The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-04-17
PLEASING IN "RAMONA''
is VIRGINIA CALHOUN
Grand Opera House
Presents Good
Production.
Parts of Play Show
Real Dramatic
Strength.

There are features in the production
OF Ramona" now being given at the
Grand Opera-house, that make il in
advisable for the theater-g going public
TO overlook it. True, the play as pre-
scented viii not produce a dramatic
Juror, but it is well worth seeing, espe-
cially by those who have an affection
for the memory OF the missions. Por-
tons of the play may be said to be
slow, but there are parts that are full
OF dramatic strength and thrill the
audience. OF course, as in the book,
sorrow piles up pretty rapidly.
The scenic effects are very good. In
the first act the home of Ramona is
shown as il stands to-day, with roses
clambering up its sides and the semi
tropical foliage about it. To those who
have never visited il it is recognizable
at once from the pictures that are so
well known. Allesandro's home at Pala
is an attractive creation, and the inte-
r1or Of the San Carlos Plaza church at
Monterey is well reproduced.
Among the effective scenes the two
that lead are those where Sonora Mo-
rena makes her final attempt to in
ouce Ramona TO renounce the Indian,
AllesandrO, and shows her the jewels
left by her father as a temptation, and
his bride are forced to leave their home
after the burial OF their child. Miss
Virginia Calhoun as Ramona does some
effective work in both these scenes.
Lawrence Griffith as Allesandro does
some strong acting He has a melodi-
GUS voice that fits the part and he per-
formed the mad scene cleverly, re-
ceiEing applause. The comedy of the
play is supplied by Mrs. Louis Belmour
as Aunt Ri. She arouses hearty laugh
ter. Lee Willard is a graceful Don
Felipe and Miss Marie Baker a deter
mined Sonora Moreno.
The costume dance at the snniver-
sary Of the wedding Of Allesandro and
Ramona is an extremely pretty bit Of
the production.
There is not an ordinary number on
the programme at the Orpheum this
week. 1t is hard to pick the headliner
from the different acts, as they are
some Of the best that can be seen in
vaudeville.
Louis A Simon. Grace Gardner &.
Co. in a sketch The New Coachman. -
was rightly named when it was called
a screaming farce. Simon is a COM
edian Of the first water. and his part
in this sketch fits him to a nicely. He
had his audience laughing after the
curtain fell
sydney Deane & Co. in a vocal nov
city Christmas on BlackWells Island"
brought out a trio of sweet singers that
won the audience with their melodious
voices.
The Busch-Devere Trio illustrated
musical novelty gave an original act.
which had not been seen at this house
before. During the rendering Of selec-
tiOns with musical instruments descrip-
tive pictures illustrate the music.
The COlumbians are a talented fam
lily, and they entertain the audience
with their delightful musical fantasy.
Herbert Brooks. card manipulation and
trunk mystifier. keeps his audience
guessing throughout his act. Paul
Conchas in his daring feats. and the
the most ardent crank
FIorodora still continues to draw
crowds to the Tivoh. The sextet as
sung by the Tivoli's people is just a
bit better than anything Of its sort
ever heard here. Florodora will run
another week
At the Chutes Theater there began
yesterday afternoon an eight-day sea
son Of musical burlesque, Cleopatra
Up TO Date" being the play In
the production are $50 pupils of
Brownies school of dancing and
stage culture. The opening per-
Torrance was witnessed by a crowd
that packed the Chutes playhouse, and
there was much applause. Some very
clever children are among the 80, and
al are well drilled in the dances and
bauets. There is a succession of pretty
pictures and graceful evolutiOns. inter
spersed with specialties by child phe-
his