The San Francisco call., 1904-04-19

Francisco, received last night an I'M
portant reinforcement to it's show
places in the new Majestic Theater,
thrown open to the public last evening,
with The Crisis as the initial attrac-
ton The house-warming was perhaps
a little premature, but Manager Bish-
ops heroic efforts to get the house into
shape for its promised opening were
warmly complimented on all hands.
The foyer handsome and spacious, IS
still in the lath and plasterf stage, but
palms and huckleberry hide its def
ciencies. The concrete foundation Of
the floors is yet covered only with
cheesecloth, and the walls are still Of
the plaster tints. But the large audi
ence gathered last night found only
admiration for the varied beauties Of
the new theater and a practical reas-
surance of its safety in the evidence
offered by the exposed materials of the
theater's construction.
The theater promises to be one Of
the prettiest in town, with its spacious
orchestra and two graceful balconies.
They have been lucky with the
acoustics, too. every seat in the house
offering good hearing. and also an ex-
celIent view of the stage Not urlim-
portantIy the seats themselves are as
comfortable as they make them. Par
ticularly effective, too. are the lighting
ARRANGEMENTS, and throughout the COM
fort. convenience and safety of the
patrons of the theater seem to have
been lavishly consulted.
The audience had plenty Of time to
take in these things before the curtain
went up to disclose Mayor Schmitz,
who dedicated the new temple of the
drama. At $50 o'clock the iron
curtain lifted TO disclose a handsome
drop" with running brooks and for
est shade. Then the orchestra, headed
by Gustave Hinrichs, and sunk below
the level of the audience la Bey-
reuth. gave the prelude. The second
curtain then rose TO disclose a pair in
red velvet with the Isabel Irving
legend upon them, and these parted to
discover Mayor Schmitz, solus, in
garden scene
1T is strange, yet not so strange
considering my long acquaintance with
the profession daughter and cheers)
that l should have been chosen to
dedicate this temple or the drama,
Mayor Schnnitz decided, then hoped
that the theater would always deserve
it's name. Majestic" and assuring it
of patronage in the name of the San
Francisco public if such patronage were
deserved, gallantly introduced Miss
Irving. in whose fair hands was the
important function of christening the
new theater. Miss Irving was equally
successful in her role, though charm
ingly nervous. She came almost shyly
bed Of California poppies arranged
there. and with the simple words, Il
christen thee Majestic broke the bap-
tismal Mumm over the prows Of the
new theater And it. was all over.
There were still some delays then
before the play began. refractory
light with two electricians and a ladder
playing star parts And then the
house was fiash-lighted and photo
graphed. and after that THE Crisis"
That The Crisis" began to interest
Immediately on its own merits speaks
very well for it and, indeed, Mr.
Churchill has made a neat, compact,
clear and thoroughly interesting little
play from his book. The situations are
familiar. the characters familiar the
incidents even familiar, but they are
freshly treated and hung together in
deft and convincing fashion, and Mr.
ChurchilIs dialogue is unusually happy
AS Virginia Carvel, Miss Irving stars
in very winsome fashion. She has
sufficient Southern tinge in her ac-
cent, and brings a charming gayety
and girlishness to the role. She has
spirit, too, and looks the part most
fetchingly.
The supporting company is unusual
" adequate Wilfred North as Stephen
Brice is a gentlemanly and hand
some hero, gifted moreover with the
pleasantest of voices. Thomas A. Hall
as the Iovable and fire-eating Colonel
Carvel is thoroughly convincing, and
Charles Lamb as his abolitionist crony
Judge Whipple, is very competent and
characteristic. Jacques Martin does a
clever character sketch in his Clipha-
let Hopper, and the rest fill in with
all needful variety.
Play and players will alike be en-
joyed. The story is sweet and fresh,
the war favor-the story is Of Civil
War times-not too rampant, and the
people all those one would enjoy
meeting. In fact, the opening of the
Majestic is in every way auspicious.
BLANCHE PARTINGTON.