The San Francisco call., 1897-06-17
NOTES OF THE THEATERS,
Death of George E. Barnes Re.
gretted in All the
Foyers.
"The First Born Still Proves a
Mascot-How the Lions
Are Fed.


theaters last night was the unexpected
and regretted death of George Barnes, the
dean of dramatic criticism on the Pacific
Coast and up to the Gay of his death the
best known writer on dramatic subjects
west of the Rockies.
Managers who have passed their lives
IN the business were wont to speak Of
George Barnes as an encyclopedia OF
theatrical knowledge, and he was always
| ready to impart his wide ex xperience for
the benefit a I'D assistance of others
ASK George Barnes, be is sure TO
know, was a common expression when
! debates respecting the early dramatic life
! OF Ca llfOrnia were in progress. A thou
! sand instances of George Barnes kind
1 ness of heart, his readiness 10 extend a
| helping hand 10 struggling talent and his
! generosity TO those in want were cited in
! the ioyers last night The managers will
! lose just and kind friend in George
! Barnes, for no good manager fears honest
! criticism and the public will lose a writer
whose word was regarded as law by many
| experienced theater-goers.
| The Liliputians will close their engage
ment at the BALDWIN Tneater iE Merry
| Tramps" on Sunday night. Next Monday
/ evening an important theatrical event
! takes place at the Baldwin in the appear.
ance of Daniel Frohman's Lyceum Thea
ter Company in The Prisoner of Zenda.
At the head of the organization will be
James K. Hackett and Mary Mannering
The former is already known here by his
performance last fall of the triple role in
THE Prisoner OF Zenda." 1t will be Miss
Mannering's first appearance in this City.
She will play Princess Flavia.
Lorimer Stoddard's satirlcal comedy
The Question" is drawing satisfactory
houses at the Columbia. 1t is excellently
played and the last act is full of strong
dramatic interest. If the preceding two
acts were on par with the third the play
would be one of the lew great successes of
the year. As it is, the first two acts are
apt to be taiky, but the exec ceptionally good
acting and staging DO much to redeem
them. On Monday the well-known war
drama Shenandoah" Will be produced on
an elaborate scale.
That Chinese mascot, ''The First Born"
is continuing to make standing room at
a premium at the Alcazar. The Oriental
"Bagshot's Blunders," which is anus
ingIy acted.
I'm the Heart of the Storm" at the
Grand this week, abounds with fresh sem
sations from start TO finish. The scenes are
chiefly laid in Florida and the villains are
picturesque Cuban smugglers. The first
act, with its lake and wealth of tropical
foliage, and the second act, an exterior
view of the Ponce de Leon Hotel, are both
ella borate pieces of staging. The members
of TIE stock company are all doing good
work in the play. a. Forde, especially
engaged as Mrs. Ann Won Kloober,
affords plenty OF amusement.
Miss Frisco" is in its last nights at the
Tivoli. A number of the songs have be-
come popular on account of their catcni-
ness and are Mhstled and sung extern
sively on the streets. Next Sunday alter
noon a special per ormance of this anus
ing work will be given in aid of the fami-
lies of the deceased heroes OF the late fire.
Many accomplished volunteers have
offered their services. On Monday even
ing Edwin Stevens will inaugurate his
season with an elaborate production of
the spectacular oriental operetta Nv ang."
Josephine A. Sabel, the little woman
with the big voice, is.the latest attraction
at the Orpheum. She succeeds in accom-
plishing the difficult feat of making the
audience Join with her in singing the
chorus TO q coon song. As general rule
the audience remains mute and inglorious
when requested from the stage to break
into song. The lions, who did not take
their meal on the first night of their public
feeding with any Zest, are now becoming
acIus omed to being looked at while they
eat, and the way in which they devour
their food arouses good deal of interest.
Aladdin and HIS Wonderful Lamp, 1"
at the Auditorium, is drawing good
houses. Many OF the songs and specialties
are nightly encored, and the spectacular
part of the production is going smoothly.
On Monday r. Z. Whites "Mazeppa'' will
be produced.