The San Francisco call., 1901-12-17

III square inch in Little Red Riding
Hood" the Tivolfs new Christmas
II extravaganza, sampled last night,
than in any other little thing that
Ferris Hartman has dashed off, And
that's saying a good deal.
1t was the return Of the house folks last
night, as well as the occasion of the open
ing of the Christmas show, and they
seemed to be just as glad to be back as
are to have them. Most of the fa-
miliar faces were to be seen-Annie My
ers. trim and roguish as ever; Edward
Webb the old reliable; the tuneful Ar
thur Cunningham, the ever beautiful Har-
ry eastman and Ferris Hartman, the one
and only, among them. There are new
faces, too. Florence Chapman, a San
francisco girl, who has been with the
Southwell Opera Company for some time,
Is a decided acquisition and makes a
fetching picture as Little Red Riding
Hood OlIve Uirich is another pretty girl
that has been gathered in, who shows
aptness and charm in her role of Miss
queen, has been seen and heard before as
Media curing the grand opera season,
and is much more in her element in the
SpangleS OF fairy queen than as Media
+ or the rest, the chorus has been very
considerably enlarged, and tiny army
of small folks add quaintness and pref
hness to the scene. There are some un-
usually dainty ballets, plenty of good
songs for everybody and a host of spe-
cialties of the brightest. The snow ballet
with its snowclao girls and whte-garbed
children, is particularly pretty, but it is
only one out of number equally effec-
tive.
Hartman has a role that fits him to a
dot as King Fire Fly. later Simple Simon,
and from the moment of his picturesque
entrance on an airShip keeps the laugh
going until the close. He sings one of the
FUNNIEST of the Eddie Foy songs, I'm
Tired. in a fashion to convulse dead
Scotehman. and others of his songs,
t5a They s.. Gave Me ,si Medal for That and
speare Comes to Town. fully fill the bill,
and were encored until the Tivolis hemi-
mi-semi-barytone' voice broke. Webb
Is also fitted congenially with his part of
the Baron Rubberneck. and his pleasing
voice and Sprightly, happy humor help
things along amazingly. But Arthur Cum
ningham has the voice of the crowd and
he uses il with fine swing in his one
good song, The Mermaid" There ought
to be more of him. more particularly as he
since his last appearance. Harry Cash
man is Granny Hood who gets all. and
maybe somewhat more than is best to get
out of the part. 1t is a little-just a shade
more vulgar than funny.
Annie Myers is Boy Blue and as piquant
as ever in the part, She Is the only
woman In the company who makes any
pretense of singing. Her voice is fresh
and bright, and every word of her songs
again in the conductors chair. and the
4
handled with all his customary smartness.
Some of the music is uncommonly good,
too. Then there's the Transformation
scene, in which Mr. McGreer has outdone
himself, and all in all, Little Red Riding
Hood is much the best Christmas pro-
duction that the Tivoli has ever put on.
A1cazar.
There is plenty of snap and fun in the
farce comedy. THE Gay Mr. Lightfoot,'
presented at the AlcaZar Theater. II is
from the pen of Louis de Lange and Lee
Arthur and had long and successful run
in New York. There are numerous COM
pltcations caused by two friends, Mr..
Lightfoot and Mr.. Jerome, assuming each
others names for night and a day. Two
pretty love tales run through the piece
and TIE Jim, Indian, and old maid
help materially to get things mixed up,
final act. Frank Bacon, as Mr.. Lightfoot,
has q part that admirably suits his genial
humor and he makes the most of it. M:
L. Alsop his friend, Mr.. Jerome, has
also cOngenial part and plays it with
his usual manliness. Henry Shumer, a
Government agent in pursuit of TIE Jim,
the Indian bigamist, and who falls In
love with Mr.. Lightfoot's niece, is also
Well suited to the role Howard Scott
plays the Indian with his usual care.
Miss Marion Convere, a widow with a
thorough knowledge of men but who falls
q prey to the persistent love making of
Mr.. Jerome, is very charming, and the
same can be said of Miss Margaret Wych-
erly Miss Helen, LghtfOOt'S niece.
Miss Juliet Crosby made a hit as Miss
Opie an old maid very much in love, and
Miss Marie Howe was in her element as
Mrs. Lightfoot. the jealous WIFE, The
play should have a successful run.