The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-18

AFTER spending the better part OF the
week in the Baldwin retouching my
admiration Of Modjeska and thanking
heaven that once again the theater is
a safe place for a sensitive person, l
feel like a man that has taken
in bottle of somebody's sarsa-
parilla and is inspired to write to
the manufacturer and confess how
good and pure and happy the COM
pound has made him feel Why, 1t is
only a few months since was saying
in this very column that the drama
here was dead, that refined literary
persons had taken to books. slippers
and the freside, that-worst of ALL
the profession of dramatic criticism
could no longer be reckoned among the
necessary evils! When, presto En-
peror Frohman announces his forgive
ness and his Willingness to give San
Francisco a place on the map, and
sends US his Henry Miller; and now,
better still, Modjeska is here; and the
season to come is full with brilliant
prospects. The critic may stop writ
ing plays and go to work; the retired
playgoer, rested and fresh, be coaxed
back to the pleasures of the stage, and
the manager grow honorably rich. Is
it a wonder. feel like writing a testi-
monial2
It was hardly to be expected that ev-
erybody who used to go to the play
in the days when San Francisco got
it's reputation as the actors paradise
would turn out at the first invitation
Of the rehabilitated theater. Some,
a considerable number in the circum-
=. @ba
performances this past week. And
Henry Miller's engagement was, am
told, fortunate as a whole through the
signal hit of "Heartsease, little SUI
gar-coated play that was just the thing
to delight very young ladies and very
old gentlemen. So while the new sea-
son at the Baldwin has not been break
ing records it is doing just what 1t
ought to do for the theatrical vitality
Of the town. 1t is making play going
popular again among a class that had
long given 1t up as a sort of second
rate vice. The dramatic epicureans
turned out bravely for Magda Tuesday
night, and there was an atmosphere OF
brains all over the house, way up to
peanut row in the gallery; for many
Of these special folk-the real, not the
fashionable supporters Of symphony
concerts. intellectual drama, university
extension lectures and what not-are
poor beyond convenience. However,
II is not this little cult alone which has
come back, but many Of the old sleek
crowd of first nighters who can enjoy
lesser dramatists than Shakespeare
and Suderman. And on such patrons
as these depend the fortunes of thea
ter. The. exclusive special drama is
beautiful thing, but 1t will not always
pay the actors and the rent. Had Miss
lood given her millions to endow an
independent theater instead Of. a col
lege Of commerce things would not be
thus. But commerce got the millions,
and we must still take our drama &C
cording to the craftsmanship OF the
managers. The craftsmanship Of the
Baldwin management had a sorry ex-
perience, but it learned lesson, and
is now on the rise. There won't be any
more tenderloin vaudeville at the Bald
win. for one thing sure; and for an
other. Modieska is there doing the mis-
sIonary work of her life. A year ago
in New York Modjeska preached
against the sins of the theatrical syndi-
cate. Now she seems TO have forgiven
the syndicate as ii in turn forgave US,
and she Is playing in a syndicate thea
fer It is an hour for glad hands all
round.
AS have suggested in notices
throughout the week, Modjeska's COM
MANY is not entirely admirable.
Mr.. Herman is an actor of the old
husky school who seems never to quite
recover from his association with Fred
erick Warde. In the not exacting part
Of Leicester in MARY Stuart he
showed a certain easiness and agility
that have been altogether lacking in
his subsequent representations. His
Macbeth was mere sound run wild and
gesture stiffened and enlarged beyond
the scale of mortal man. It was with
ont feeling, without understanding. And
in. the delicate part of the rector in
"Magda" he was equally gladia.orial.
Of the men Mr. Lonergan alone seems
70 have improved the passing hour, and
even he still frequently stands as one
IN main and gnaws his words unprettily.
The life of Mr.. Lonergan has not been
all beer and bouquets. Years ago in
this same town he hired a house and
essayed to be a Hamlet-without net,
and at the risk of his life, you might
saw. J. have not heard of him In the
mart since. but otherwise he has done
better He is a thoughtful actor and
too young and too clever 10 cling TO
annoying little mannerisms that any
minute are apt to break UP the whole