The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-10-27
By Walter Anthony

A crush OF humanity eager TO laugn
at San Franciscos old faVerltes, hoip
and Dill, stormed the Princess last
night and took possession to the doors.
The police stopped the sale of standing
room and left forlorn crowd OUTSIDE
and around the entrance wishing the
event were like a political meeting ana
had an overflow meeting
Long before the Germans appeared
on the stage in the first act every allu-
sion to them was greeted with laughs
and shouts; everybody was tickled In
advance and in expectation.
What did they look like?" asks one
player of another.
Well" says his companion, one
was a tall, skinny fellow, and the
other was little and round.
We all knew it was Kolb and Dill and
shouted at the thought of it. Then
when they came on-Warfield. himself
a returned legitimate, received no
stormier welcome, and, though neither
of the boys" would fall out of his part
long enough to make a speech, they
both had to stand and bow and bow
again until the audience had wearied
and subsidized. At the finish of the first
act-there are only two-the big ova-
ton came. A string of floral offerings
which was long enough TO stretch from
the footlights to the eurbside carriages
OUTSIDE was " Tic pAAiNlpoASs
and there was a tumult of shouts for
speech. Besides the flowers and the
big set pieces of horseshoes, wei
comes" and the like. there was a green
ribboned basket out of which popped
sucking pig. Dill grabbed it while
Kolb made a speech, then Dill had to
make one. too after which instant yells
for Clifford brought this favorite of
other Orpheum days to the footlights
g. faI Miss lambert
who made a big hit last night. was
barely able to escape the invitation for
still fourth address, but satisfied her
admirers-and there were an even
houseful of them-with many smiles
and bows
All of this enthusiasm took time and
kept the show late. The curtain for
the second act was just rising on
mighty prettily staged scene animated
by a score or more of sprightly dancers
when the Orpheum audience was leav
ing the house next door No morning
newspaper scribe could see the show
through and hold his job. 1t must have
been after midnight when the orches-
ira put its instruments away for to-
night.r
Discussion of the enthusiasm leaves
but little room to tell about the play
which is just as well, seeing that not
much good may be said of it. The
music however, is very tuneful and
well put together. Tt is the product OF
the man who leads the orchestra and is
not more reminiscent than popular
music should be. An excellent song is
done by Clifford in Easy Money; Miss
Maude Lambert has pretty and senti-
mental number in the first act. which
she sang with real charm and grace.
Her voice is high and strong and she
reminds us of Maude Amber, only the
new comer's voice is better and fuller.
She has fine stage presence and is
withal the best prima donna the Prin-
cess has had since it opened in musical
plays and operas.
Billy S. Clifford has the stride and
insolence of the typical burlesque light
comedian. He possesses a fluent voice.
an easy and confident manner. and he
gets his jokes over the footlights safe
~ and surely. He has the comedy man
ner and will be a great favorite here.
OF his speciality in the last act can not
speak, for it happened after I left
Lucy Monroe Will not be discussed in
this writing. IT were altogether unfair
TO do so. She was obviously. struggling
against a throat constructing cold,
which, with much rehearsing of late,
had aggravated her vocal apparatus
into muteness. She is graceful and
made a pleasing impression in spite of
her handicap. Leola Maye, in the role
of Grace Honey, has the thankless task
of purveying the plot. Around her cen
tiers the heart interest" and it is she
who has to repulse the advances of the
bad sport who would break" her father
and marry her. All this hard work she
did smoothly and prettily, and was
blonde picture in pink to look at
OF c. William Kolb and Max Dill
there remains nothing to be said. The
piece was written for them and they
are the piece in two rips. Their fun is
as laugh compelling as ever it was, and
their solemn execution of the English
language is as funny as in old Fischer
days. Their stay here will bet was
the unanimous wish last night-in-
definite. Their ovation was the sensa-
ton of the season and will not be
equaled soon.
The play is prettily staged, the chorus
is. kept delightfully."- busy, the ensembles
are animated and good, the gowns are
beauties and the girls are likewise
There will be more speed as the piece
progresses on its way.
VAUDEVILLE WAR
A contest for supremacy in the vaude-
Vile theatrical business of the Pacific
coast developed yesterday, when the
Pantages, theatrical magnate of the
northwest, that he had assumed con-
troll of the Empire theater in this city,
the Alisky theater in Sacramento. and
the Columbia theater in Oakland. in
conjunction with houses in Seattle,
Vancouver, B. c.; Victoria, B. c.;
Bellingham, Portland, Tacoma and Spo-
kane. In all of these cities the Sulli-
van and Considine corporation operates
theaters, and according to Pantages the
chief opposition will arise against this
firm.
1t was also announced last night that
Pantages has been negotiating for the
lease or large structure downtown
which has been projected, which he in
tends TO convert into a showhouse. An
plfcatlon for permit to alter the En-
pire theater. at Suffer and Steiner
streets, was made yesterday by pan
tages representatives. This structure
viii be used until the new theatrical
InaEnaIn EncIlras