The San Francisco call., 1909-10-05
By WALTER ANTHONY

Saucy. impetuous. beautiful Billie
Burke is at the Van Ness theater again,
this time as a star. Last time we saw
her she was merely John Drew's lead
ing woman in My Wife" and nearly
split evenly with the veteran in the
honors Of the production which the ssr-
tOrial and serene John headed This
time Miss Billie is the star; the be-
witching luminary around which an en-
tire constellation Of lesser lights have
their orbits. And Miss Billie sheds the
greater light. for she has q role which
in all its essentials is herself, staged.
In willful. jealous, headstrong Jacque-
line Miss Burke finds herself provided
with character which precisely
matches those qualities which her de-
lightfully piquant person suggests.
The play is as light and immaterial
as curl from Billie Burke's splendid
ly tinted hair; it is as frothy as the
champagne she drinks in the second
act. when to get even" with her hus-
band she flies 10 the arms Of book
worm and tries 70 bring herself to the
point Of kissing him. The comedy is
likewise as nicely constructed as
spiders web. 1t is frail. slight, but in
teresting and perfectly built For mo-
tive il takes the fesrsome theme of
Jealousy, bat otherwise does not sug-
gest the Moor Of Venice.
Jacoueline is destined according TO
the story. TO marry Ernest Augarde.
who is an author of fOrminable his
tories and treatises and other things
ike that. But she loves Andre She tells
him so in the first act. Who does she
love2 she is asked by Andre. See.
says she. and she hands him a silver
backed mirror So they are married. !
But Andre has been something Of
rake and breaks of a Iiason with Lucie
De Morfontaine when he marries the
adorable Jacqueline.
Specters torment poor Jacqueline. |
She is frightened about the past of that
husband Of hers-a past in which she !
had no part. and q career that she /
dared not investigate. Like Elsa in
.Lohengrin" she gives herself up 10 tor /
ments and plaques her fiery little soul /
by asking Andre all kinds of questions, /
which he-man Hke-answers vain I
gloriously. She believes she has found /
him in a renewal OF relations with /
Madame Morfontaine and then writes
letters to her relatives and TO her
friends telling them all she has flown
to the arms Of Ernest
The third act shows their tristing.
II is in Ernest's fOrbidding library.
lined ceiling high with books and
must with the smell of many old
tones. That third act is the best and
is beautifully played. Ernest tries to
make loEe to his adored one and can
not believe the good fortune that at
last has brought her 10 him.
Then the relatives begin to arrive.
H. hides Jacqueline in an adjoining
room after she has slapped his face for
trying to kiss her. and discovers that,
after al. the jealous little lady has
only sought him to spite her husband.
In 2 pretty scene which closes the third
act he sends her back to Andre and
assures her that he will bring him TO
her again, penitent IL he has done
wrong and triumphant il he hasn't. OF
course Andre hasn't 1t was all mis-
take. The fourth act proves this logic
ally The audience has known il all
along. and the fourth act also gives
the bookworm. Ernest, to poor Char
lotte. who has silently loved him
through the three preceding acts.
Ernest Lawford plays Ernest Aug
= ride to the very edge of perfection. It
Is 2 finished performance in every de-
tail Of makeup and acting. He carries
the comedy yet he suggests the sad
ness OF his loveless life. His is really
the most engaging figure in the play
for its sincerity. native goodness and
blUndering kindness.
Vernon Steel is good as Count Andre
De Juvigny, the husband and Maude
Odell Is Lucie de Morfontaine is a fas-
cinating figure and a clever portray val.
Kate Meek. Muriel Ashwynne and
members Of the company in leading
roles, and the minor characters are
well taken care Of The supporting
company Is quite excellent
Miss Burke was given a cordial re-
ception- II was the largest first night
audience that the Van Ness has housed
since The Merry Widow" came, and
charming Billie Burke met all expecta-
tions for her brightness her sweet
gaiety and her ability when necessary
10 carry conviction IN the few serious
moments which the comedy has.
Kolb and DilFs production Of Dream
Llty was given last night at the
Princess theater. IT will be reviewed
in tomOrrOw's Call by Walter Anthony
A meager audience yesterday after
noon and fair sized audience last
night heard the Philippine constabularv
band in its last two performances at
Dreamland rink in this city.
The afternoon program was particu-
larly interesting because ii presented
the players in the dual roles OF bands
men and orchestral players. The first
portion Of the program was devoted to
band offerings. the second half to or
chestral the first selection OF the sec
ond haf being the "Lohengrin'' pre-
lude. As an orchestra. the little brown
brothers are not so satisfactory as a
band The Wagner harmonies proved
2 bit too dissOnantal. and the high /
soaring Nloiins in the grail motive wa
vered away from accuracy. However.
Tor an "a man combination the re-
suit was praiseworthy and promising.
Wagner will remain generation or |
two ahead Of the Philippine lnusical !
consciousness for some years to come.
What was more interesting and better
PLAYED was the selection of Filipino /
melodies These showed the touch OF
the Spanish throughout-in the bolero
movement with which the number be-
gins for instance. Suppe's overture 10
.-Piaue Dame" was played by the band
in crisp and catchy manner and the
Souss march which opened the pro-
zram-"Hail TO the Spirit OF Liberty
was done with dash and precision.
The band deserved better patronage
and wider attention than ii has re-
oefred at our hands The PLAYERS en-