The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-05
MISS ROBERTS
WINS LAURELS
Tears. Heartaches and Bursts
of Passion Characterize
Marta of the Lowlands"
GOOD BILLS ELSEWHERE
Camille" Well Done at the
Grand, While Orpheum
Presents New Features


Florence Roberts has never appeared
to better advantage than in Marta OF
the Lowlands," which opened at the
California last night. The house was
crowded to the doors, the applause was
SO frequent and spontaneous that the
ushers never had TO clap their hands
once, Manager Ackerman's smile was
astonishingly expansive and altogether
il was big success for the theater on
Bush street.
The play took spleudidly here last
season. but this years production sur
passes it appreciabIy. 1t is just the
sort of piece for Miss Roberts-one
OF those performances full of heart
aches, tears and bursts of passion. No
one could play thetitle role better than
she. She had last nights audience as
responsive, TO her work as Manelichs
love was to Marta's. The scene be-
tween the strangely married goatherd
and peasant girl at the close of the
second act almost brought the audience
TO Its feet. Those who like to have
play force unwilling tears TO their
eyes should see Miss Roberts as Marta
this week.
Lucius Henderson as Manelich per-
formed his duties in an admirable man
ner. AS soon as he can change his
drawing room manners to those more
appropriate lot the HeICes CDilQ Ol Tie
mountains he will be gaining a repu
tation. Herschel Mayall has been play
ing hero so long at the Central that
the coat OF Sebastian is not quite fit
for him. but his work is excellent
nevertheless Edith Cooper, as Nuri,
was also recipient of first honors at
the hands of her hearers last night.
The others of the cast creditably sup
port the leaders.
Next week Miss Roberts will appear
in Sardous great play. La Tosca.
The best of the last weeks bill at the
Orpheurn has been retained, and the
turns that opened last night made a
collection that pleased a crowded house.
Out of several good turns the one that
pleases the house and calls for many
encores still continues TO be the. En-
piFe City Quartet, which is a follower
from the preceding week. So popular
have Cooper, Mayo, Tally and Cooper
become that they were compelled to
decline eneroaching on the time al
lowed the other artists.
Another of the old attractions is new
and clever sketch from the pen of Bran
don Hurst, played by John C. Rice and
Sally Cohen. Both are artists of a class
rarely seen in vaudeville and at the
conclusion of the, act received many
curtain calls.
Shields and Paul, among the. new
Corners, contribute novel act in lariat-
throwing, while John Ford and Mayme
Gehrue are clever. buck and wing
dancers and carry a ballet of ten at
tractive dancing girls. The programme
concludes with difficult feats by the
Merrills on patent bicycles and a new
series Of biograph pictures
The Ferris Stock Company bowed it
self out of the city at the Grand Opera
house last night with production of
Camille" that was well received by
one of the largest houses of the season
Miss Florence stone, the leading lady,
came in for an unusual share of ap-
plause from the crowd. as did Dick
Ferris. the actor manager. and the
other clever members of the company
The production, though a bit drawn
out, was one worth seeing and a fitting
climax to a. season of merited plays.
Miss Stone showed unusual ability in
the pathetic scenes Astounding in. the
play. She called forth frequent bursts
of applause by her acting, especially in
the last two rounds where the emotion
al scenes were the strongest. Dick
Ferris as her lover. appeared to adj
vantage in the role. as did Frederick
Julian as Monsieur Duval. and A
Byron Beasley as Count de Varville.
Edith Julian. Marion Balrou and Alice
Barrett portrayed the minor roles to
the satisfaction of the audience.
This evening Barney Bernard and
well appointed company will open at
the Grand Opera-house in The Finan-
cier," the play that made hit here
several weeks ago. AS Bernard has
large following in this city. it is ex-
peeted he will receive a great ovation
tonight when he appears before the
footlights in the initial act.