The San Francisco call., 1906-11-04
Gossip of Theafer Folk.


Gossip of Theafer Folk.
Henrietta Crossman will come to the
Pacific Coast this spring.
Madame Gadski has started on tour
with the pleasing prospect OF all time
\ being booked solidly up 10 Christmas,
when she returns TO Germany. Con-
sidering that this is the prima donna's
| third successive American concert tour.
the record is something TO cause COM
ment.
/ Madame Sembrich gives her New
/ York recital within a few weeks. and
then resumes her position with the
Conried forces. remaining IN opera un-
til spring, when she viii make an ex-
\ tended concert tour under Loud0n
Charlton's direction.
A Milwaukee critic says that while
i the virtues OF Mrs. Fiske's new vehicle.
The New York Idea" are apparent.
/ its defects also are obvious. "A certain
dramatic esprit. invaluable in the tonic
/ comedy of manners. IS wanting in the
entire treatment, and the thinness OF
the action in the first two acts is not
/ compensated by richness OF character
ization or conversation. Indeed, IL Is
in his character drawing that Mr..
/ Mitchell is weakest Too obvious at
I times. and at times too anaemic, his
people do not stand out with that
sharpness and relief that the best
comedy demands
Amusement conditions throughout
the country, as shown by the reports OF
correspondents. as well as those whose
I interest in attractions is proprietary,
are exceptionally auspiclOus. Particu-
larly in the East and Central West
I nTa1RarO1IS.
4 From the East the reports are not
quite so sanguine. though no serious
/ depression is recorded. Altogether il
would seem that the theatrical season
has opened very favorably indeed.
Annie Russell as Puck in wagenhais
& Kempers magnificent $4,000 pro-
duetiOn of "A Midsummer Nights
Dream has begun tour OF the prin-
/ cipal cities Of America, and will be
seen here soon The production is
identical as presented at the Astor The
ater, New York, the newest Broadway
I playhouse which has been denOmi-
mated as the first theater in the land
The theater was thronged 70 It's ca
pacity at each performance and the
play could easily have run through the
entire season. Previous rangements,
however, made il necessary 70 inter
rupt the run so that Miss Russell her
entire company of $50 people, the mar
velOus flying fairy ballet and all the
many other features have been taken
! on the road
Chicago has the only endowed theater
in the United States. but for more than
a year IL has had another distinction
I in the theatrical world equally unique.
II not quite so interesting. The only
theater in the country-probaOly the
oaly regular playhouse IN the world
owned, managed and conducted by col
, ored people. presenting with a stock
I company OF colOred artists original
/ musical comedies. farces and plays
written and composed by eolOred men.
is in Chicago 1t Is a complete and
respectable theater, with an executives
staf OF eighteen. including everything
/ from manager to house physieian-the
/ latter being an innovation that more
pretentious amusement places have not
yet introduced
Reports of a hattering nature come
from Melbourne. Australia Of Ola
/ Humphrey, who is member Of James
Williamsons company at Her Ma1estys
/ Theater. Miss Humphrey recently ap-
/ peared as Glory Quayle in The Chris
/ tian." and the press notices would have
turned the head OF the average actress.
Harry L. Leavitt. resident manager
OF the new Orpheum Theater at Walla
I Walla, Wash, writes that he Is launch
/ ing upon the fraternal seas a new
I order under the name OF The Owls.
! He says the new order combines all
/ the good features embodied in all other
l societies and that II has none Of their
Z faults The charter list viii be held
! open until December I. Captain
/ Charles P. Wood OF Walla walla Is
secretary.
The first American appearance OF
Miss Lena AshwelI. the distin guiShed
I English actress. which occurred at the
/ Garrick Theater. Chicago. proved to
/ be a brilliant artistic triumph. It was
7 the general verdict that the coming to
/ the United States OF Miss Ashwell has
been fully justified. both by her foot
/ light personality and her remarkable
emotional art. and that she will surely
win a large following in this country.
Her Introduction has been made in
/ her success of the past season at the
Z Savoy Theater, London. the three-acf
play entitled The Shulamite." de-
scribed as a drama OF deep heart In
terest and thrilling human appeal
This drama is founded upon a highly
popular novel of the same mama