The San Francisco call., 1905-01-09
TALK ABOUT
A DROLL MAN.
CRESSY'S 1T

VIII M. CreSSy is With us again, and
the patrons of the Orpheum received
| him with betting demonstration last
night. Cressy's sketches are always
good, for there is something in his droll
humor. tempered as it is at unexpected
intervals with promise of a bit of
pathos, that holds one in anticipation
of the climax with all that human con-
| centration can well afford to spare on
one-act comedy. Blanche Dayne
lends Cressy an able support Town
Hall Tonight is the title OF the sketch
and it introduces Cressy as Hip Filters
q typical crossroad theatrical manager
Miss Dayne, who represents Miss Gene
We've Montmorency, arrives on the
scene as leading lady of a travelling
troupe" The dialogue that develops
after her appearance at Town Hall"
is cleverly maintained by Miss Dayne
1t gives Cressy opportunity to dovetail
into the situation his own inif1itable
absurdities. 1t is sufficient to saw that
Cressys work was the hit of the even
ing-an evening of clever things at
that, which made it difficult to choose
between them from a standpoint of i'm
partialism.
Josie Kline and Phil Gotthold in "a
Medical Discovery" were somewhat of
a disappointment but their sketch did
Winfield Douglas and Margie Ford
caught the house with some pleasing
songs and clever dancing, and Miss
Nita Allen and Robert Elliott in wine,
Women and Song are we'll worth see
ing. Miss Allen is an actress of merit
and created something out Of a very
superficial act. Elliott wears well
throughout the dialogue. and the piece
was received with marked appreciation
Ixyt hn Grtn do orb
H. V. Fitzgerald, lightning change
artist, was a trifie slow in his prelim-
mary work, but before he had finished
his turn he had the house with him
from gallery to pit. Eleanor Fake is
as dainty and interesting as the show
bills have promised, and her voice is
good, too. Chassino's shadowgraphs
show what man deft with fingers and
toes can do with magic lantern and
a sheet. This act was distinctive and
introduced several entirely original
turns.
The four Bards, athletes, were as
wonderful as ever. The general opinion
is that there are few in their particular
line of work who can equal them.
A new poetical drama, entitled
"Mizpah, or the Story of Esther"
will be produced for the first time in
tIllS city dl the NdJeSIiC lnedIer To-
night. The play was written by Ella
Wheeler Wilcox and Luscombe Scar
ellie, the talented pair spending more
than two years on the beautiful piece.
The scenes and stage settings are un-
usually fine and fully illustrate the
strength and power of the drama. The
play has been carefully rehearsed for
several weeks and its initial appear
ance is sure to be welcomed by the
theater-goers. Much Is expected of
Miss Eleanor Gordon, the Majestic's
talented star, who has undertaken the
task of appearing in the part Of the
Queen. The music was written by Lus-
combe Searelle and Is said to be very
fine.
The Black Patti and her Trouba-
dours opened last night at the Califor-
mia Theater to the customary Sunday
night house and the audience was inn
mensely pleased with the entertain
ment. The play, "Looney Dreamland,"
was Without plot, but served as vehl-
Gle for MANY specialties, vocal and
otherwise, introducing Sissieretta
Jones (Black PattD, Vervalin and
Gray, Watts and Smith Harry Kraton,
John Rucker and host Of others. A
formance was the singing of the cho-
rus, at all times pleasing. The buck
and wing dancing by grown-ups and
pickaninnies was very amusing On
Friday night there will be a buck and
wing contest and on Saturday night a
championship cakewallx