The San Francisco call., 1909-03-02
By Waller Anthony

Ifle new company at the PrluceSS
made good last night. whether you
might like. The. Rounders,~ by Harry.
Smith and Ludwig Englander, or
whether. you might not; the fact re
mains that the com pany which Harry.
Campbelr> gathered together in New
|. York for Manager .LeyericRs Ellis
street musical comedy playhouse is al
together competent and worthy: :,
Not to.sdfscuss the play. which is not
more notable titan other bright. and
breezy entertainments of IT'S kind. let
us speak. about the principals who ear
ried the show along last night until the
midnight pendulum was about ready to
divide yesterday from this morning.
In the first place; what. we: look for
and long for but do not: usually. enter
tain when. travelling companies: come
here is found now at the. Princess
singers. Il is proper TO consider that
side of the question first, inasrnuch as
/ the new company. which beckons to the
Princess box office is a musical CONF
edy company It is intrinsicaHy musical.
Helen Darling. the new prina- donna, is
possessed of pretty soprano voice,
which she uses. we'll, although shell ad-
dieted somewhat TO the vibrato. habit,
which disadvantage from a vocal point
of view is compensated for visllally, and
she has a vivacitx and spirit which will
make her faYorite at once at the Ellis
street theater.
STEVENS A GOOD BARITONE :.
James f. Stevens, do not hesitate:
to say. is the best barytone that we
have heard in musical. comedy for many
years. He sings without mannerisns
and throws his vocal column over the
footlights in a focused stream of tone
quite like the light from the spot lamp
which plays on him. Besides, / like
him because he is not. above playing a.
good bit of low comedy. And that*sug-
gests Frank Moulan. AS Maginnis Pa
sha last night he did not have the
chance to shine that other roles will
afford him, but he is an excellent come.
dian with a keen scent for fun, and
will be legitimate and a growing
success at the Princess. He enjoys the
distinction of being comedian who can
sing, and he does not fail to get the
laughs that his book anticipated He
won a hearty reception.
It was not until the last act that
May Boley, comedienne, got her chance
to shine; but when she did she held
the show up until newspaper scribes
had to leave while she was apelogizing
TOT not having more verses to her song.
Perfectly Terrible, Dear"
Zoe Bartnett was given such well
come that she could not adequately re-
spond, and with Miss Boley must have
had to hire a wagon to carry off the
flowers that were sent over the foot
lights. Il Remember YOU was the sig
nificant title OF her featured song. and
the audience took the words person
ally.
WELCOME NEWCOMER
Fred Mace, another of the new
comers, is welcome. He played the
awkward role of blase duke and chaI-
lenged Moulan for first honors in the
fun making. He displayed a deal of
tact in making an unbeautiful role
quite entertaining. and was dron and
quietly funny in his character Budd
Ross, as the second comedian, is an in
teresting acquaintance and was excel
lent last night. Bert Phoenix, in a small
role, is acceptable. Ethel Du Ere Hous-
ton, as the contralto and character
comedienne, shows experience and
ability, and the company, as an en-
tirety. II we paid twice as much to see
it in travelling attraction, would be
accounted worth the price of admis-
sion.
Selli Simonson, musical director. has
been busy with the singers and with
his orchestra, for the ensembles last
night were in admirable agreement
and the stage management was proof
that master was behind the scenes.
Edward P. Temple is his name and |
write II here because his handiwork
deserves at least a mention.
And now may 1 say that I don't care
much for the play? 1t is tunefuI its
true. and well staged, of course. h,,t
tho piece is not the best OF musical
comedies, however interesting il is
made by busy and pretty chorus
bright and we'll scored music and a
sumptuous mounting.
"The Fatal Card" at Valencia
Lovers OF melodrama will nnd their
hearts desire in most attractive form
at the Valencia theater this week In
The Fatal Card which is described
as a comedy melodrama in four acts
and a prologue.
The play opens in a saloon in a min
ing camp in Colorado, where The pa
tai Card" proves to be the iack of
clubs divided between the hero. Ger
aid Austen. played by Mace Greenleaf.
and the leading villain, George For
ester, afterward Marrable, the part be-
ing taken by Darrell Standing
The scene shifts, after the prologue.
to England and polished villainy takes
the place of the gun play" and lych
ing parties OF the opening moments
Two pleasing love stories run through
the plot. and there are some cunning
bits of comedy.
~1.~ ,s44c re1o