Life — September 29, 1910 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IN GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPATHER'S TIME SOME THIN ECORATING CLEMEN- TINE"’ docs not refer, as might be imagined, to the arts of the beauty parlor nor to the accom- plishments of the hobble- skirt factory. There was a row in France not long ago about Mme. Tineyre, a lady author, being decorated with the cross of the Legion of Honor. The French au- thors De Caillavat and De Flers evi- dently caught the humor of the incident and have made it the basis of a farcical comedy which to any one at all con- versant with the French point of view is vastly amusing. It may be that there are not enough American theatregocrs familiar with the things satirized to give the piece a vogue in this country. But it contains so many clever lines and laughable situations that these may carry it even with a public which doesn’t quite catch the absurdity of a gentleman being made a colonel because he has originated a ballet or of a national department of fine arts no official of which can name the nine Muses. If Gladys Unger, who made the translation had adhered less closely to the text, perhaps the chances of this witty and ridiculous satire would have been better with the American public. ols WERE MUCH THE SAME AS TO-DAY Mr. G. P. Huntley and Hattie Wil- liams are the joint stars. Mr. Huntley is this time a Russian “silly ass,’ and v CoONFIENTIAL; Gut 4h even Day extremely funny farce, Belasco—Last week of “ The Lily acted emotional drama, with the problem of the French spinster for its theme. Bijow—" Welcome to Our City.” Mr. Maclyn Arbuckle in mirthless and very badly constructed farce. Broadway—" The | Summer _ Widowers.” Mr. Lew Fields and large company in bril- liantly set musical show. Casino—" He Came Notice later. Comedy—" The Little later. Criterion—" The Commuters.” The per- sons who sleep in the suburbs utilized as material for considerable laughter. Daly's—" Baby Mine.” Cleverly con. structed and very laughable farce, based on the stratagem of an. inexperienced young wife. Empire—" Smith,” a Maugham comedy, satirizing one aspect of fast society life in London. Agreeably acted by Mr. John Drew and good company. Garrick—Henrietta Crosman in Matrimony.” Notice later. Globe—" The Echo.” Bessie McCoy and other dancers the attractive features of a musical show of the usual type. Hackett—“ Mother.” Cheerful from Milwaukee.” Damozel.” Notice “ Anti- domestic 519 although not as much at ease as in por- traying the British type of the same artificial creature, is still deliciously funny. His companion.in the head-lines lacks finish as a comedienne and both she and Mr. Richie Ling when left alone on the stage permitted all the lightness and gayety of the atmosphere needed for the piece to ooze away into stolidity The moment, however, that Doris Keane. as the intensely coquettish wife of the French Director of Fine Arts, and Mr. Louis Massen, as her flippantly official husband, came onto the stage the action picked up and through them and Mr Huntley struck the needed gait of incon- sequential gayety. Doris Keane, in fact, carried off the honors of the perform- ance, and showed powers of fun-making little suspected from her previous record in tear-compelling réles. She was a per- fect imp of deviltry in her flirtations and used fantastic methods likely to prove a revelation to our most accomplished co- quettes. The minor parts are well done and in its entirety the piece went with 9 dash and swing remarkable considering its Anglo-American cast and its entirely French atmosphere. To those who can understand its satire “ Decorating Clementine "’ is funny from start to finish, but it is to be feared that ts clever lines and situations may not be enough in proportion for our at present farce-sated public. Metcalfe. EE drama, with excellent a by Miss Emma Dunn. Herald Square—Tillie’s Nightmare.” Glittering musical show, with the fun-making abilities of Fraulein Marie Dressler at their best. Hippodrome—Ballet entitled agara, and spectacle The Earthquake,” preceded by cireus features, “A very big and attractive show. Hudson—Helen Ware in “ The Deserters.” Notice later. Knickerbocker—" Our Miss Gibbs.” I ported musical piece, with pleasant musi some clever dancing and not much else. Lyceum—“ Decorating Clementine.” above. Lyric—Last, week of Miss Dorothy Don- nelly’s stunning performance of the de bauched heroine in the moving dram: Madame X." Manhattan Opera House—" Hans the Flute Player.” Notice later. Marine Elliott's—Sardou's “ Diplomacy.” See above. Nesimova—" Con & Co.” Republic—“ Is Matrimony a_ Failure?" of last. season's amusing comedy dealing with life in the suburbs. Wallack’s—"' Alias Jimmy Valentine.” In- teresting melodramatic study in. penology, .with a reformed criminal as the hero. i in the title part See Notice later.