The San Francisco call., 1896-07-19

For the past week theater-goers have
had but little trouble IN hndlng amuse-
ment to suit their tastes. Comedy, melo-
drama, the legitimate, grand opera ana
variety have all been presented, anu al
have done well. Full houses have been
reported for every evening and from every
theater, and it would seem as II the pleas
ure-seekers had all found their level. But
San Franciscan audiences are not to be
classified in any such way. The man VINO
appIauded the climax in "Rlgoletto" on
Monday night might have been found be-
fore the week was out as one of the devotees
of Carmen" that play in which both
singer and dramatic star bid for popu-
lar favor. Carmen" shorn of its harmo-
nies and choruses has been received with
the same interest as the opera "Rigoletto,"
a fact which seems to argue that both
operatic and dramatic taste may abide In
the breast of the constant attendant; but
then this Judgment may be shaken when
the one who applauded grand opera on
Monday and who vowed a second visit to
Carmen" on W Wednesday night can be seen
on Saturday night dividing his satisfac-
ton between the Orpheum stage and a
glass OF beer. The average San Fran
ciscan is an easy as well as hard man to
please.
To say that San Franciscans are not to
be satisfied with inferior work either by
playwright or actor, is no original remark,
but it is also true that the cosmopolitan
character of the City seems to affect the
tastes of the inhabitants even to their
amusements. They are easily pleased, and
10 ,oia ha n
this Western city, 1t need not be aggres-
siveIy merltorious unless it claim to be so.
PLAYS must be up to their posters nova
days or a WINERY reception may be the
result. But when the only claim made Is
one of fair merit, it is not hard to hnd a
house full OF people who will see
what is really good and appreciate
it. In such a case there is not
that criticism against the City which has
often followed the departure OF star
from this coast the caustIc comment
which comes like the climax which has
waited too long-unheeded and derided.
Amusement is what people seek at the
theaters in the West as in the East, and 1t
is hard to find amusement where expecta-
ton has been wrought up to the critical
point 1t doesn't do, even in San Fran
cisco.
The dramatization of Carmen" is an ex-
pertinent here, but its appearance has
proved satisfactory. Can 1t be that some
ears are so deaf to harmony that Bizets s
music has no charmP That the plot
of Carmen" taken alone is more delightful
than with the garment of melody in
which the master has clothed it? 1t
would seem so to see the outpourlng OF
the populace which is nightly occur
renee at the doors of the California. Oh
course, much has reached here from the
oh 10 C1n
cess of the. play Carmen" but
there seems something lacking in ii
all. The curtain falls upon scenes as
dramatic as any staged in the opera, but
what is Carmen" without the Toreador
song, or the closing choruses which bring
it to position in opera which it can never
hope to hold in drama2 1t has strong
plot to work upon, but it seems to be like
the dramatiZation of Scott's "Kenilworth'
into Amy Robsart." 1t Is piece created
for those who cannot understand the
beauties of the original But, neverthe-
less. it has caught the fancy OF even those
whose minds dwell on the tunetul strains
of Bizets music. The plot has, after all
its destinations.
The bills for next week are many and
varied. Grand opera is still on at the
Tivoli; the programme changing fire.
quentlv. Carmen" will run another sever
days at the California. 1.-THE Two Es
cutcheons" will be at the Columbia ano
Howard P. Tay.ors Irish Inspiration
will be put on at the Grand Opera-house
The Orpheum's bill will also undergo 8
change and some important additions viii
be made out at the Chutes' casino.
The California.
Carmen" as presented by Frederick
Warde, Rose Coghlan and L. R. Stock
wells players at the California Theater
has made strong impression upon thea
ter-goers. who are attending the perform
ances of the drama in large numbers. IL
fact, the piece has caught on so well it il
announced that it will be continued for al
extra week, commencing to- o-morrow Mon
day. night. 1t was at first intended tt
bring out Rose Coghlan's Madame" mex