The San Francisco call., 1908-07-14
CAST OF CHARACTERS
In Clyde Fitchs Comedy,
"HiS Grace de GrammOnf"

Sometimes We complain that plays
are a long time reaching San Francisco
and that we do not see them when
they are fresh in the hands of an origi-
nal cast and wet with the ink of the
author. 'Tis an evil not altogether to
be complained of, seeing we have, till
now, missed His Grace de Grammont."
Heaven knows when Clyde Fitch wrote
il. Surely it was Is years ago; so the
question isn't when he did it, but why?
Otis Skinner played it many years ago.
but he didn't do it here-and that's
another reason to like Skinner.
White WhitIesey made his debut in
the comedy at the Alcazar theater last
night, and the management atoned as
best it could for the play by giving
it a most beautiful setting. If cos
tunes and scenery could make a COM
edy, His Grace" would be entitled to
the fame.
What is the matter with it? It is
Clyde Fitch at his very sweetest. De-
mure and ladylike court gentlemen
strut the stage and their speech is as
masculine as a lingerie counter; the
story is as real as the servant girls
corner in the Woman's Fireside Weekly,
! and the dialogue would put you to
sleep If you could quit laughing at
the airs 1t gives itself.
WORDS DAINTY AS LACE
To say that White Whittlesey as
sumes the role of His Grace" to per-
fection is an insult; but it will have
to stand. Debonair, graceful. polished
and refined he steps into the pretty
pictures that Fitch has permitted, and
his words are as dainty as his lace
cuffs. He does the best he can with
the role OF Miss HamiltOn's lover and
saves her gallantly from the foul en-
braces of his lecherous king, Charles II.
When Whittlesey made his entrance
in the first act last night he was
overwhelmed with a greeting such as
few actors receive in this city. He
bowed, he waved his plumed hat to the
stage and bowed again. Still the ap-
plause kept up. Then he bowed again
and heard the cries for a speech. So
he stepped out of the character OF De
Gramont long enough to inform his
enthusiastic auditors that his "busi-
ness" as he came on TO the stage was
to kiss the hands Of all the court
ladies there. He said Il would I might
include the entire house" Then he
went TO work and received at once the
fealty which has been his alone among
lovers of romantic character acting
His success last night was legitimately
won for his unquestioned attainments
and his grace of manner and diction.
WINS MORE APPLAUSE
Then, in the third act. after he had
declared his intention of going to the
/ king and of wrestling from his arms
the lady who he was duped into be-
lieving had sold herself to the monarch
/ he won such another round of applause
/ that he could not escape another
1 speech, which was very gracefully
given and was tempered with emotion
at the cordiality of his old friends,
u h IL
/ so many years-years in which so many
/ things have happened"
Bessie Barriscale, in the role of Miss
! Hamilton, in love with Grammont did
her best, too, but could not seem to
shake from the presence the perfume
Of the rose of the rancho. She did not
get into the spirit of King Charles
days, but will, no doubt, before another
performance has been given. She
showed herself however, to be the
charming actress, whose abilities had
/ freer swing in Belasco's melodrama
than in Fitch's whatever you call it.
EXCELLENT AS THE KING
Howard c. Hickman as the king was
excellent, though even his excellence
could not make plain the playwright's s
notion Of what the king was like.
Ernest Glendinning did the role of
/ Miss Hamilton's brother convincingly
though II was small part, and viii
r. Walling gave an air of masculine
| distinction to Lord Jermyn, which the
role did not call for, but which was
grateful just the same. Efie Bond and
Louise Brownell, playing the parts of
| intriguing court ladies, We're fine They
| have hair pulling match-true Fitch
comedy-which they did with catfish
conviction. Anita Murray as the SER
want girl was guilty of an anachronism
Her maid was of the present, but pretty
and agile witted.
MAKES PEOPLE LIKE 1T
But after all, Whlttlesey carried the
/ comedy TO the audience and made them
] ,,-g1I