with
plenty of fire, tempered with discretion,
finding himself cut off by this bond from
all hopes of earthly happiness, entered
into conspiracy with Mrs. General Trigg,
a widow, to ensnare the majors affections.
From the fascinating way in which Selma
Letter Royle played the part every one saw
from the outset that it was foregone con-
clusion that the major would ultimately
be led into the bonds of holy matrimony.
The sympathetic Interest OF the play CEN
tered round Jovita Talamanca. the poor
senorita, whose father had been killed in
battle by Captain Shields, otherwise Cap
tain Impudence. The young man tried to
atone to the girl, who was held as
hostage, for the injury he had un-
Willingly done her, and in so doing
he won her passionate alteration,
which resulted in jealous revenge and
drama is largely based. Madeline Merli
as the senorita was complete success.
Her voice is low and sweet and she played
her part caressingly, sadly, and yet with
a due admixture of passion and revenge.
In spite of her unrequited love the senor-
ita never loses her dignity.
Gretchen Lyons was becomingly pert
and pretty and shallow as the triumphant
Lucretia, and Lucius Henderson made a
villainously wicked part of Mendoza, the
Mexican spy, whose fate is left in obscur-
ity at the end of the drama. Ben Johnson
was excellent as the colored servant of the
captain.
Taken altogether Mexico is ar inter-
esting and effective play. The action
never lAgs, and happy medium is struck
between comedy and pathos. The staging
is good, and excellent taste is shown in
dressing the women in the costumes OF
the period, instead OF committing the
anachronism of wearing end of the century
gowns.
At the Columbia.
"A Texas Steer" that is, Charles Hoyt's
sparkling comedy of that name, makes the
Columbia quite as lively as would the animal
himself The piece, while thoroughly anus
ing is none the less quite deep study in
certain phases of human nature. The foibles
of the nouveau richie are laid bare with ruth
less, mercless scalpel, while the underlying
goodness in the average man or woman is
made to come to light in spite of whims and
idiosyncrasies. One OF the most effective
scenes, and certainly the noisiest, is in the
second act, where three Texan rangers spread
dismay amid the guests at a very select dinner
party, becoming so enthused on hearing
their State we'll spoken of that they indulge in
the widest demonstrations of applause and
end by firing their revolve1s into the air. to
everybody's CONSERVATION.
The piece is called one Of Hoyt's best which
is no faint praise, and req uires we'll balanced.
Intelligent cast. play like "a Texas Steer
may be delightfully."- amusing or tiresomely
coarse according TO the manner in which it is
acted. The people now at the Columbia GER
tainly understand their business and sustain
their roles most ably. Tim Murphy as MAYER
lex Brander, Texas cattie n hkng, excellent is L
were not. Messrs NARROW, Adams and Manley
as Major Yell, Colonel Bragg and General Blow,
Texan members of the Farmers Alliance. are
perhaps just trifle overdrawn, but charm
ingly unconventional. Lizzie du Roi as Brand
ers wife and Dorothy Sherrod as Bossy, Brand
ers pet. are very good.
Next week the extravaganza, "Sinbad," J" will
be given. 1t is understood that several new
features have been added to this piece since its
first presentation here.
Grand 0pera-House.
The Grand has been giving its patrons thrill
ing melodrama lately. sandwiched with mirth-
provoking humor of Gilbert and Goldie, and
both extremes of the dramatic bill of fare have
been applauded to the echo.
Last night, for instance, when that affecting
melodrama, "Hoop of Gold,'' was produced,
the sandwich style of entertainment caused
the gallery especially to howl and whistle with
delight. No 'oner had the woes of the hero
inc extracted the tributary tear, than Gilbert