The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-28
!. FREDERICK
THE GREET" ut
THE gLCpZYR

To set a living, breathing Frederick
before a critical public is a task that
might strain the combined ability of half
dozen good dramatic writer's. That vio-
lent. egotistcal, savage, yet tender and
affectionate old paradox, who galloped
from the field of Mollwitz for very frlght
a his first battle and was yet the greatest
commander of his age. owing many de-
feat to his own blunders and many a VIC
tory to his generals that military despot,
without confdantS, who without scrupie
would abandon his allies at the moment
of victory; that lover of poetry, who yet
missed the best literary companionship
because he hated his mother. tongue and
knew no other save his idOlized French
which he never learned to SPELL that
humorist who signed himself by the
the grace of God, King of Prussia. Flee
tor of Brandenburg and possessor of Vol
taire," whom he knew to be scoun-
drel,'' and yet made use of for very need
BY some he was painted the sensuallst
and voluptuary by others the epitOme of
moderation, benevolence, peace; tena-
cious old warhorse who lived beyond his
three score and ten on four hours sleep
out of twenty-four and died possessed of
but one fine dress and so poor in shirts
that his valet de chambre supplied one
for his burial.
George Foster Plat, the author, who
also manages the stage and plays part
Wen. has covered with his strong play
three eventful years of Frederick's life,
and he has handled his subject we'll. He
is such master at writing good speeches
and inventing clever situations that We
wish he might never condescend to pub
lie taste for broad comedy. 'Tis the one
false note in a vigorous composition. In
four acts he shows US the King in his
moods of domestic tyranny. his phases of
wit and philosophy, his military greatness
and decision. that counted not the cost;
his tender symnathies for those who
worked and suffered in the interests of
his empire. In the play Silesia, for which
he fought so many years, is made the
theme Of his life; La Barbarina the Star
of Italy it's variation. The present YER
sion is not the one featured by Mr.. Nor
rson during his coming season, for the
last two acts have been rewritten. greatly
enhancing its value and strength The
the scenic needs of the altered work. Mr..
Morrison plays Frederick with unmistak-
able pleasure in the part and with the
vincing picture of the crusty old fire
eater. He ."sees" Frederick and trans
lates his vision into his work. In his
generous giving of the best that is in him
he is a quiet sermon to many a slOVenly
worker In his chosen field. Would they
might profit by it. In the hands of Miss
Roberts La Barbarina is indeed Star of
Italy and several other places. Her knack
of appearing in a new gown and fetching
head dress whenever scenes need bright
ening was appreciated by the audience
and applauded before even a word was
spoken. Her first stormy interview with
Frederick was refreshing as breeze in
August I wonder why actors have never
thought of responding to encores and re-
peating scenesl If opera singers take that
liberty, why not the mummers? Now,
there's an argument for an enterprising
essayistl The Won Trenck of Mr.. Whit
tlesey was excellent-all the more so as
the Amelia of the cast could never inspire
the beautiful, imprisoned love speeches
spoken so tenderly and gracefully. Mr.
SCOTS Voltaire is yet a little uncertain
as to key. With larger time he will grasp
the character more securely. He cannot
be created in a week. We commend the
handling of the scene where he and Maui
peritus exchange the gentlemanly cour-
tesies of pig and fool. Miss Howe's
Countess Swartzfeld wss somewhat strid-
ent and rather fortissimo; Mr.. Webster's
General HUDSON a very creditable per
Torrance. Miss Virginia Drew made her
professional debut as the Queen and
seemed fresh from the hands of the elo-
cution teacher. She has talent, but must
undo much of her training.
Frederick the Great" is educational
and merits the best houses. In these DAYS
of patriotism and firecrackers it is well
to remember that he once sent a sword
of honor to our own Washington, with
the generous message, From the oldest
general in the world to the greatest
CHARLOTTE THOMPSON.