The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

ALREADY San Francisco is arising
dramatically from her ashes and an
nounces the Matinee al Fresco! Not
just as a freak and a fad, but style
Of dramatic entertainment that has
come TO stay. The innovation has dra-
matte merit in it-a merit which will
give It permanency. The sunlight
matinee, our own san Francisco inven-
tion. an invention born OF necessity.
born OF our very burning, has come to
stay.
We are not forgetting the Greek
Theater. that is al fresco, too. But
that's different. We mean the regular
san Francisco al fresco matinee, done
in the way We invented il to tide over
our adversely. Not being willing to
wait such a tedious time until our
steel-framed and permanent theaters
are built, we overspread our ashes with
big wooden stages and quickly throw
over the top Of that a tent that lets
the sunlight through. Then the sun
light matinee is an accomplished fact
This thing is good even as novelty.
Even If ii had not been forced upon
US as a necessary invention we might
wisely have invented it just for
change and run il for several seasons
just for fad and fancy; but there are
strong probabilities that it has sensible
reasons for longer life than either
makeshift or passing fashion
Next. consider the far-reaching ef-
feet Of such change on the style of
feminine beauty which makes so large
a part Of theatrical attractions. In
that way the sunlight will be a sort of
power that makes for righteousness.
How 1t viii exalt the natural over the
artificial How 1t viii tend TO make
the genuine shine out above the
shoddy and the sham Of the makeup
70
cultivate complexion instead Of prac-
ticing cosmetics
So the actresses who play themselves
into success in the sunlight viii in that
environment have more power given
them TO please and TO influence. There
Will. Of course. always be the necessity
OF makeup in order TO change the ap-
pearance in character impersonation,
but the opportunity the sunlight thea
ter viii grant 70 see the heroine Of
some great story impersonated by the
real natural beauty of some charming
actress is surely worth the enthusiastic
Encouragement OF the. plan.
It may be wondered what the women
OF the stage themselves viii think Of
the innovation that is to Danish paint
and powder. On the testimony Of one,
Agnes williams Johns, leading lady Of
the Park company. the change is at
least refreshing. She has been playing
IN one of these sunlit tent-covered
theaters. The al fresco matinee is a
thing she has put TO proof and she
likes 1t from a professional standpoint
At first the players at the Park theater
felt themselves out Of their element
when playing without the aid Of the
spot light and the calcium, but after
testing 1t thoroughly II now seems to
them the natural way Of acting.
When matinees were first an
nounced at the Park" she says. 7 did
not realize that they would be minus
the effect Of the electric lighting, and
Just before curtain time I discovered
that IL would never do to appear before
tn audience made up in the usual way
as for night performances The foot
lights throw such a strong glare that
Il kills the effect of the powder and
paint. but with no such aid the coloring
would be ludicrous to the audience. I
consulted with Mr.. Howell. and we de-
cided it were best to make up but
little and try II out that way. I feel
sure that at the first matinee we must
all have lofed like frights, for many
Of my friends told me they could notice
the makeup so plainly and asked me
II I had not used too much. Now all
we do is TO powder up our compilations
a little and let nature and daylight
DO the rest. and the effect is excellent.
] like these daylight matinees; they
seem so natural. Most scenes transpire
IN daylight anyhow and it stands TO
reason the effect is far better without
the lights; it's more natural anyway. 1
would not mind playing a daylight
matinee every day"
is not this reasoning Of the young
actress reasonable, indeed2
She says, IT'S more natural any
way"
And she is right