The San Francisco call., 1906-04-02
MARVELLOUS ACT
At THE 0RPHE UNI
Howard Brothers Give Won
derful Exhibition of the
Transmission of Thought
MUSICAL CLOWN FUNNY
He Emerges From Gorgeous
Gown, Which Rolls Away
and Disposes of Itself

OF all the wonderful acts that have
been seen at the Orpheum, the Howard
brothers, who made their first appear
ance here last night, have the most ex-
traordinary. Their performance is
splendid exhibition of thought trans
mission. The one sits blindfolded on
the stage, While the other meanders up
and down the aisles, glancing at the
articles presented for his inspection.
The question is not out of the mouth of
the first before the second shouts the
answer Coins are designated as to
value, their dates are given, articles in
Vulnerable are described, names on en-
velopes, badges and tickets arc given
without suggestion and all this comes
like the flash of light. With his back
to the audience and still blindfolded, the
brother who occupies the stage writes
on blackboard dates and numbers
without word from the man in the
audience. The one thing lacking is per-
feet enunciation Of English words.
The funniest thing on the programme
is Ferry Convey, a musical clown. He
arrives in a gorgeous gown, from which
he shortly energies and which rolls
away by itself He operates several
odd musical instruments in a highly
creditable manner, with occasional hui
morous sideplays toy pistol con-
tributes much to the act.
Chris Bruno and Mabel Russell have
an alleged humorous and musical act,
which did not find high favor with last
nights audience Mitchell and CAIN
both males-also strive rather vainly to
entertain with dialogue and song. Bert
Coote and company, Tony Wilson and
Heloise, the Amorosos sisters and the
Colby family are no less pleasing than
while they helped crowd the Orpheum
last week. The motion pictures. show
ing the firemen at work, are particular
ly fine.
Creston Clarke repeated his former sue
cess in a delightful performance of Booth
Tarkington's Monsieur Beaucaire" at
the Grand Opera-house last night before
large and well pleased audience.
Clarke certainly fits the part of the
disguised French nobleman to perfection
and gives an Interpretation of a highly
interesting character, a masterpiece of
clever acting. Clarke has made the part
his own AS the result of careful study
and not the least pleasant feature of his
acting is his faultless pronunciation of
French phrases, a gift that is a rarity
even among the best actors. Some of the
company might profit by a few lessons
in that connection from Clarke Miss
Marie Carlisle. but makes the best of a
rather difficult part. Her love scenes
with Beaucaire lacked realism so far as
she was concerned sand her enrnciation
is too muehven 1.-THE smeHet0ne order to be
expressive. Roy Clements made capital
Molyneux, the friend who helps Beau
caire out OF his difficulties until he is
discovered to be the Duke or Orleans and
finally wins the lady of his choice. Jane
Stuart gets all there is out of the part
of Lucy Rellerton and the Countess of
.Greenbury, the ancient peddler of scan
dal, could not be better done than by
Miss Kate Griffith Leland Webb George
Earle. Albert Hollingsworth, j. w. Ben
nett and Henry Warwick play their parts
/ intelligently and Albert Stryker is all
that can be desired as Beaucaires SER
want 1t Is not too much to say that
Tarkingtons book does not suffer one
whit in its dramatization and the pre-
sentation of the characters as living peo-
pie by capable actors serves to make
more manifest the many beauties of the
charming story.
Elaborate preparations have been made
for the production of BARLEY Campbells
famous play MY Partner which opens
at the Alhambra Theater this evening. 1t
has been many years since this story OF
early days in California has been given
presentation in this city. In order to
secure the right to produce Mr.. Partner
here it became necessary for Mr.. Fred
Belasco to make a special trip to New
York City to confer with the heirs of
Louis Aidrich, who control the play. After
negotiations covering a period of several
weeks Mr.. Belasco finally persuaded them
to allow my Partner to be produced by
the Alhambra Stock Company. Miss
Bertha Creighton. whose charming per-
sonality and great dramatic ability have
won her an enviable place in the theatre
cal world, appears in the role of Mary
Brandon Herschel Mayall is cast as big
hearted Joe Saunders and all of the other
favorites have congenial parts. The
scenery will be a feature, a glorious sun
set effect on snow capped Mount Shasta,
,sx,Ir- f<,r,