The San Francisco call., 1901-12-23
WEIGH IS STAR
Of ROAD SHOW
Travelling Aggregation
Opens Season at the
Orpheum.
Devils Auction" at the Cali
fornia Delights the
Audience.


method. We1ch does not waste wink or |
a word during the whole story, and Kills |
more birds with one stone than the aver
age VaudeVilltan with twenty. lie wan
ders in, a meek and melancholy little hg-
uTe, sWamped in his clothes and drowned
in his hat, and tells the adventures OF
small Hebrew tailor in the police court
and in jail Not a promising sub bject. but
as it is told, CONFUSING. He has one
gesture-if ii can be called such-a meek
wink, a gait that cheers and an irresistible
singsOng, and from the time he gently
sloucheS in to the time he gently sloucheS
off cOmpelS the continuous performance
smile He has an encyclopedia gltt OF
slang and a naive and WlSt1ul uncon-
sciOusness that amounts to genius, but
over and above all the machinery of the
turn there is something that grips, and
you don't know how or why, but it does.
The gatling gun drill furnishes the SEN
Sa atiOnal spice of the bill and is a breath
less sort Of performance by some young
fellows who saw service in the Philip
pines. 1t is a wonder in its way, and for
acrobatics of the speedy sort beats any
of the gymnaStic turns that vaudeville
drill, but the Swiftness, neatness and dis
patch with which the eight alert young
Americans handle the big gun in its clunl-
sy carriage is marvellous. The act Is
picturesQuely staged, and a camp scene,
the drill and a surprise by the enemy set
one thinking more than a little of the
men behind the gun.
Elizabeth Murray is a favorite with
some excellent coon songs and some good
stories told cleverly. w. c. Fields is a
juggler with new tricks, that are anus
ing no end and as clever as they are fun
ny. The AlgOs trio do some sensational
balancing. Macomber and EngletOn do
fairly good turn and Mcintyre and Heath
give again their clever sketch, The Geor-
gia MinStrelS.
There is a large opportunity lost to
1.-The SerenaderS," four pretty young wo
men who really sing very nicely. But
their miniature opera is about as mOnOt-
hEN~ nal +haTla hs4 WI
the ''Beaux and Bellies and the "FlOro-
dora SeXtet' We don't seem to want
girls to make love to other girls. It's
such a waste. But the Orpheum road
show is worth seeing just the same.
Although the crowd at the California
Theater last night was not large enough
TO cause any inconvenience, those who
attended the performance enjoyed it thor
Oughly. THE Devils Auction" is not a
new play by any means, but in the hands
of the clever people who presented it last
night it has an aspect of newness that ap-
peals TO the audience.
The piece is as grOtesque as ever, and
during the performance many startling
scenic effects are presented. A man,
dog and long step-ladder furnish the
very clever turn is presented. Fox and
FOxie are the names Of the man and the
dog. and both are clever. Amelia Maier-
chorean efforts of the ballet are very
good. Bush and Gordon do an acrobatic
turn that wins great applause and Madge
Terrence. Victoria walters ana Gus Nor
timer are interesting as Carlos, Count
Fortune and Toby.
Mary Mannering will make her first ap-
pearance as a star mere tonight at the
Columbia Theater in Janice Meredith
It is five years since this charming young
woman was seen here, and she will doubt
less be warmly welcomed by the theater-
going contingent during the week. AS the
picturesque heroine of Ford,s stirring
drama Miss Mannering should have an
opportunity to display all her attractive
capacities Her supporting company is
said to be equal to all the emergencies.
The book from which the play has been
ical novels of the day, and the drama is
said to be a faithful adaptation. II. S.
Northrup and Charles Cherry are among
Miss Mannering's support, and the mount
ings of the play are said to be of the best
The play will run two weeks, with special
matinees on Christmas and New Years
days.
The piece de resistance of the Minnie
Seligman engagement at the Grand Opera
house will be put on for the Christmas
in the title role. The star will be well
supported by the Grand Opera-house
stock company. No expense has been
/ shared by the anagement in the staging
and costuming of the piece. An effective
specially in the famous child dancers.
Rose and Jeanette, will be introduced,
7
/ Christmas and New Years days.
! The Tivoli is to the fore in holiday
shows with Little Red Riding Hood. -
/ Ferris Hartman's Christmas eXtrava-
ganza. The piece has caught on with
J Tivoli patrons, and "the prettiest ever is
the verdict all round. The fantasy is full
/ of the fun of the latest minute, with plen-
! girls and dainty children. Ferris Hart
] man, Edward Webb, Harry eastman anC
Annie Meyers supply the fun, and the
pretty girls do the rest. The transforma
ton scene, Mother Goose's Nursery
Rhymes comes in for, high praise from
the children. All the little folks should
see Little Red Riding Hood"
"Charley's Aunt is the Alcazar bill
and the popular farce should prove al
attractive holiday Offering The Alcazal
| the "Charey's Aunt kind of thing Tht
farce will doubtless be among their bes
efforts as funmakers. The piece is cas-
TO the full extent Of the company. Extr;
matinees on Christmas and New Years
days will afford patrons of the popular
house full opportunity to enjoy its comi
calities.
Heavy melodrama with a Christina
favor will reign at the Central Theate
this week with the favorite play 9Th,
Silver King as the bill. There will alst
be a number of good specialties durinl
the evening. The bill will be one of tn,
best in town for the price Matinee ol
Christmas day.
Among the entertainers at Fischer
Concert-hOuse for this week are William
and Earl Irish comedians; Coleman an,
MeXis, the wonderful sharpshooters
whose exhibitions created much interes
here a short time ago; Lamar and Hall
clever singing. and dancing comedians
I Elizabeth Nella, a renowned whistler anC
Leanora Jenkins, the favorite operati
soprano, who will sing bits from 9Th
Geisha.' A special matinee will be give
/ on Christmas.
The new bill which opens at the Chute
to-day includes Deaves' Merry Manikins
Goleman's dogs and cats and Bicknell
comedy clay modeler, all from the Or
pheum; Alma Wutrich, juvenile come
dienne; Dave Lloyd, monologist, and
series Of the latest moving pictures.
Father" said the fair girl, Harold ha