The San Francisco Call and Post from San Francisco, California • Page 34

34 SIX UNMATED PRIME DONNE THE- SAN -FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1907. SEVEN -songbirds in a single cage! Adelina Padovani, Ester I rabini, Lina Bertozzi, Maria Gonzalcs, Olga Simzis, Renata Pezzati 'and Amalia Canzio cooped in one of the small dressing rooms on the stage of the Chutes theater! "So the apartment and so many the ladies," the Signor Pacini, barytone, informed the Signor Lambardi, impresario, "that when one of them desired to turn around she found it necessary to come outside, revolve herself and return." i that was what an English speaking member of the male chorus told me he overheard the Signor Pacini report after his application for admittance-. to the tiny chamber had been promptly and shrilly rejected bythe assembled prime donne. It was the' Signor Ettore Patrizi, editor of L'ltalia arid of the Milan opera company, who effected the foregathering of the sweet warblers. When informed that I desired to interview -the stellar feminine talent of the organization collectively, so as to avoid discrimination that might be unjust and creative of envious feeling, he fingered his mustache a moment ere he said, "Leave it to It was left to him, and when Artist Stevens and I visited the Chutes last Tuesday afternoon, as per appointment, the caging had been accomplished.

Padovani's Spouse Explains Among those present was the Padovani's husband. Monsieur de Ferran, and he explained his wife's apparent eagerness to go home by telling the Signor. Patrizi to tell me that she did not feel very well, having just finished an exhausting rehearsal of But he graciously permitted her to remain long enough to be' rapidly sketched and to assure me that never in all her extended operatic career was she so much as by the success of her first public appearance in" the United States. Not for many worlds would she disappoint the dear people who would come to hear her sing Gilda, and therefore she hoped the Signor and the Signor Artist would not offended be if she were to hasten to take the much needed rest. Exitj the Signorina Padovani and the Monsieur de Fexran.

"Is there likelihood," I asked the Signor "of any of the other ladies being taken from our niidst by a thoughtful spouse?" "No," he replied; "they are unmarried." Now, there was a disclosure as-unexpected as it was pleasant. Six young and good looking women firmly established as operatic stars are not to be met in a cubbyhole dressing room every day, andy I'm afraid that both Stevens and Is'permittedIs'permitted our gratification to exhibit itself, for the artistic half dozen stared at. us wonderingly and then at the Sigrior Patrizi inquiringly. He- said something that caused them all to laugh and look at us but in amusement instead of "I can hardly believe they are old unmarried, I mean," was my comment. "But look," he said, pointing to them in turn and with great rapidity; "you see they are so young." "Niente Marito" Their Motto So they were.

Without facial embellishment the oldest of -I decline to give her appeared' to be safely inside; the one-score mark. And when I said so, and the sayingn was most gravely interpreted, there burst from them a peaK of merriment that had youth in its ring. "If you don't; believe they are unmarried." the Signor Patrizi suggested, "why don't you ask them yourself?" "All right," I said; "go ahead." He went ahead, taking them oneat time, and as each of them laughingly; responded, "Niente marito," he turned to me and triumphantly exclaimed, "No husband." But it was that as the Signorina Bertozzi; said "Niente rriarito" she hastily concealed her left hand under her coat that the movement was uproariously applauded by all her sisters in: if not in artfulness. "Wduld itV be to ask the Signorina Bertozzi if she a widow?" I queried the interpreter. He put- the question, and applause from every lady present except the Signorina She smiled mischieviously.

at me and something at the I Signor Patrizi, which he told me was a declaration that she was "free as the wind." As there is nothing in meteorological lore to. warrant even a suspicion the -wind was ever; in wedlock," I the signorina's as a But her. left hand remained in concealment during the remainder the; Why They Have Not Married the 1 Signorina Gohzales, the ladies wereVask'ed one 'by one why; they 'preferred'" single to wedded life," and 'these; were their replies, as filtered through 'the Signor Patrizi: V' 1 THE SIGNORINA GONZALES Catalani, my. "age lis the) 21 years. I am the one year in Never lin the love did iI Sometime the and then I may marry; -But life I think it is not to marry VSIGNORINA TERRABINI in age'is; the; 21 years! Never, have I been' in the; love! MyT; father the professor.

of Italian literature in the University 'of and -I Milano and in 'the opera two Marriage the good life, but the; prima donna' should not marry. The husband gi ve th much trouble axfd 5 interfere with ih: I I Born years 1 ago: The mTdcTthcTdebut in I Trieste. Havel not "been in love James Crawford perhaps because the much study. Will not marry until ready to leave the stage and live jj with the husband in the home. Husbands are the annoy of the prime dbnne.

THE SIGNORINA Born in Am the 20 years of Debut in Parma the one year ago as Aminain "Somnambula." No; the never in the 0 love. Too busy singing. to fall in the love. Husband very good for the horne very, bad for the stage. THE SIGNORINA Born the 21 years ago in Florence.

Am in opera the three years. Have not been in "the serious love. Will not be; in the love to marry while on "the stage. THE SIGNORINA Born the; 2s years ago in Trieste. Complete the study in Florence and make the debut in Venice.

Seven years on the. stage. Never in the love. Free as the wind. Collapse Threatens Patrizi When the-i Signorina Berto.zzi confessed her quarter century on; this planet all the putative "twenty-oners" glanced at her with surprise, not to say with reproof, one of them-r-whose identity is "purposely withheld winked at nic and then led my "gaze to the hidden hand.

But I scorned the- hint. All the. pencil having been finished, inspected and criticized, favorably and otherwise, the convertion waxed desultory and the "Signor Patrizi actually; became feverish iii his. endeavor to interpret for lny enlightenment what the six ladies were saying to him. Beads of perspiration oozed, from his brow, and when the Signorina Ferrabini's little white hand accidentally fell upon his purple one she started back in alarm and almost screamed to her companions that "la was ill.

In an instant he was surrounded by them, and talked at once in anxious tone and felt his pulse and touched his forehead and otherwise displayed a solicitude for his well being that inspired Stevens to remark to me that if they ever do marry the.re will be six members of the sterner sex tenderly cared for. Not until; they -were assured, that the signor's temperature would be reduced by a respite from over interpreting did theTsignorini cease. their but not their taxation of his mentality. They chattered at him in solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet and sextet, and it was to save him from collapse that I boldly undertook to talk to them in sign language. They did not understand what; any of my pantomime meant, and I was in ignorance of -nine-tenths of what they endeavored to xonvey to me by I eyebrow hoisting, -shoulder shrugging and hand but the Signor Patrizi was saved from nervous prostration.

Aftermath of the Assembly When the had after uttering many "good byes" 'and "oh, thank yous" which seemed to exhaust their. English," we talked over the happenings of the convention and the Signor Patrizi told me of some things which had been said to him and which he was riot given time to- interpret. "When the Simzis told me she was born in Russia," he; said, "I informed her, by way of 'a' joke, that news had just been receiyed of the czar having lost one of his legs by the 'explosion of bomb hurled at him by a revolutionist. I thought 'would be filled indignation, rwell, what do you think she said? 'Too she "muttered, grinding her teeth, 'that bqth "of -his legs were not blown When we ceased laughing at the lfttle; nihilist's 'expression of regret he resumed, "Did you notice the Canzio show alarm and then speak to me; after you aslced for her opinion of marriage No Well, 1 before." answering -the question I put to her she. suddenly of a thought that did hot seem to strike any of the others: 'Is he going to publish what we say about not wanting to she inquired.

I replied that I didn't know' what your intention was, and 1 then she' I exclaimed, dejectedly, 'Ah, heaven, if he does we be' shunned: by 'alt vmeh Then; laughed, and all the" others laughed with her." "Tell me." I said, "if you know why the Signorina Bertozzi "kept her left hand in hiding throughout our "If you tell I'll tell you," was his-reply. oaiomy jane at Van Ness Paul: Armstrong's! play, 'Salomy based upon Bret Harte's "Salomy Jane's I will open the Vani Ness theater; tomorrow evening: In the' lirst act Saloniy Jano meets the man who killed the "outlaw As the latter had annoyed and insulted she" feels an interest in' the man. as a sort; of Later he Is; rounded upj by; the. vigilantes and isabout to be hanged "foiv being, in possession of a horse to which he can' riot prove- a clear tifle. It that Salomy Jane kisses the, man, subsequently, because of the love that is then evoaled to: her," aids him to She'v accompanies Vhim," "Salomy Jane" ideals with rough but in.

them? nobility nature lQoms large, and it paints good and evil r.The^heroine mingles giflishness iwith thepa'ssionate love of "awakened The' man' ls chivalrous arid The gambler-is generous arid The stage, driver swaggering. and The wife of (the; stage robber is aridj warm; hearted: The children- are charming. The piece Is a model 'among romantic melodramas of. far In the company Care "Jessie Izett, Florence Herald;" Stokes; iel; Gil AA Spottsford Alken, King H. I "William Bufrj Hamilton, Qordon Queenie Philips) arid; Viola Savoyl" The "entire stage production i'islcarriedi Reopening of the Novelty v-i Another camp play is "The ThreeTqf which to Fthe'Noyelty theater today; for.

week's; I had; its in Now York last season, where it had a successful run-of 227, nights. 'Its. story of a 'matinee gir.l.-an orphan, who 'has: two younger brothers, one at age when pin feathers "are mistaken for Wings and the other a lad of. -They a mining-claim in the llttle camp in Nevada: where they are and the girl is face to face with several problems, the first of which is to pacify the brother who feels that he' has reached the age when he- ought to leave the home The plot is interesting throughout. There; is" little in the setting of.

the play to -suggest camp, weare. told. -The movement is indoors at all times and no attempt is made to depict the atmosphere, and scenic effects -of Nevada. Realism, that kind' of realism which one associates with home life in and "Way Down East," is dominant throughout. In the leading role -is Grace Cameron, a native of San Francisco, who is sufficiently emotional to give strength to the stirring scenes of the play.

Others in the cast are Elise Scott. Jennie La Monte, Henry Hall, Walter norton. Thomas V. Emory, Henry John Prescott and Master Harry Wright. Bright Comedy at Alcazar Augustus Thomas' comedy.

"The Other Girl." will be the attraction this week at the New Alcazar. It deals with the athletic efforts of a dignified minister of- the gospel In an endeavor to regain his health. Dr. Clifton Bradford is the man of the cloth who establishes a gymnasium in' his and engages the" services of a professional boxer as trainer. This man is.

Introduced into the household as "Mr. but: he Is in reality "Kid" Garvey, the middle weight champion of the Miss Catherine Fulton, a guest at Dr. Bradford's home, is engaged to marry Reginald Lumley, but Mr. Sheldon with his athletic prowess charms. her.

She agrees to throw over her. iweetheart and run away with the boxer. This starts complications, which are both intricate and humorous. Catherine Fulton will be played by Thais Lawton. Bertram Lytell is cast for the part of the prize fighter, who is.

the cause of all- the trouble. When Augustus Thomas wrote "The Other Girl" he had Norman Selby, better known as Kid McCoy, in mind, and the name of the comedy indicates that the heroine of the play is a perso with two decidedly different phases of character. Poetic Sketch at Orpheum A genuine novelty heads the for'this week. It Is "entitled "A ftight With the-Poets." and shows a group of young men spending an evening of" music, and literature together. As one of them reads aloud some of James Whltcomb Riley's verses, Including Orphan Annie," V'Goodby, and "An' Old Sweetheart- of the subjects of the poems are illustrated by living people upon the on the.

wall' as if a' is a pretty worked out. The reader, James B. Reeves, uses much expression In rendering, the poems, arid. there is some capital singing. The Bellclalre brothers, who will make their first are gymnasts athletes and "superb specimens physical culture.

performiriee is described as most, interesting by. the eastern press. Other new people will be. "Frank' and' Pauline Berry, who play; on a variety of musical instruments and extract music from many different kinds; of They enliven their acts with genuine and original comedy. It will be the last week of Sunny: Inez Macauley and company in "The" Unexpected," Mr.

and Mrs. Jlmmie Barry and company, Paul Barnes "Joseph Hart's electric crickets. Eugenic Blair at Princess Commencing tomorrow an entire change of bill will, be offered at the Princess "theater. of the features Eugenic Blair, well known throughout the country, who comes with her own. In a sketch "After.

the The action of the playette takes place in the dress- Ing; room of a theater, Just after the matinee and the plot is filled with love Interest and deals with the life of the people behlnd the- giving Miss: Blair; an' opportunity to run the gamut 'of love, hate and Other features the new bill are Mantell's Famous the Hawaiian; Quintette; Bishop, coon Harry character change artist; the McNally troupe wire walkers and acrobats; Gagnoux, and several new pic- OaklaricTs Best Offerings; Henry, Jones' drama. Dancing Girl." Is selected for production at Ye Liberty 'playhouse, this? week. It Is one of the best of successful plays, this distinguished dramatist-has. written and has always been a popular attraction with stock- companies throughout the country, Missvlzetta Jewel will- assume' the title role and Landers Stevens will be seen, as the; duke aridi Henry" young Quaker lover. otheiv; important roles will played by Henry, George Friend, E.

1j Benritson, George Webster, Blanche Douglas, Mabel Blake play offers opportunities several elaborate staged settings, can beY given: in splendidV; on the re-; yolvihg; stage. of the Orpheus club of Oakland hay ing i secured the theater Monday evening -for its first -concert of the jseason.t'-'The'; Dancing. Girl" will for -the first time on Tuesday 1 "Ship furnishing amusement enjoyment at I Idora park and continue! one more 1 offering i will. be yVRipXVan is responsible also i for. "Chimes i of of gthe' prettiest 'light; operas ever wri tten.

In handling the beautiful legend of Washington v. Irving this cleverjS has) displayed 5 the greatestYsklll and is as Interest; Ing as it a romantic opera as it i always! as 'al play. c' Ferris will-, play the: role of company Jfengaged ibyi Manager Twill furnish an excellent setting to this gem of an'; opera. Promised Agents At 7 the Theater'; week Coat IHUCd CO Page 35..