The San Francisco call., 1903-01-05
HELENA TOUCHES
TIPTOP NOTES
Gifted Singer at the
Orpheum Has Var
ious Qualities.
Plays Of Merit Are Billed
for Week at Local
Theaters.

II is a question whether it be more
difficult to touch a tall. silver top-story
r. or 70 maintain bravely against a whole
srchestra a note quarter OF a tone lower
lhap the one IL persists in giving. Miss
Edith Helena, the steeple-noted wonder
at the OrpheUm this week. can do both
she shakes out a hatfuI Of high rs, clear
3s a whistle, and as easily as lark sings,
and again In the Last Rose Of Summer"
bits a final note sinfully fat. with the
unconsciousness Of an amiable canary.
There is no doubt about the height Of
her t0p-st1ry notes, nor about them be-
ing notes ana not simply shrieks Il is
sweet tenuous. celestial thread of a
sound that is ike nothing az all else, that
touches nerves Of sound hitherto un-
touched. ana that is worth hearing for
itself alone.
For the rest Miss Helena has only
o vSgUe ideas OF what 10 DO with her voice
that throughout is sweet, pure and very
flexible. Il is voice on ice, the singers
heart never reaching her throat. and is
further amateurish in its use. Her imita-
lions OF the violin tone-she gives the
-'C4valleria' intermezzo a Ia violin-are
. extremely clever and Miss Helena has
also very engaging personality
y. Cressy and Blanche Dayne have an
entirely charming little sketch from Afr.
lrossy-s pen, entitled A village Lawyer
ful OF clean, sturdy humOr and excellent
ly acted. Tom Nawn presents a genuine
novelty IN an Arabian nights sort of af-
fair. Pat and the Genil," in which an
lrishman OF ali work uncorks an ancient
genu jar. Mr. Nawn as Pat and q beau
ufuL almOnd-eyed Egypuan-looking girl
as the geniL with three other good peo-
pie, set much picturesque fun out OF the
sketch The marvellous Ldvingstons are
acr0hats Of the best and MCINTYRE and
Heath. Wood and Bates and the four
Earganis complete the programme.
GUISARD.
Frank Daniels win get a welcome TO-
night for himself alone at the Columbia
whatever Miss Simplicity may turn out
20 be II is now two years since the
popular comedian gilded the coast, and
there is a strong Daniels hunger begin
ming 10 make itself felt. Miss Simple
ir5, on its musical side, is by q new man
Harry Lawson Hearty, the librettO being
originated by r. A. Barnet, who built
that Of 1872
The story concerns itself with one Of
those pocket monarchies lately 50 popu-
lar, Of which Frank Daniels, promoted
from d trolley virtuoso TO the Kings
valet is compelled TO become King he is
waxing the Kings mustache, and better
az either than at the King business. But
~ viii be understood that the resulting
complications are funny enough TO make
them good musical comedy.
Mr.. Daniels may be relied upon for good
comedians. a handsome chorus and a pro-
ducuOn as smart as they make them.
Grace orr Myers. the pretty and clever
daughter Of Annie Myers. the TiYoh SOU
Drette-whO looks young enough to be
her own daughter-has the chief role and
kate TART is also prominent in the cast.
mere VIII be very large house to greet
them.
The Alcazar this week returns to COM
coy, after its successful and hilarious ad-
venture into farce Of the holiday season.
They put on tonight The Case Of Re
belliOus Susan Henry Arthur Jones'
clever comedy, in which social problems
are discussed without any arrogation on
The author S part Of playing Providence.
He gives the play, and the audience finds
its own mOral-that is as various as there
are people IN the audience. The rebel
lious Susan is a handsome young woman
who finds her husband making love TO
another woman. though at the same
ume-with the cathOlicity Of his sex-be-
ing deeply in love with his own wife
Susan naturally resents this. and leaves
him, travelling 10 Egypt in company with
q H..
Here she herself falls in love with a senti-
mental and bes utiful young man named
EdensOn-Just how deeply Mr.. Jones
leaves IL 10 his audience TO imagine She
returns home 70 London TO her uncle's
fSir Richard kato) house Kato tries
10 persuade her 10 see her husband in
order 70 patch up a reconciliation, and al
length effects this, when he learns that
Ede-son has married a girl whom he met
Immediately after his dismissal TO eternal
loneliness by Lady Susan. Then husband
and wife are brought together. and on
the basis Of mutual refusal TO confess
their peccadiliOs 10 each other, begin
tseir lives again. juliet Crosby will be
Lacy Susan and Ernest Hastings Sir
Richard Kato. The play will be finely
staged and has been elaborateIy re-
hearsed.
That old-time favorite ''Yon Yonson."
opened before a packed house at the Cali
fsrnia Theater last night. Proba bly, every
man. woman and child in the audience
had seen the comedy-drama al least cnce
before. but 81 is doubtful ii any of them
ever before enjoyed il as much as they
lid last night. A strong cast and excel
.eut stage effects succeeded IN making
Ton Eonson" favorite here once again
Nelse Erickson as Yon Yonson created
a big impression the moment he came on
The stage for the first time. and when.
in the last act, he sang some clever paro-
dies on popular songs the applause Of the
audience knew no bounds. Erickson's 6
swedish dialect is as near perfect as an
imitation could possibly be, and the
funny things that Yon does during the
.hree acts are carried out TO perfection by
le clever actor
Miss Florence Gear. as Grace Jennings.
he heroine. made p big hif. and Miss
-alu Rosa as Jennie Morris. Yon's sweet
neart, gave 4 few clever speciaIties be
sloes acting her part well Faixfus Cros-
py as the English tourist. Louisa JEFF
ines as his nephew, and Harry =. Roche