The San Francisco call., 1904-02-08
OLD FAVORITES
At CALIFORNIA
Murray and Mack Present "a
Night on Broadway" and
Please a Crowded House
NEW ACTS AT ORPHEUM.
Revised Bill Introduces Some
Novelties = First Sunday
Popular Concert a Success

Murray and Mack presented their
latest absurdity, "a Night on Broad
way" to as many people as could be
seated in the California Theater last
evening The unanimous verdict OF
those present, expressed in frequent
laughter and applause, was that no
better entertainment Of its kind has
been offered for similar prices In this
city this season.
The programme announces that the
book of "A Night on Broadway was
written by one Campbell and one Skin
ner, but it is plainly evident that the
piece was mostly built piecemeal by the
persons on the stage. If 1T ever had
anything resembling a plot. all trace
of that feature is now lost in the con-
glomeration of nonsense subscribed by
the comedians. The music is lively,
but unmarked by originality The
staging is very good for road snow.
The chorus is neither numerically I'M
mense nor remarkably strong in per-
sonal charms. but it sings Loudly ana
with precision and it's costumes are
many, much varied and mostly hand
some and there are several clever peo-
pie besides the stars.
Bobby North, a Hebrew impersona-
tor talks, walks and sings la Barney
Bernard and with more experience he
may become a dangerous rival OF that
former local favorite. Then there is
statuesque blonde billed as Miss Ger
trude Rutledge, who sings well, reads
her lines clearly and shows consider
able dramatic worth. Miss Kitty Beck,
a hard-working soubrette, also wins
favor, and the LIE Velles, dancers, pre-
sent a speciality that is at once unique
and clever. That about exhausts the
list of subordinates entitled to special
mention.
Murray and Mack pursue the same
laugh fetching tactics that they nave
been following for ever so many years,
and age does not seem to wither nor
time appear to decay their popularity
with the upper tiers.
"A Night on Broadway is on for the
week
The verdict of the Orpheum audience
last night was that each act on the
bill was we'll done. The show is COM
bination of clever talent and good
stunts, which puts it near the front on
the list of vaudeville collections.
Billy B. Van and Rose Beaumont
open in very lively comedy sketch,
MY Busy Day" Van is not the Billy
Van, the assassin of sorrow of Hav-
erly minstrel fame but he is equally
as good and his work is just as clever.
Van does the part of an Irish office
boy to the Hon. B. B. Blackstone,
attorney at law, with a sparkle and a
whirl Acting as an adviser during the
absence of his employer he finds op-
portunity to display remarkable inge-
nuity In comedy lines, and when his
first client, in the person of Miss Beau
mont, arrived for consultation concern
ing a divorce the farce becomes thor
ough.
John T. Thorne and Grace Carleton,
on the programme as "the American
TESTERS" offer an excellent dialogue.
Their witty passes are all new. Rice
and Elmer make a hit as comedy gym
nasts in "A Rube's First Visit to Chi
natown." One in the character of a
farmer and the other disguised as a
heaten laundryman make their en-
trance with mirthful banter and then
commence business on horizontal bars.
George r. Snyder and Harry Buckley
come back to the city in musical act,
"Blatz Wants a Drink" and receive a
warm welcome. They are thorough
musicians and during the internissions
between their musical turns find oc-
casion for interesting comedy. Stuart
Barnes. the Two Silvas. Robertus and
Wilfredo and Monroe, Mack and Law
renee are holdovers. A moving picture,
that of train robbery, proves an at
traction.
The first Sunday afternoon concert
by the Kopta Quartet and Mrs. Oscar
Mansfeldt at Lyric Hall yesterday
drew a large audience and the indica-
tions are that the new idea is likely to
become very popular.
Kopta achieved triumph with the
Concert Polonaise," by Lamb, and
Nesvera's Eklogue. Mrs. Mansfeldt
sang delightfully."- and the strong quar-
tet was enthusiastically applauded for
each of it's numbers.
The second concert will be given
next Sunday afternoon. Manager Will
L. Greenbaum is the originator of these
entertainments in San Francisco