The San Francisco call., 1903-12-15
CHASER STARS
DOLLY VARDEN"
Charming Actress Brings An
other City Under Witch
cry of Her Latest Effort
FINE BILL AT ALCAZAR
"Girl | Left Behind Me" Well
Presented at This House.
Scouts Revenge" Central.

Fresh as rose, blithe as a lark, win
some Lulu Glaser last night brought
another town under the witchery of
her Dolly Warden. City after city has
capitulated, and last night as much of
San Francisco as could be got into the
Columbia followed suit. 1t is ten years
since Miss Glaser was here to obsess
the town with If you love me, darling,
tell me with your eyes and Incl
dentally to vile away the center of
the stage from Francis Wilson, who
brought her. Miss Glaser is ten years
younger since then. In ten years more
the philanthropically inclined will
probably be sending the Gerry society
after her manager. In the meantime
she persuades to the righteousness of
another reminiscent Edwards opera,
carries it off in fine triumph.
If Miss Glaser's face was not her for
tune her laugh would be dot enough
How shall one describe its luscious CUR
gle? 1t is like lark's song after rain,
like the small boys laugh when he
isn't found out. One needs only its
captivating ripple and Mr.. Edwards or
any other opera may go hang-as Nor
dica sings But Miss Glaser has much
more to offer. She has a warm, girly
voice that she uses to excellent advan-
tage. and the last man in the gallery
can hear every word she says and sings.
Then this captivating person can act
with a freshness. vivacity, spontaneity
that makes her Dolly Warden one of the
cleverest comedy portraits recently
seen here. Add to this a charming face
and figure and bewitchng repertoire
of gowns, and you have Miss Lulu
Glaser as Dolly Warden.
The part was born for her. Possibly
not by Mr. STANCES fault-or has he
the reminiscent habit of Mr.. Edwards?
the librettist's Indebtedness to Wych-
erley in his THE Country Girl is not
acknowledged. But the plot is the
same, Dolly, lovely country lass un-
der the guardianship of a stern old
party who intends to marry her and
her pot of money" comes up to Lon
DON Here, though she walks abroad
Gagged in a bottomless sedan chair. she
falls in love with a handsome young
London gallant. The story is concerned
Wlln tDe DfOllin6 VI lilC 1ONEAS " Oul-
wit the guardian. AS in the Wycherley
comedy, a second pair of lovers is in
troduced, and TO give Miss Chaser op-
portunity to show her angel ones she
has to wear boys clothes, just as
Peggy does.
From the moment the fascinating
ankles that her lover apostrophises, in
lieu of the eyebrows he has not yet
seen, appear the stage is the dainty
comedienne's. They come tripping un-
der the sedan chair that her guardian
ingeniously uses to hide his country
rose. Then Miss Glaser appears to be-
gin a delightful trio in which the guar
dian, the lover-who loves her for her
ankles alone-and Dolly take part. She
is country girlhood itself, her awkward
ness divine her giggle an inspiration.
One can believe she has just dropped
from an apple tree and that she will
soon tumble UP another. She has a
ridiculous, girlish little sniff that is
adorable a hoyden walk tha. is richly
droll. In all phases of the Part she is
found sufficient, whether defyfng or
coaxing her guardian, making naive
love to Dick or Offering to marry any
one so that "she can go to the play."
She hasn't much in the way Of songs.
which is pity. THE Lay of the Jay
is the only one in fact 1t is good
enough. The trio in which she first
appears. "Twirling, Whirling," is one
of her best numbers. But go TO see her.
Words fail me.
The opera, Mr.. Wyeherley to be
thanked, has a clear plot and attract
i've story that falls in excellently with
the purposes of opera. Some of the
musical setting is distinctly melodious
if reminiscent-better where it is rem
iniscent though one could wish that
The Holy City" had been passed by
as a source of inspiration. Then there
are also good people for the operas
Interpretation besides Miss GIaser.
There is a sprightly and musical cho-
rus, including a smart octet of men
that are up to "Florodora" sextet
standards and the costumes are of the
Iprettiest.
The hero. Richard Bellevlle, is done
by Harry Girard, lean and courtly and
effective, but one has to take his tenor
for granted. John Dunsmuire is good
as Dolly's guardian and has a prom
ising basso that only balks at a deep,
deep C. He sings very pleasantly.
Harold Blake has a pretty tenor and
acts well. Lillian Walbridge, the only
woman of Importance in the cast be-
sides Miss Glaser. is unimportant and
has a trill that should be extracted.
Her song, THE Navy" is the best on
the programme, and Miss Walbridge
has a voice that was here prettily used.
70 T..
dolly Warden" but this sticks: "The
man who marries for money earns it,"
BLANCHE PARTINGTON.
AlcaZar.