The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-27
RUSSIAN COMEDY
FULL OF THRILLS
by Right of Sword" at the
California Cleverly Com
bineS Fun and Excitement
AB0UNDS IN ROMANCE
Ralph Stuart as the Hero
Performs PrOdigies of Val
or in the Land of the Gar

At last the new thing in plays, the
comedy Russian. or rather the Rus
sian in comedy. He is appearing in
by Right of Sword" a melodramatic
comedy presented by Ralph Stuart at
the California this week. One finds the
new order of things rather refresh
ing, If somewhat irreverent Neither
does one mind it's being not wholly
credible. There is a shy sort of sat
isfaction, vicarious revenge on the
terrible Tartar of the snow-soaked
drama we have so long sat under, in
BY Right of Sword" Not that there
is not hint of Siberia among the per-
lis of the hero, lively duel, and frank
fuss about some secret police machina-
tions. But these things wear a rather
good natured than strenuous air, ex-
cept in the Illustration of the very up
to-date and thrilling attempt upon the
Cars life.
The comedy comes in in the atti-
tude of the wonderful American hero,
Richard Hamilton, who, in the first
act, DISCUSSES himself as the Russian
heroine's brother and is conf1djngly
accepted as such by the whole popula-
ton of the play. Hamilton lets him
self in for all sorts of things by reason
of the disguise-from intrigue, nihil-
ism, to the name of Alexis Petrovitch.
Accept the possibility of the disguise,
however, and you will have good
time with by Right of Sword" In
deed one can simply walIow in the con-
fusion of the skis" and witches by
the American, who walks away with
all the honors of war while smoking a
cigar. He saves the life of the Car
and ''jollies" the villain with equal ur-
banity. Even the solemn Judge, who
is to sentence him to death, is poked
in the ribs with his infinite jest.
There is plenty of other fun and
thrill or two. The scene in the OBJ
servatory, where the imported German
anarchist turns on an electric switch
to derail the Cars train, is excellent
good melodrama. Nor do 1 remember.
a prettier fight than the sword play of
the second act. But there is not a dull
moment in the comedy. If the villain
is not on deck there is the adventures,
both of the best old kind, with secret
police, military gentlemen, a rafting
good comedy valet, q plausible an
archist, a sugar and spice ingenue, all
doing things to amuse. And the
scenery is worthy of the somewhat
chromographic splendor of the play.
Ralph Stuart, who is pleasantly re-
membered from Republic days, is the
hero. He will be recalled as more Of
the romantic actor than a comedian,
and though he plays his part here with
spirit and notable sang-froid, his
comedy, from a not entire tempera-
mental accord with the genre, be-
comes sometimes slightly farcical. 1
do not think, for example, that the
playrights three. Mrs. Charles Dore-
mus, Leonidas Westervelt and A. w.
Marchmont, would object to Mr..
Stuart's showing a slight seriousness
in the courtroom scene. The entire alb
sence of it conduces to not wholly
desirable mirth. But it is a dashing
and virile representation and Mr..
Stuart makes a very personable picture
and his fencing scene is worth seeing
in itself.
The company in support is reasonably
good. Aft Helton a a cockney valet is
capital; Frank H. La Rue furnishes a
melodramatic villain with a melodra-
matte outfit; Martha Mayo. Cali
fornia girl. is the fair adventures.
BLANCHE PARTINGTON.