The San Francisco call., 1904-09-06
KYRLE BELLEW
CLEVER THIEF
Stars i'm '.RaffieS" and Wins
a Triumph as the Smooth
and GentIemanlike Villain
HOLLAND A GOOD FOIL
Capital Company Produces
Well Constructed Drama
at the Columbia Theater

The unco guild will be forced to
turn their toes only toward the Cen
trail if they are to keep them from. be-
ing stepped-stamped on. Last night
an unregenerate crowd filed out of the
Columbia. grinning its hardest at the
escape of a convicted thief. Kyrle
Bellew was the thief, yclept Raffies,
the amateur cracksman, in the play
of the name.
"Raff1es'' is significant, one more
straw in the direction of the unre-
specta BILE hero. He has been long out
moded. but the Dick Turpins and
George Barnwells were long the dar-
lings of the people. Possibly Robin
Hood, gallant scamp, was the first to
reappear in polite society. We had
him at the Tivoli a few weeks ago.
Wilton Mr.. Sothern resuscitated last
year But these delightful thieves had
the glamor of distance around them.
The pirate of to-day was not drama
tized from the pirates point of view.
The colored glasses of romance were
not held up his way. But We are al
tering all that-in Columbia circles.
Even with the ladies. The immortal
Nancy of I'm the Bishops Carriage"
will soon be seen picking and steal
ing for our pleasure. Worse. Ar
mold DAILY promises Mrs. Warren an
early chance to expound her 'profes-
sion" But we have here already a
"Raff1es," which is our present busi-
ness.
Perhaps society melodrama" best
describes the play. As every one knows
il hinges upon the theft of a diamond
necklace by Raffles, q man of apparent
wealth. moving in the best society.
and without seeming motive for
theft. In fact his motive is left
IN the air so far as the play goes. He
himself alleges sport" as his reason.
but confesses also to an overwhelming
desire. to- steal. Kleptomania is sug
gested but not proved. Raff1es NOR
alizes at length upon his soft spot,
as Joseph Conrad calls it, making,
therefore, not altogether convincing
plea for sympathy. Otherwise he is
likable. gentlemanly and in the end
even the detective that has run him
down says at his escape: I'm 'gladi"
That is what we were grinning at as
! we came out of the Columbia last
night. -
AS play "Raff1es'' is we'll made
talky in parts. but with mostly fasci-
| nati3n in the colloquies-the talk be-
| tween .Raffles and the detective or
! crime. for, example-that makes then
| go. 1t has not the supreme snap
/ lightning. action, neart-Stopplng SuS-
! pense of p a Sherlock Holiness" but i:
! quite exciting enough. The love interest
again is more plausible and more ar
| integral part of the play.
Mr.. sBellew has the part of Raff1es, as
! before said. Like Robin Hood Raffies
1 steals only from the rich. but unlike
Robin Hood he steals mostly from hi;
! friends. 1t is not therefore easy wholly
to sympathize with him. Still, in {
! hunt ones sympathies run to th'
hunted. and Mr.. Bellew eminently help:
them that way. 1t is very suave
playful person that he shows us, cool
resourceful, and also quite theatrical il
makeup. Possibly Mr.. Bellew Is a lit
tie too .theatric at times.
Perhaps, however he intends to b'
theatric; but one would forgive a keen
/ er flavor of sincerity, say, in his frs
/ love scene. Rather sometimes thi!
! famous Romeo seems asking himself
20. wherefore art thou. Raffles?" Thes,
are only moments. however; the res
is most finished. deft, almost coquet
tishly arch viIlainy-if one may cal
| this spade spade.
E. NJ. Hollands Captain Bedford is q
! delightful foil. 1t is so excellent in tha'
lit recalls not at all that other keeT