The San Francisco call., 1904-02-07

portray, Roma, is perforce placed in
some rather strained situations. My
effort is to make Roma appear nat
ural always and when you remember
some of those situations you will
acknowledge that my task is not an
easy one How we'll l succeed in
maintaining her consistency only
those who witness the performance
can Judge We actors cannot see our
selves as others see us, you know"
You succeed so well that Roma
stands out a true figure in an artificial
environment, like a genuine brilliant
in a papier mache setting"
"She does not appear incongruous,
/ hope?"
mo; she merely accentuates the in
congruity of the sham setting"
Thank you,Y said Miss Truax
Now can you explain why San Fran
cisco takes less kindly to The Eternal
City than has any other big city we
have played in?"
1 thought The Eternal City" had
made the proverbial financial and
artistic hit" in San Francisco and
told her so.
IF you think that" said Miss Tru-
ak. you ought to have seen the great
business and enthusiasm that reward
ed us in New York and Chicago
Perhaps" 1 deploringly conjec-
tured, .'the play IS too heavy draft
on our intellectual resources.
Nothing of the sort" was the
prompt and emphatic contradiction.
'I know that San Francisco's intellec-
tuaIity will compare favorably with
fhn Init
States"
Including Boston,"
Excluding nothing; and know also
that The Eternal City is not too pro-
found of motive nor too complex Of
plot for any ordinary intellect to COM
prehend. AS for the acting, l need
only state that Mr.. Bangs and 1 are
the only members of the present COM
pany who were not in the original cast.
The play, as 1 have said. is a magnif-
cent melodrama with superb musical
accompaniment by one of the greatest
modern composers. Why, then, should
it find San Francisco comparatively un-
appreciative?"
1 thought of several possible reasons
before 1 advanced any. The location
of the California Theater might have
something to do with it, or the quality
of the average offering at that play
house might be partly responsible.
I'VE succeeded The Fatal Wedding
at the California, and 1 understand we
are to be succeeded by Murray and
Mack" said Miss Truax, musingly;
"but even being sandwiched like that
does not fully clear up the mystery"
Then the artist Clipped in. He re-
marked that several years ago e. j.
Morgan, now featured on the posters
and in the newspapers as the main
squeeze" of the Hall Caine play, had
strutted with Tim Frawley to popular
prices in a theater south of Market
street-and mightn't that fact wholly
or in part solve the problem? If the
query was heard by the lady she ap-
parently did not deem it entitled to
consideration, for she quickly said:
'It does seem queer that the syndi-
cate-the shrewd far-seeing syndicate
should have placed The Eternal City
in the California and filled in time at
the Columbia with musical comedy.
In other cities the attractions that ap-
peal to culture and dignity are always
booked for the theater that processes to
cater to culture and dignity"
Then we drifted into discussion of
stars that have stayed and stars that
have waned. The extinguishment of so
many new stellar lights this season
was charitably criticized by Miss
Truax.
1T has been an unprecedentedly dis
astrous season for all sorts of amuse
ment enterprises" she said, "and the
fa have hriaf1V
fickered and then expired is not accept
able as proof of their inability to blaze
under ordinary conditions. believe
that the basic cause of the slump in
theatricals lies somewhere in Wall
street, but / am not enough of tinan-
cier to detect it's exact location. The
Chicago holocaust did not tend to
avert the collapse and overproduction
of worthless attractions certainly
helped it,
Have you ever tried starring?" 1
asked.
.'Oh. dear, yes For two consecutive
weeks l played the title part of Lady
Godiya' in New York, and the the
ater was packed at every perform
ance. Previously made contracts that
could rot be Cancelled then compelled
th,. house management 10 ouSt US,
and we found that the play was too
big a thing to bring profits on the
road. 1t was a great spectacular pro-
duction, with many historical char
acters."
Vas Peeping Tt ;.---.ong them?"
''He wls merely suggested
"And the lady's ride through Co
ventry town.?
Miss Truax hesitated. The artist
perxed up and evinced professional in
terest.
II saw a picture once" he began,
"and the ladys hair was her only
COW
Much of the actucl story was sug
gested,'' Miss Truax hastily exclaim-
ed: "but the entire production was
beautiful"
1T ought to go well nowadays, while
the popular taste is running to the
the spectacular" / stammered.