The San Francisco call., 1896-08-02

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"Hard times have not been denoted by
the size of the audiences at the local play
houses during the past week, nor ha
laughter hidden itself in some gloomy
cavern. At one of the houses, at least
the line of persons seeking admission has
night after. night, been kept up until afte
the time for curtain-rise. The pleasure
seekers chartered and chaffed anC
laughed good-naturedly while waiting tt
enter and also between acts. The man
ayers all look cheerful and anticipate
much good business to come because theil
attractions have been so well met. While
SO many local houses are kept open here
the Eastern managers seem to have wilteG
under climatic conditions. Last week moi
a solitary theater in Boston, which is ordi
rarily classed as regular, was open. New
York audiences mostly haunted the roo.
gardens. Meanwhile the happy San Fran
ciscan went forth to enjoy and to be en-
ioyed.
While we have suffered no interruption
in our pastimes, and while the coin We
in danger of melting, those Eastern peo
pie who have been driven away from
home to seek the solace of sea breezes have
tried to divert themselves with dramas
which can be played out of doors. "a
You Like It" was produced for the fash
ionables and semi-fashionables at AS
bury Park, which, it may not be neces
sary to state, except to incidentally sug
gest environments, is in New Jersey
What welting of linen there was In the
wrestling match! How the audience
smiled while the delicate odor of frangi
panni was waited hither and yon by the
incessant waving of fans, piled incessantly
because of the heat, at the ditty, BLOW
blow, thou winter wind" Miss Marie
Wainwright was the Rosalind. How il
must have been can easily be imagined
On her brow-was perspiration. In bel
eyes-longing for icecream soda. On hel
lips what should never be on the lips o.
any lsdy-a New Jersey mosquito!
What the public in San Francisco car
enjoy during the coming week is indicated
quite fully by the announcements which
are made below. There is variety and
merit. The public may safely be coonted
upon to furnish the appreciation.
AT the Baldwin.
There are two weeks left of the engage
ment of Charles Frohman's Empire Thea
ter Company at the Baldwin Theater. AS
was originally planned and announce ed
there will be new play for each of these
weeks. Tomorrow night Pinero's drama
illustrative of social decadence and en-.
titled "The Benefit of the Doubt" will be
given. While there is plenty of comedy
in this work, still it is play of serious
import, as it derives a lesson from the
divorce court and in a me-ciless way deals
with the follIes of modern society. Alto
gether it will be much different medium
for the expression of the Empire Com
pany's acting abilities from what Mr.
Fitch's Bohemia" was. In the latter
piece Mr.. Frohman's players had simply
to please, to amuse, and skipped about
the stage in lively manner and merry
mood: in ''The Benefit of the Doubt
they have much more serious and diff
cult task, for the drama is full of strong
dramatic situations and will demand a
high plane of histrionism.
'Pinero's play, after making a London
success, was produced at the Lyceum
Theater, where it also succeeded. In the
absence of the Western tour of the Lyceum
company Daniel Frohman has arranged
with his brother Charles for its presenta-
tion by the Empire company, to whose
abilities it is perfectly suited. 1t will
have splendid cast tomorrow night, all
of Charles Frohman's leading players be-
ing concerned in the performance. This
Is the story of "The Benefit of the Doubt
in brief: Mrs. Emptage is a careless
mother, whose daughters, Theophila
Fraser and Justina Emptage, are at least
eligible for membership in the fast set.
Theophlla is married to dull Scotchman.
During his absence she seeks intellectual
consolation in the society of John Alling.
ham. The attachment is purely platonic
but dillingham; wife is female Othello.
She brings suit for judicial separation
and Mrs. Fraser's name is mixed up un-
pleasantly in the court proceedings. The
judge, however, gives her "the benefit o1
the doubt" but the woman's name was
smirched. Her husband agrees to stand
by her, but Mrs. Fraser has by this time
become reckless She decided to see
Allingham once more.
He has just had an interview with hi;
wife, who seeks a reconciliation. Mrs.
Fraser arrives. She is tired and hungry
Food and drink are set before her and
after tossing off tumbler of champagne
she begins to feel better, but under the
influence OF the wine ner old recklessnes:
returns and Mrs. Allingham, who is con
cealed behind the door, hears her propose
that she and Allingham shall run away
When Mrs. Frazer, however, learns that
Allingham was 'cognizant of his wife's
presence at the time of her declaration
her disgust for him asserts itself, and
under the protection of an aunt Mrs. Fra
ser sets about to work out her social re-
generation.
AS in all OF Pineros plays it is the treat
ment rather than the story which makes
''The Benefit of Doubt" such an interest
ing and clever theatrical piece.
Henry Arthur Jones' drama, "The
Masqueraders," has been reserved for the
closing week of the engagement at the
Baldwin.
The California.
At the California tomorrow evening
Chauncey Olcott will appear in 'Mavour.
neen." Of this play it IS said that it con
'tains bright melodies, lovely story well