The San Francisco call., 1904-09-12
MARTA YERCES
ON THE RISQUE
Florence Roberts New Play
Out-Sapho's Zaza and
Is Close to Border Line
A REAL CHILD ACTRESS
Orpheum Has Some Win
ners, One Being Leo Car
rillo, Who Makes Good

"Sapho" is a tract and "Zaza" a
sermon compared to Marta or the
Lowlands." 1t is the climax of Rob-
erts-Nethersoleism.
There is no disrobing act, no enter
ing of bedroom, but the intimations
are as clear and artistic as bit of
the Decameron. The husband of con-
venience and the hurting to the
ground business, which was also in
"Sapho" and ''Zaza," should have been
enough. Miss Roberts clientele,
who must have a fallen woman, would
have been satisfied with those. Marta
of the Lowlands" gave them more
than enough.
Part of that first scene-those who
were there know what part-waS sug-
gestive of some pages from the paper
covered books that Uncle Sans mail
refuses to handle. A scene in an
open-air bridal chamber-that seems
trifie more than risQue.
Bits of the play were strong, bits of it
were pretty and bits of it bordered on
the melodramatic. Lucien Henderson'S
SO You were going to run away, eh!'
brought back fond memories of Legree
in Uncle Toms Cabin
Hobart Bosworth as the goatherd who
had been picked for the husband of
convenience made the house listen and
look at all times. His simple, giant i'm
personation was a little too simple at
first, but afterward it was wonderful.
The tale is of a tyrannical Spanish
landlord, who has among his yassals
girl Marta. To conceal his passion he
secures a husband Of convenience for
her, Manelich, a goatherd from the
hills. Marta and the husband rebel and
go back to the hills after Manelich has
strangled Sebastian in approved Zola-
esque fashion in the presence of Marta.
Beautiful as bits of the .Sunken
Bell are some of the lines given to
Manelich. L prayed for good wife.
One day L whirled my sling about my
head and the rock fell into the low
lands. l knew then she would come
from the lowlands."
If there is such a thing as child
actress. Ollie Cooper was one last
night. She was the "chee-ild" in
was little automaton with a black
smiths voice. But last night she was
remarkable.
The star was the star of "Sapho"
and "Zaza." Marta gave the same
whine emitted by the other two,
Roberts can do that we'll. 1t caught
the gallery at the California as it did
the upper circle at the Alcazar.
Marta received the beating-was
hurled to the ground by both her
good and her bad lover. All Roberts
heroines are beaten. Strike me-
she implores even as did SaDho, Zaza
and Carmen.
There is enough good in the play
to make something worth while. One
wonders whether the autfor-angel,
Guimera, did it all. Some of those
lines were specially written for Flor
ence Roberts-that is evident. The
star is lust as tumultuous and con-
vincing in the fallen woman as of old.
The Orpheum last night played to its
usual crowded house. The best Of the
new sketches is "The Sailor and the
Horse in which Harry LaRose and
VIII Halliday shine, but the new fea-
lures are not brilliant.
Leo Carrillo, who made his debut last
night under favorable circumstances,
pleased the large audience with his
limitations and showed a great deal of
repose. His work suffers, however, by
the poor sketch in which it is served
up. His encore story was the cleverest
and might be used among his intro
ductory jokes with better result. Mar
ion Bent and Pat Rooney showed to
advantage in some graceful dancing.
Miss Bent was winsome and pleasing
and Rooney is an expert clog dancer.
The remainder Of the new bill is only
fair, but the leftovers from last week
are all good.
If the amusement seeking public is
anxious to enjoy a Juvenile perform
ance the opportunity is afforded it this
week at the Grand Opera-house, where
the musical extravaganZa, Princess
Fan Tan opened yesterday with
the unqualified appreciation of two
very enthusiastic audiences. The
production is an interesting one,
the scenery and costumes be-
ing very picturesque and elaborate and
the cast of children is decidedly the
best The lyrics are bright and catchy
and the dialogue is profuse with clever
witticisms. Eunice Gilman makes
great hit in the title role. The little
miss sings and dances herself into the
good graces of the audience and is law
ishly rewarded in the way of applause
and encores. Marie Nichols is also
very fetching in Prince Co Co and
pleasing feature of the performance.
The ballets, "The Feast of the Chrys-
anthemums," Loves Triumph and
the EARLY Days Of California" are
also deserving of praise. for the host
of children who dance them exhibit a
degree of grace, precision and agility
that would do credit to their elders.
A marvel in Terpsichorean way is
little Jasmine Sidlowski, whose feats
of toe dancing are very creditable to
one of her years. One IS readily i'm
pressed with the freshness Of the chill
dren's voices, which are heard to par
ticular advantage in the choruses.