The San Francisco call., 1905-01-31
DAVIS DICTATOR"
FITS COLLIER WELL
(reatore Band Scores Great Triumph
The Gay Lord Quex" at the Alcazar
PLAYED With Snap and Finish.

New York is Willie Golfers dog-at
least he never tries things on US. Inc
dog is credited with much patience
last season. Mr.. Collier is said 10 nave
tried much would-be farce upon II
until he reached "The Dictator" Inc
Dictator" reached us last night. Goth-
am decided it was good enough for Mr.
Collier. and Mr.. Collier decided 1t was
good enough for us. 1t is. The DC
tator" is good enough for any one. IL
arrived here by way of the Columola
last night, and the house full OF lausn-
hunters bagged big game.
Those that saw THE Tanning OF
Helen would never guess VINO wrote
1.-The Dictator" Richard Harding Ia
Wis out of his tuxedo is both a human
and delightfully."- funny person; Ineae
is not touch of the painful PINK Tea
ness of 1.-The Tanning Of Helen In the
Davis of 1.-THE DICTATOR" not smack
of reminder of that amiable but won
derfully artificial person. Mr.. DAVIS
here gets down to fun, sheer, up-to-tne
minute fun OF the best, and thoroughly
original. 1t is essentially Willie Col
lier's kind of fun. The playwright mas
fitted Mr.. Collier with a role for Whlcn
the actor shows every sign of graft
tude; the rest Of the gratitude is ours
for the farce.
What Mr.. Collier has to do Is exactly
what he does so delightfully."-. He Is
Brooke Travers In the farce, an aver
age rich New Yorker, who, believing
that he has murdered a cabman, nees
to South America with his valet. We
find him first on the steamer, just be-
fore it's landing in Porto Banos. one
OF his fellow passengers is Colonei
r7
who Is going to Porto Banos as the
American Consul. Trayers buys the
consulship and incidentally an able
bodied revolution, an impassioned love
Of other days and a few other trifies
from Bowie. The next act finds Trav-
ers among them. and in the midst OF
the facile tarradiddling In which Mr..
Collier Is at his funniest.
One hardly knows just where the
actor was most engaging. His scene OF
introduction to the newest Governor,
a terrifically bewhiskered person with
small respect for consuls and things,
is distinctly hilarious, and Mr.. Collier,
hand thrust in the bosom of his coat,
Abraham Lincoln wise, picture not TO
be forgotten. One likes him again con-
fronted with the tropical former love
of Colonel Bowie, who has. however,
transferred her affections to mis-
sionary One likes him when ne 1s
buying up the soldiers at thirty cents
apiece and in fact, one likes Mr.. Col
lier through all the highly ingenious
stuff Mr.. Davis gives him to do. He IS
essentially the practical, matter-ol-
fact New Yorker. plunged into a deli
ciously incongruOus romance, and his
work is still the deftest, neatest, smart
est of farce-comedy.
Travers is not the only well-made
figure In the piece. Indeed. Its dozen
or so all stand on their own legs. Nor
could they be better acted than by Mr.. |
Golfers company. Travers' valet, who |
has only less to do than Travers, is
who gets a most entertaining mixture |
of servility and cowardice into the |
character. And If there are any more |
we want them. Mr.. Col
lier brings one, John" Barrymore on |
the programme, off it, Jack. Mr.. Bar
rymore honors the family traditions.
His sister Ethel modestly hinted as
much She did not tell US just how
much. However John Barrymore as
the pessimistic wireless telegraph oper-
ator. who is sent down to take the
place of the operator that died Of yel-
low fever is distinctly one Of the hits
of the piece.
The women are just as good. There |
are only three of them, but they do
HcCCoSdlys <OulSC AllCH
has the part of the Porto Banos lady |
love of Bowie, and the characterize
ton from the accent down Is stunning.
Miss Allen both looks and acts the |
part with entire conviction and in the |
best spirit Of farce comedy. AS Lucy |
the young woman mission
ary that Travers falls in love with on
his way down to Porta Banos, Rose |
Flynn is sincere and charming. and
Ida Hall fulfills all the need of her |
small part.
The rest Of the cast, the revolution
lists, soldiers, sailors, are all efficient; |
the farce admirably staged and THE |
Dictator" in short, to be enjoyed to
tears by any one in search of a laugh. |
BLANCHE PARTINGTON.
Alhambra.
Creatore and his italian band came, |
4 l.