The San Francisco call., 1913-09-02
HERR BRIGHT COMEDY S STAR u
TT MADAME Sherry Pleases Big Audience
Production Of Gay
Musical Comedy Is
Brilliant Success
BY WALTER ANTHONY


The Alcaxar looked like high
priced theater last night to the
chauffeurs and taxi drivers In front
OF the place. It also looked like an
expensive place OF entertainment
when the curtain went up on the first
act of Madame Sherry The stmili-
tude had meanwhile been heightened
by the augmented orchestra and the
presence OF Paul Steindorfr. who can
lead anything with strings or tone.
Though the company presenting
Madame Sherry" Is not as large as
that for two consecutive seasons play
ing at fancy prices" 1t is. / should
say. almost as wei garbed. To mo
the clothes appeared fabulous.
The final touch OF excellence was
given the presentation by Ralph Herr.
who was Theophilus Sherry. and dain-
ty Lois Meredith. who was Yvonne.
The reception accorded to the orig
inal hero Of Dangerous Dan Nc
Grew was almost overwhelming but
earned. AT the end of the second act
and after a cascade of blossoms had
flowed fragrantly over the footlight
to Mr.. Herr and his associates, he
consented to make speech, which
would insult IL I were to say that 1t
was not more witty than the book Of
the musical play. In spite of Herr
deft suggestion to the contrary, tho
reception accorded him was not due to
a disposition on the part of the audi
g. -
sic humor of his Characterization OF
the uncle Of the fake musician. Ed
ward. For two consecutive seasons
we have seen Oscar Figman play the
part, and / do not deny that he had
humor. but the Interpretation Of Herr.
who originated the role In New York.
Is funnier Figman's humor is derived
In part from his legs. like the comedy
| of Teddy Webb. or Francis Wilson be-
fore he covered 'em up, but Herr
would be funny with short legs or
long. His humor begins in his head.
We have seen, / think. two players
as Yvonne Sherry. One was Ann Tas-
ker, who. could sing: the other was
to the vanishing point Miss Mere
dith. who was Yvonne last night. was
only disqualified when she sang In
point OF grace and demure charm she
was the superior of Miss Tasker
whose voice only she lacked to make
her star which could not be viewed
on the musical comedy stage for q
dollar. Miss Meredith is what Is cor
rectIy called captivating, and
throughout the first act made me re-
sent the second. where, unnecessarily.
she had to appear as an intoxicated
girl. which is never funny to me-
fvo i,
crime and Laura Vail a pretty Lulu.
The former was given a rousing well
come and opportunity to interpolate
some songs into the score which,
though foreign to the composition
were accepted gleefully by her big
audience.
Regular Alcazarites were surprised
at Louise Brownell, whom we remem-
Der well in the '1egit." She played
the role last night of Pepita, the tenn
peramental. We had long known that
Miss Brownell could act She has
proved 1t in a hundred plays. What
we were surprised about was that she
was going to sing. Our surprise van
ished when she tried, for she didn't.
And>this is said In deepest respect for
the eminent attachments of Miss
Louise. who was otherwise a fiery and
tempestuous daughter OF Venezuela
In most Of the qualities that make
musical comedy acceptable Madame
Sherry" seems to be destined to Alca-
zar popularity. 1t has clothes, humor.
manner and music. and youthful
chorus. If 1t lacks somewhat of vocal
beauty on the part of the principals
It Is easy to remember that rarely do
! rare songbirds tune up for a dollar.
Following the elaborate presenta-
tton OF Madame Sherry a dinner
party was given on the stage by Louis
Saroni to Mr.. Herr. all the members
of the company and so other invited
guests. Mr.. Saroni Is Herr uncle
Since her great success In vaude-
Vile as a mermaid was divided by
others, who were as we'll adapted to
bathing suits as she Miss Annette
Kellerman has been looking for q