The San Francisco call., 1908-07-28
By Walter Anthony


To select from the maze of music
song. dance and general hilarity the
one notable feature of last nights
performance at the Princess of THE
'Chaperons" were to fly in the face of
failure and to attempt the impossible.
Nobody could do it; not even a press
agent. Every single member of the
EAST, new and old, made individual hits
with an enthusiastic, exuberant audi
Bnce,. and no favorites were played.
For al I know to the contrary such
was the beautiful behavior of the first
night audience, The Chaperons" may
still be warbling while you read this
tor grim necessity tore mourning news
paper men from their seats while the
second act was still young and charm
Ing. Zoe Barnett was encored before
she opened her pretty mouth; she
played the sleuth after her tame seal;
Arthur Cunningham in his comedy role
was given like treatment; May Boley's
reception was an ovation; so were APP
fers, Miss Nielsen's, Sarah Edwards
and all the rest of the favorites. AS
for the two new recruits TO the Prin-
cess forces. Walter de Leon and
Walter Catlett, they were welcomed
INTO the fold at once and made to feel
as though IdOra park was transplanted
theater and all TO Ellis street. More
Dvefs they both made good, emphat-
icslly, Catlett with his inimitable
dancing and his eccentric comedy part
and De Leon in his character role and a
topical song that kept going for more
shcores than you could count.
So il was success, and that's a fact.
Arthur Cunningham proved his bur-
lesque hit in 1t Happened in Nordland'
was not a chance blow, but that be-
side having the fine barytone voice he
has a fund of comedy which till now
no one suspected OF the robust Arthur.
And May Boley. What she doesn't
know about sophisticated soubretting
isn't worth disturbing yourself about.
William Burress has washed down
his German dialect and grows a beauti-
full brogue this week. He is O'Shau-
messy and introduces a speciality about
hew to behave in polite society that is
a scream.
Apparently what Princess patzons
want is not comic opera but musical
comedy filled full OF specialties Last
night each Of the players did one and
the house approved. So put away your
comic opera music and bring on the
choruses. the vaudeville stunts and the
Enappy music. That's what the Prin-
cess visitors got last night and stayed
till nearly u o'clock to see and hear.
Never mind about the plot.
Shall we spoil this by suggesting that
some Of the principals had better spend
today over their lines, and that
there was not always unity of opinion
between orchestra and chorus at criti-
cal moments? That would be unfair
because the Princess people cannot do
miracles, and that would be what a
perfect performance on a first night,
with quick rehearsals. would be.
The orchestra under Sell Simonsen
deserves notice, for the score is not
easy and the instrumentalists were held
together splendidly by an authoritative
baton The customing and mounting
Of the piece are extensively elaborate
and beautiful.
NATIONAL
The new program at the National
theater last night contained many en-
tertaining and novel features. Miss
Chapman and her donkey made a de-
ciced hit and were encored many times
by the well filed house. The antics of
the donkey brings broad smiles to the
faces Of the old. while the children
fairly yell with delight MarcelPs won
oerful trained birds performed MANY
tricks Of interest: obeying every COM
mand promptly of their charming mis-
tress. A skit entitled Mexican Study
Beggars" was very interesting, telling
IN brief space thrilling love tale
Of the south. Harry Pilcer, q singing
and dancing comedian, was well re-
ceiYed, having many new songs which
he sang exceptionally we'll Kelly and
Violet old favorites, had hard work
satisfying their audience, there being
repeated encores. The performance
closed with good tight rope work by
Hugh Lloyd. There were new moving
pictures.
VAN NESS
The exceptional success Of "The Ser
want in the House" in New York "a
being duplicated in this city The sec
ond and last week of the local engage
ment at the Van Ness theater opened
last night TO a crowded house. ana flne
week will be larger even than last
Next Monday night Henry Miller will
appear in a new comedy by Percs-
MacKaye, Mater" in which the title
role Will be assumed by Isabel irving
CHUTES
The new vaudeville program az the
Chutes scored a big success yesfer6a,v
afternoon and evening. Zeno. Jorda11
and Zeno; Tom Ince and Elenor Ker-
shaw; John and Mae Burke in their
musical sketch; Lowe, xylophonist.
Marcel and Wolf comedy acrobafs and
other numbers were enthusiasficaliT
received. The skating rink and fhs
numerous concessions in the Amusement
park are well patronized. The amatenrs
viii appear in the theater THURSDAY
night.