The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-25

JHE OUTER WORLD.

Jacob Lift is CHANGING Chicago with the
PRODUCTION of farce by the fateful name
of Mistakes Will happen"
The state of the stage in Spain is not
likely to be made any worse than 1t is
now, If the accounts of a French iHvesti-
gator do not paint its degradation in col
ors too black for justice. He found that
the theater had lost all inte- st in the
classical drama of the country. and the
EspagnOl, an institution analogous to the
Francois, closed It's doors several years
ago because it could obtain support Meth
er from the state nor the public.
That "the coon song must go" was one
of the most positive and cheerful asser-
lions of the wiseacres in stageland few
weeks ago, writes Acton Davies in the
Evening Sun. They gave reasons. sub
mitted "signs of the times in evidence
the Honeys, the kous, the Bullies and
the other coOns of recent song and story.
The coon. song has gone, but not after the
manner foretold:, 1t has gone on it's way
rejoicing, and the public appears to be
with it still. There is new "Dinah'' at
the Broadway Music Hall along with a
carries Rabbits Foot" song.
The following criticism of Olga Neither
sole in 1.-The Termagant" is by the critic
of the London Daily Mail, and notes
many points in common with San Fran
cisco's opinion of Nance O'Neirs acting.
Miss Nethersole has vitality which is
really wonderful force there Is no gain
saying; and even the feast of manner
isms and tricks she sets before us-even
the closed eyelids which denote passion,
and the reverberating groans which in
dictate despair-the all-too-mechanical
method she shows us-cannot hide the
cleverness, the abandon, the flexibility OF
her acting. If she would only restrain
herself in-though she would seldom
touch our hearts, she would carry US
away with her by the very force of her
complished actress, but she has not yet
arrived at the art concealed.
Anna Held threatens to visit US again
An interesting experiment will be the
substitution of Blanche Walsh for Fanny
Davenport in several Sardou plays. Miss
Davenport has paid handsome fortune
in royalties for the right to produce
Sardou's dramas, and she sees posi-
bility of profit in sending out an actress
who is now. in looks mad manner very
much like the Fanny Davenport OF twen-
ty years ago.
David Belasco is back from Europe and
announces that his latest play is yet I'M
named. No definite plans have been
made for It by the playwright until af-
ter the public sees '.Zara,' In which Mrs.
American stage. The play is by Berton
and Simon.
An interesting experiment is making at
the Dagmar Theater in Copenhagen. A
series of gratuitous Sunday perform
ances was begun September for the pur-
pose of enabling the working classes who
cannot pay for their places to study the
dramatic. literature not only of Den
mark and of to-day, but that of all coun
tries and all periods. The first play was
Ibsen's Brand" the next Moliere's
"Malade Imaginaire,'' and Theodore de
BaQyille'S "GringOire.''
Ibsen is writing a new play for Agnes
Sorma, his most distinguished exponent,
and she will play it in this country under
the Heinrich Conrled management.
Mr. and Mrs. Kendall are back in Lon
don now, occupying the st. James The
alter, which they used to manage in part
nership with John Hare. 1t is more than
ten years now since that prosperous term
of management was ended. The Kendals
are appearing in play called THE Elder
Miss Blossom" in which Mrs. Kendall I'M
personates a becomingly gowned maid Of
SO years That, she says, is the age she
prefers to think of as Miss Blossoms.
They will remain at the st. James until
Christmas, when Alexander and his COM
pany will return. Next year, they say,
they may revisit this country.