The San Francisco call., 1908-08-10
By Walter Anthony

The Great California Play has yet
10 be written. 1t is not Under the
Bear Flag" by Dr. c. William Bach
man. at the American this week
Under the Bear Flag is just melo-
drama. and not. alas. very good melo-
drama at that, although it has some
redeeming scenes and the atmosphere
of California in 1886 is seen simmer
ing once in a while through not very
tasteful stage settings. The story is
not new and might be placed amid
Russia's SHOWS as well as in California
It is the old story OF the pardon arrlN-
ing in the nick OF time and the subse-
aaent marriage of all those who really
should be according 10 dramatic usages.
The company presenting the play is
quite unremarkable, although two or
three manage TO extract some action
and vim out of their roles. The play
needs setting up. 1t needs-seeing that
il is a melodrama-nOre action. Tne
long suffering leg of coincidence could
be pulled even harder and more thrills
induced by more blood-that is, seeing
that the play is just a melodrama. Give
i TO the Central stage manager and
I'll bet he'd get fine shudder at the
end of every act but the last; for the
story permits such treatment; nay, it
begs it.
No REASON TO SUPPRESS 1T
Why anyone would wish to suppress
the play because it reflects on the hon.
or Of Garlic or Vallejo is a mystery
TO me. though other more valid reasons
might easily occur.
The story tells OF Joaquin GARLIC,
who loves Paloma. the daughter of
General Garlic. The scene is laid in
the Santa Clara district on the gen
erals rancho in 1876, during the 26
days that the state was under the
bear flag. Paloma doesn't love Joaquin,
but loves Lieutenant lie Brun instead.
He has been taken prisoner, and is
charged with spying. He and his ser
geant are detained on the rancho. At
first the Mexicans were going to hang
them, but changed their minds for rea-
sons with which the play doesn't con-
cern itself much about. They get a
10 days parole on the word of the
padre. who guarantees their appear
ance in time 10 be hanged if .mes-
senger does not return from Sonoma
with exchanges for them. The mes
senger doesn't show up Meantime
Joaquin assumes control of the ranch
and on the final day promises to carry
the orders OF execution into effect.
It is learned that the messenger has
been captured by General Fremont and
held a spy. Then follows fearful
partings between Paloma and the lieu
tenant and Chonita, Paloma's maid, and
the sergeant, for they fail in love like
wise. The padre sanctions the es-
cape Of the sergeant on the latter's
assurance that he Will get to Sonoma
and back again within the two hours
that elapse before the execution.
nAECFJn Tc TNNnT yTVn
OF course he does and the play might
peacefully subside with the two couples
locked in two embraces were it not fol
the fact that the lieutenant and ser.
geant have at once to go to war. Two
years then elapse and they return not
as the book says.
Meantime Joaquin has been persecut
ing the heroine with his affections
Then the inevitable mortgage show,
up. There must be a mortgage il
melodrama- Well, the generals ranch,
is involved in mortgage and th
money lender comes for his principal
Palomas father is without funds an,
then Joaquin says he viii pay If Pa
Iona viii be his. She consents an,
the padre is about to marry them whei
in walk the lieutenant and his ser
geant They have been up on the hill
for two years and all letters write
by and 10 them have miscarried. Blu
they have found a gold mine an
enough money to lift a dozen melo
drama mortgages. That ends tn
trouble for everybody but Joaquin, VIII
curses everything and retires while tn
halo Of happiness. etc.
May Nannery as Paloma is not par
ticularly fitted to the enactment Of tn
role Of the pretty senorita, and few O
the cast get into the spot light of ex
cellence.
The play went well last night in tn
opinion of the audience which include
members Of the California and Alcatra
parlors Of the Native Sons