The San Francisco call., 1904-10-11
LORD AND LADY ALGY"
BRINGS NEW PLAYERS
John Craig and Lillian
Lawrence Welcomed
at the AICazar.
Much Ado About Moth
ing" by Greet'S Com
pany Delights.

The new players at the Alcazar-Lil-
Ian Lawrence, the leading lady; John
Craig, the leading man, and Elizabeth
WOodson, the ingenue-were happily
introduced TO the patrons of the house
last night in Lord and Lady Algy."
dropped in in the middle of the second
act to find them already well estab-
hshed in the good graces of the audi
ence. And the audience seemed to
please the players just as well, when
the flowers and yells of their first Cali
tornia welcome went up over the foot
lights.
Lord and Lady Algy,' with its
strengthened types and straightaway
story, serves well as a medium for the
newly cOrralled company. Perhaps il
served particularly well last night At
least il struck one that the part of
Lord AlGy, the loud, good-natured, ag-
gresslFe, hOnest-hearted racing scion
OF the nobility, suited excellently John
Craig's fortnight methods. No less
neatly did the role of Lady Algy seem
10 fit Miss Lillian Lawrence. But you
never can tell
Both players come accredited with
large versatility. and their work last
night shows them both accomplished
actors. Next weeks Way of the
World" a society comedy by Clyde
Fitch TO be first performed here then,
may develop them quite differently and
as handsomely. But very we'll went the
play last night, the new and old mem
bers Of the company mixing like cof-
fee and cream.
The new company. so far as Miss
Lawrence goes, is blonde and hand
some. as blonde and handsome as Adele
Block was brunette and the same. 1t
Is further tall and Of impressive mold.
SuH further ii wears charming gowns.
And throughout her performance the
actress showed the grace and ease Of
the considerable experience that has
been hers. She was. among other
things, be il mentioned, for almost the
whole six years Of its history. leading
lady with the Castle Square stock COM
pany in Boston That the larger part
O. the time was spent with Mr.. Craig
there as leading man goes doubtless
FAR to explain the smoothness of the
ensemble last night. Miss Lawrence's
Lady Algy was dashing, spirited and
thoroughly lizable
Mr.. Craig is very direct in method,
unfalteringly sure of himself and with
any amount Of vim He is truly the
leading man, dominant, even ag-
EreSSlTely so. He possesses a diStinc-
tive stage presence and an exception
ally pleasing voice. and one can under
stand his every word. AS before re-
marked, his Lord Algy was a clever
and convincing portrait. and indeed
Mr. Craigs performance seems to
auEur an ali-around competence.
Miss WoOdsOn had the role of Mrs.
BrabazOn Tudway and rather seemed
10 wish she hadn't. The part suits her
i'll. apparently, and that is a pity, for
Miss WoOdsOn is a very pretty little
person to suit. Better luck next time
as Hans says
The old guard showed up handsome
ly. John 3. Maher in the lead with
z capital and most taking enactment
of the Jockeys role. Harry Hilliard
does juvenile leads better all the time.
this time as Captain Standige, and
George OsbOurne, Harry D. Byers.
Harry McAuliffe and Luke Conners all
help. The house was crowded for the
occasion in spite of the rain. Cloud
bursts couldn't keep the Alcazar
clientele away.
I never regretted more than last
night not being a bird-that I might
be in two places at wanst, as Sir Boyle