The San Francisco call., 1899-09-01
lNGOWgR pND
4 PGRTHENI4
TO REMEMBER

HE beautiful doctrine of tradition
has received some rather hard blows
during Miss Roberts engagement at
the AlcaZar this season. Twice as
l remember, it made a half-hearted effort
TO influence, but lacking encouragement
and even recognition 1t silenced its voice
and retired. The stage evils wrought by
the inroads OF tradition are almost meal
culable. When old familiar roles are be-
ing played, such liberal floods of it pour
down that sort of dramatic washout is
the result, leaving the character bare of
natural feature or attraction. The old
theatergoer likes this-likes an actress to
be a handy and convenient summary of
all who have gone before. He can be-
heve in such knowingly and he will be-
lieve no other way Thus it happens that
many an artist capable Of creation, but
fearful of criticism, clings to the old
until she shall have made a name, and
even tries 10 silence her future intentions.
knowing they will be promptly pounced
upon when they are reached. Miss Rob
erts naturalness and originality are as
striking as they are acceptable. They
are not the result of daring, but of neces-
sity. Her stage career has known no idle
seasons. She has not studied the great
ones in their parts and hence she is not
made UP of little pieces of all other
Camilles and Juliets and Parthenias,
using their methods for effect and trying
TO act as if she had their reasons. The
amateur vice of over elaboration is not
hers in the least degree. Most surely is
she winning her. way into the hearts of
the people, and though the dramatic king
dom has often been taken by violence,
the quiet way is the better, If one would
be something other tnan merely the
vogue. The ingenuousness and sweet
simplicity of her Parthenia are more
charming than she knows. She makes
of her a maiden loving, dutiful, heroic,
unconscious of her virtue as she is of her
strength, following -le promptings of
heart and brain without question, eX-
pecting no opposition and hence not
armed with commanding air. The child
ish purity her creation breatheS makes
and possible thing in the world. Miss
Roberts is by nature strongly emotional
and one of the most artistic things she
does is to keep her emotions within the
not yet been awakened by love. Mr..
Whittlesey, though at first the true bar
barian, strong. brutal. uncouth, a free
child of the earth, falls more easily under
the spell of this Parthenia than has been
the wont of other lngomars. And why
should he not? Children are easiest led
where opposition is not expected and the
tone of command is but sparingly used
Mr.. WhittleSeyS 5 lngomar is quite in tune
with Miss Roberts Parthenia. She takes
his heart and his soul and his strength
without so much as by your leave and
he yields them more in surprise than
anger His mountain costume with it's
queer iron chains and bands is artistically
barbaric and his entrance as the Greek
a signal for applause The support is ad
equate and the production nretti1y staged.
The patronage during tnelr season at the
Alcazar is the best proof that San Fran
cisco has appreciated the tireless efforts
Miss Roberts and Mr.. Whittlesey have
made to please and educate. Their de-
parture is a regret, their return next sea-
son a bright thought for the future.
CHARLOTTE THOMPSON.