The San Francisco call., 1904-07-25

If you happen to take in "A Gentle
man of France" this week at the Grand
Opera-house, don't leave until the fifth
scene is over. The imDatiently inclined
will need the tip. Even yesterday aft
ernoons audience, the most leisurely of
the week, swatted protesting fingers at
the long waits. Served hot, the roman
tic drama may persuade; otherwise, it
is about as inviting as cold mutton
gravy. A Gentleman of France" Will
be remembered as the most usual of
romances, with its distressed damsels,
abductions, kings and cavaliers and
wonderful combats. But set jigging on
its way-one, two, three, thrust! one,
two, three, guard,-without pause or
stay, and the hustle and dash carry
the thing. Half-past four yesterday aft
ernoon found "A Gentleman Of France
full fifteen minutes from the end of the
second act.
Given speed the performance would
go. Mr.. Neill has the part of De Mar
sac, and though sleepy to fit the gem
eral pace at first, fires up nobly in the
combat scene. And 'tis a gay combat.
Like the tailor in Grimm's, the hero
kills "seven at a blow" Alone he does
it. That is, not quite alone The hero
inc finished one man with a sort of sofa
cushion and spits another of the
wounded with a borrowed sword. She
has him on end, as on a tOasting fork,
as the scene goes down. But It's good
fight. The house howled joyously as
one spitted villain after another tum-
bled down the staircase. L counted, 1
think, eight curtain recalls for the tri-
umphant De MarSac.
Miss Edythe Chapman is the heroine,
and, as usual, earnest and charming as
Mile. de la Wire. A performance distin-
guished by happy buoyaney and gayety
is Mr.. Bowles' Henry of Navarro, that
is also exceptionally effective from the
picturesque side. John w. Burton is
useful as Flick and Miss Andrews as
Fanchette, and Frances Slosson has a
bright moment The rest fill in without
particular distinction. The play is pret-
tily costumed and well mounted.
BLANCHE PARTINGTON.
Grau may have musical star of
magnitude to present in the person of
Nina David but out here in San Fran
cisco theater- goers will be satisfied
with Edith Decker until somebody bet
ter comes along. She made her initial
performance at the Orpheum last night
and the audience fell in love with her.
WIFI lJO1DClllCO IbuooO VI lOA 4lNOlL
fame and Signor Abramoff she ap-
peared in the prison scene from
Faust"
Nobody could get enough of her and
she was compelled to answer three en-
cores and bow and bow again in re-
sponse to the thunderous applause. She
sings with wonderful clarity and sweet
ness. In addition she is beautiful and
possesses an amazing amount of mag
netism. She was happy over her re-
ception and the audience was glad to
see and hear her. Russo as Faust and
Abramoff as Mephistoples, respectively,
sang splendidly and contributed their
full share to Miss Decker's triumph.
Another tremendous hit in another
line was made by "Charmion,' a pi-
quaint trapeze performer, who does a
somewhat daring disrobing act in the
beginning and then twists and twirls on
the bar in an extraordinarily graceful
adept series of stunts. Evans. Cunning
ham. Jenny and Roland, the Empire
Comedy Four, made much laughter and
sang some catchy songs. Marcus and
Cartel, in an original act on roller
skates, were well received. These fur
nished the four new numbers on the
bill.
Rose Coghlan presented new
sketch. entitled THE Ace of Trumps.' -
written by Frank A. Ferguson. Both