Soon after “Valerie” was withdrawn at Wallack’s,—that is, March-April, 1886,—Belasco received and accepted an invitation to return to the city of his birth, and the scene of much of his vicissitudinous early career, as stage manager of what was fairly denominated “a stock company of stars” and was, without question, one of the strongest theatrical companies ever assembled in America. That company was organized by Al. Hayman to fill a summer season at the Baldwin Theatre (of which he had obtained control in 1883) and it comprised the following players:

Robert B. Mantell.
Joseph Haworth.
William J. Ferguson.
Charles Vandenhoff.
Rowland Buckstone.
Henry Miller.
Owen Fawcett.
W. H. Crompton.
Maurice Barrymore.
L. J. Henderson.
Alfred Fisher.		Errol Dunbar.
George H. Cohill.
Sophie Eyre.
Florence Gerard.
Mary Shaw.
Louise Dillon.
Kate Denin.
Kitty Wilson.
Ada Dyer.
Mrs. Alfred Fisher.
Agnes Thomas.
Mrs. C. R. Saunders.

Hayman’s company began its engagement under Belasco’s direction, at the Baldwin, May 31, in a dramatized synopsis of Ouida’s novel of “Moths,” which was cast thus:

Lord JuraJoseph Haworth.
Prince ZouroffCharles Vandenhoff.
Raphael de CorrezeHenry Miller.
Duke of Mull and Cantyre Rowland Buckstone.
JoanE. J. Holden.
Fuchsia LeachLouise Dillon.
Duchess de SonnahAgnes Thomas.
Lady Dolly VanderdeckenKate Denin.
Princess Nadine HelegrineSydney Cowell.
Vera HerbertSophie Eyre.

On June 7 Belasco’s “Valerie” was presented, the parts being distributed as follows:

Sir Everard ChallonerJoseph Haworth.
Walter TrevillianW. J. Ferguson.
Mons. XavierCharles Vandenhoff.
Hon. George Alfred BettlyRowland Buckstone.
Dr. RushtonW. H. Crompton.
RobertsE. J. Holden.
Helena MalcomSophie Eyre.
Valerie de BrianLouise Dillon.
Lady BettlyKate Denin.
Julia TrevillianSydney Cowell.
AgnesTrella Foltz.

“Valerie” was received with favor and played for one week. It was succeeded, June 14, by a revival of “The Marble Heart,”—in which Mantell played Phidias and Raphael, Ferguson Volage, and Miss Eyre Marco. “Anselma” was acted on the 21st; “The Lady of Lyons” on the 24th, and “Alone in London” on the 28th. A particularly rich setting was provided for the last named presentment, which was warmly commended for the perfection of Belasco’s stage management, the excellence of the acting and “beautiful and bewitching scenery and stage effects.” Mme. Modjeska appeared on July 12, supported by members of the Hayman company, in Maurice Barrymore’s nasty play of “Nadjezda”: this, however, appears to have been brought forth under the stage management of its author and without any assistance from Belasco. On July 18 the latter took a benefit at the Baldwin, at which the theatre was densely crowded by a wildly enthusiastic audience. The occasion was made a general testimonial of the cordial admiration and high personal esteem in which Belasco had come to be held in his native city, by the public as well as by fellow-members of his profession. It was directed by a committee of which Charles Bozenta (Modjeska’s husband and manager) was the President and Clay M. Greene and Maurice Barrymore the Vice-Presidents, many distinguished men and women of the Theatre and of public life in California being members. The programme included the names of more than sixty-five players and the principal features of it were as follows:

“Clothilde,” One Act of, by Jeffreys-Lewis and Company.
M. B. CurtisRecitations.
McKee RankinRecitations.
“The Private Secretary,” One act of, with John N. Long
as the Rev. Spaulding, and the original cast.
Helene DingeonSongs.
Maurice BarrymoreRecitations.
“Carrie” Swan“Specialties.”
Edwin FoyImitations.
“Called Back,” One Act of,
MacariJoseph R. Grismer.
Gilbert VaughanMaurice Barrymore.
PaulinePhœbe Davies.
MaryLouise Dillon.
E. J. Buckley“‘Ostler Joe.”
“Shadows of a Great City,” Last Act of, by the original cast.