The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-17


but simply that weak tea and doughnuts
would excite the nerves and stir the
Imagination about as much as most OF
last weeks novelties. The incoherent i'm
pressions that stand out on my mind
after attending them all are Ferris Hart
mans clever skit on the aerial ballet, at
the Tivoli; an ineffabiy complacent new
hero, with an iii t-smile-sweetly'
while you photograph me- air, at the
Grand; George Osbourne and some artistic
scenery at the AlcaZar and Hungarian
orchestra, which the majority OF the
Orpheum audience entirelyi failed to
understand or appreciate.
/ had the advantage of sitting behind
seasoned Orpheum first-nighter at the
opening performance of the Hungarian
Orchestra, and as he was kind enough 20
pass his criticisms III a loud and pene-
trating tone of voice, had an opportunity
to mark, learn and inwardIy digest
critical tirst-night decree. He was adorned
with numerous diamonds and other costly
bric-a-brac and was recklessly prodigal In
the consumption of Manhattan cocktails
and chewing gum. His best girl, whom
he was esCorting wore monumental hat
plea singly ornamented with two spread
ing fans of feathers, each large enough to
make tire-screen. The possession of this
trophy was evidently source of great
pride and qualification to her-some
people find it so comforting TO purchase
one seat and take up ten times as much
view of the stage as they pay for. 1t is
getting something for nothing, and that
is always a qualification.
WE'LL IIl be switched, there's only
nine of them Call that an orchestral
remarked the first nighter as the members
of the Hungarian Orchestra took their
places on the platform. He listened critl-
cally during the performance of the over
ture to William Tell" and after forth
flying himself with half his third cocktail
remarked severely: They amt no good.
/ have heard that William TeII' before
lots of times, and them fellows left out all
the noise; but there, what can you expect
of a band that can't raise a drum or
from bone" l was so interested in this
practced critics views that l began to
cherish a most unreasonable hop that
Waldteufel's Concert Waltz would have
the good fortune to please him. The Hun
garians broke into a dreamy, throbbing
rhythm that seemed sensuous enough to
stir the pulses even of a connoisseur W lose
musical standard IS "Trow HIM Down,
McCloskv," and My Mother Was Lady"
but the frst-nighter SAID he'd like to see
himself dancing to waltz like that-''nit!"
and the owner of the hat giggled and re-
marked, II wish they'd give US tune"
1t was when Berkes' Hungarian Fan
TASTE" was being played that the contempt
of the gentleman in the diamonds broke
all bounds. ITS ike the wind bowling
through a fellows whiskers," he re-
marked, and then l knew that however
much the Hungarian Orchestra might
fascinate music-lovers it would never APP
peal to those seasoned first nighters who
chew gum and fortify themselves to sus-
tain the evenings entertainment by con-
Stunning cocktails.
When the Hungarians had left the stage
Rosners orchestra struck up a slap-bang
overture to one of Miss Caldwells popu-
lar ditties, which after the melancholy
beauty of the "fantasie" sounded like
beating rhythm with an ak out of pack
ing case How Rosner's music has degen-
Grated since the days when he conducted
the Red Hungarian Orchestra but that's
another story. The tirst-nigtter was
touched in tender spot by those noisy
strains: There's some style about that
music he said admiringly; something
you can pick up and take home with you, "
and l began to understand how managers
must feel when musical enthusiasts blame
them for not kee ping up hi her standard
OF arr, Just IS # the managers were in the
show business entirely for their health.
Victory Bateman is going to leave the
Grand! When / first saw her l thou ht
her the best leading woman Manager
Morosco had ever captured, but familiarity
with Miss Bateman's acting has led me TO
believe that she does not act at all-she is
Just Miss Bateman under all circumstan-
ces. Her lines may be different and her
costumes diversified from week TO week,
but her Interpretation never varies by
hairs breadth. From GreenIands icy
mountains to India's coral strand" in
Russia and Iceland, in the wild and woody
West and in the languorous South, in high
life and low life, in sickness and in health,
whether she is supposed to be a princess
Bateman; that is to say, she is always re-
fined and genteel in manner, with slight
tendency to laugh and cry at the same
time in moments of emotion, and she
always perambulates the stage rapidly
when in trouble, as if sorrow, like feel
ing of chilliness, could be walked off by a
brisk constitutional. She is perfectly
natural on the stage simply because she
never attempts to assume the slightest
mannerism that is not her own. Pleasing
as this young woman is in some respects,
Miss Bateman always playing Miss Bate
man is a case of touiours perdrix. Variety
is the spice of life, and for the sake of OBJ
tanning this seasoning at the Grand
change of leading woman will not be an
unmixed calamity.
What marvellous triumph of perse-
yerance Nordica is! She has climbed ND
to her present exalted position chiefly by
means OF the Wagnerian ladder, and / am
sorry that she has pandered to popu arity
by putting Marguerite and Leonorae on
her programme, for neither is one of her
strong characters. Her greatest successes
have always been made in Wagnerian
roles, and # she had wanted to tickle the
popular ear she might have given us
sam pie of her Elsa, instead OF treating us
to the hand.organ airs of al Trovatore."
/ remember the first tine l saw her she
was with Mapieson, and, as usual the old
gentleman was in financial straits, and
was not paying his artists. Nordica's first
husband had disappeared on one of his