The San Francisco call., 1899-09-10
PLgYER FOLK :.
THROUGH THE
CRITICS EYE
T y this latitude neither sun nor rain

IN this latitude neither sun nor rain
is vertical in its attacks. and The
critical pen seems much affected by
the climate. II starts out ink-fuU
OF the most downright crushing inten-
tons, and swerves 10 windward about
half way 10 the paper, blown thither by
the wind Of justice, or what masquerades
for justice. With the thought in mind
that no one is respectable who IS not
just the mask is too often greeted IN
Willingly as the face and this should not
be. Especially is this true when high
priced productions are in review. = dol
lar ana q half presupposes good play,
tic scenery, and the exhaustive rehearsal
OF adequate stage management. When
the foremost theater fails 10 keep this
faith with the public, empty benches are
and should be the result. Mr.. Clements
is at best g Iwo-man cOmpany-hlmself
and Augustus Cook. Add TO this draw
back one poor play and one familiar and
you have the cause OF small houses With
the popUIar-prfced theater Offering 60
much that IS good. patronage Will follow
only in the wake OF TUu value received.
To surround oneself with mediocre COM
Pany IS the most uuwise thing young
man can do, for fame will not outiast
success. And now there is the mOnotony
Of Two closed theaters. at a time when
the world is back from the seashore and
much OF this mOurnfulness. A look into
the future Is the remedy. Madame Mod
1eSk2, The Christian. the BCstoDlanS,
Nat Goodwin. Mrs. Carter in ZaZa.'
Maude Adams. the Lyceum Theater Stock
Company in "Tre!awny,' Olga Neither
sole and the KendaIs are some OF the
away TO appear ike shapes at dusk near
the drab edge Of forest. but with pa
tience they will be reached
There is neither shade nor shelter from
amusement at the Orpheum this week.
and the audience sits with barred, unpro-
4 Fre-aI n nH---5 4-~
the least. In fact. ii seems TO rather en-
Joy tt-especiaIly, if one may Judge by ap-
plause. the little dancers. Charley Case
and Felix Norris. l should like 70 know
just what tiny current OF agitation Nils
the breasts OF little Arnold and Hazel
when such big applause answers their
and taffy. Charley Case has been finding
out some new things about MS father
into the secrets. The Bachelor Club Quar-
tet, four young men who in twenty min
utes reveal four hours Of the club life Of
fashionable Bohemia, are billed as the
chief attraction tonight and are said 10
be clever comedians and singers The
Crawford sisters, character change art
sketch people. are also new The old
favorites VIII frsShen their acts with nov
elites promised 10 please.
The oftener I listen to opera, comic and
grand the more thoroughly am l con-
vinced that most OF the sober singers (by
1
have little besides costume to distinguish
them from the concert artist. Especially
is this so in solo work, Tor each in turn
walks straight 10 the front OF the stage
whenever possible and sings confidentially
10 the audience as though they were part
OF the company. Could anything be
more thoroughly inartistic and ride
ulous2 Gesture seems matter OF time
and beat and phrase. and If there is any
Intellectual significance 20 II, what that
significance is is caviare TO the general
publCi- Grand opera makes such demands F.
upon the voice that, save with the very
greatest, dramatic impulse must be kept
in check for the sake OF smooth delivery.
There are four artists on the T1voi stage
who rise well 70 the dignity OF grand
Pr0ssnitz OF these SaIassa Is the only
cne who acts. and ne often does so most
unwIlingly. The bravas OF enthusiasm
are all for the well-sung numbers, Tor
the import OF the score is. under the cir.
Gums tanceS, about last in the thought OF .
an audience
Ell CAPTAIN has drawn very large
houses at the Grand Opera-house and set .
the town again to whisthng Sousa- This
week .Fatinitza' bright in dialogue and
merry IN music, as / remember il, viii be .
sung: The stage manager promises some +
novel features.
The Alcazar commenced its stock season 4
most auspiciously with christopher Jr.,
2a agss de3Ws of Sin the Play Ay this wesk With The
been praised by every critic This IS 50
unusual that I hope X Will not be the
means Of his undoing. What a happy
family the Alcazarans areI From the
orchestra through the company TO the
least OF the scene shifters they are thor
oughly loyal. This was SO pleasantly ex-
empl1tied on Miss Roberts last night The
play was over and she was sitting quietly
in her dressing room removing stage war
paint and feathers, when the orchestra
stole quietly down. stood outside her docr
and played "Good-by, Sweetheart. Good
by Further up the corridor. in front of
Nv
Hes a jolly Good Fellow and followed
fl by Aud Lang Syne." There were
more eyes wet than two.
What pleasant news. too. one hears OF
Edwin Stevensi Frohman finds him Z
worthy the leading part in His Excel
lency" Mr.. Stevens speaks Of il in let
tiers as a dress suit part-clean. bright Z
comedy. and one ne Will enjoy plav:ng /
He expects somewhat later to be called
back 10 New York TO create a role in (
new play.
CHARLOTTE THOMPSON.