The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-26
GRAND BILL
IS PLEASING
"York State Folks" Proves
Attractive Play at the
City's Large Playhouse
ORPHEUM SHOW is GOOD
Clever Young Performers
Entertain Large Audience
at Noted Variety Theater

In york State Folks" at the Grand
Opera-house this week they are chief
ly occupied in remembering he's his
father" Father doesn't deserve it.
He is the boss curmudgeon of Mar
tinsville, as well as its leading wagon
maker. He insults the whole popula-
ton, from his wife down, and when
his son rebels they have nothing to say
but remember he's your father
Needless to say, the play is not by
George Bernard Shaw. While one is
about it York State Folks" claims to
be pastoral play and is by Arthur
Sidman.
AS we were saying, however, the son
rebels. In spite of all temptations he
decides to forget fathers parental
achievements and leave 'ome. Father
tears up the shavings in the third act
and shows him the door. But it all
comes out right in the end, though
not at all according to the parental
gospels of G. B. Shaw-among which
is the extraordinary doctrine that a
father owes at least as much courtesy
to his offspring rs to his barber. The
trouble with Simon Peter Martins son
is that he has fallen in love with Simon
Peters friend, the enemy's niece.
Gwen she tells him TO remember he's
his father.") But Martin Jr. has
gambled and involved the good old
uncle. Papa does not know this.
UNCLE KEEPS THE SECRET.
After all uncle is the leading man.
He is sort of Sol Smith Russell. James
Herne-like figure, and but for his ag-
gravating habit of forgivin' Simon Pc
fer rathar Iowa hlp OorSon The
of the characters are bravely tradition
al and the slight thread of the story
heavily obscured by homogeneous, but
sometimes engaging, incident. At
times the dialogue is quaint and hu-
man and the play mildly amusing.
OF the performance last night 1t is
not wholly fair to judge. They have
the Sunday matinee fashion at the
Grand Opera-house and yesterday af-
ternoon York State Folks arrived
minus the scenery. Half past 2 o'clock
brought out an explanatory press
agent. Money back was generously Of
fered the disconnected and the orches- |
ira worked overtime to amuse the rest |
By $3.50 the audience was inviting one
another to pink teas and at 1886 the |
curtain went up. 1t went down round |
about Z o'clock. after fusillade of in |
quiries at the box office for the miss !
ing.
circumstances,
ed, were not wholly happy, but the per- |
Torrance last night was perhaps less !
joyful. 1t suggested irreverentlv that |
the plentiful shavings of the third act |
had been literally employed in the |
cast Barring the uncle Ray L. Royce, |
Simon Peter. James Lackaye, Osborne /
Searle, Frances Young and perhaps |
Eleanor Sidman, the figures are all /
stuffed. Ray l.. Royce pleases as the |
uncle, in a gentle, drawly. sententious
fashion, something like our old friend /
Frank Bacon. You can hear what he /
has to say, which is more than can
even generously be said of Mr. Lack |
aye. Still, Lackaye seems compare |
lively with the res) alive. and Miss !
Young is natural and pleasing as the |
Widow Miller. Osborne Searle and !
Eleanor Sidman have one minute of /
pretty love-making. The rest of the !
York State Folks are only shadow |
The scenery was worth waiting for, by |
the way.
BLANCHE PARTINGTON.
The stars of yesterdays bill at the |
Orpheum came on just before the pict-
ures and the rush for fresh air. They |
are Urbani and Son, phenomenal Eu- !
ropean athletes" Urbani is the ath-
lete and the son is the phenomenon. !
Think of a little fellow just about the :
spanking size who can carry his husky
parent on his shoulders and balance
him on his hands. That's what Ur- /
bani's son does
The two Pucks, boy and a girl, got
the glad hand right. from the start
The boy has good, clear voice and the
girl was really clever. She gave some
limitations of Harry lie Claire's imita- ]
lions. Mrs. Rosenbaum. in the Great
Diamond Robbery" was the remark
able mimicry. Her lone joke, We only !
get 10 a week and cakes for this" was
given with the sang froid of veteran :
John P Kennedy and Carrie Reynolds
did some eccentric dancing. interspers- :
ed with new songs and moderately new
gags. The Carrie half of the team is
pretty and graceful. James, in a mes !
senger boy uniform. and Bonnie in very
little pinafore and very much black /
stocking also danced and sang. The
new series of motion pictures showed
how many tricks can be played with