Life — January 19, 1911 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

present drama sprung, but even with the many faults of the modern stage frail humanity can hardly be blamed for pre- ferring it to these rather doleful mix- tures of religion and primitive efforts at theatrical effect. Perhaps they are re- sponsible for the now exploded mana- gerial canon that religion on the stage wouldn't go. <S HE SLIM PRINCESS” has considerable pretty music of the English musical-comedy school, judging by the name ot the composer, Mr. Leslie Stuart, and the accompani- ments as rendered by the orchestra, As there is no one in the company who sings, these must be the vouchers for the fact. But we are get- ting used to musical shows without voices. Mr. Henry Blossom, the author, gives us a plot which can really be dis- covered without the aid of a chemical analysis, some clever lyrics nicely elocuted with musical accompaniment and quite a number of lines which stir the risibles. Elsie Janis, who has her name on the programme in the largest type, is viva- cious, has energy and facial expression, and as a specialty does some remarkably faithful imitations of well-known artists. Mr. Joseph Cawthorne, whose name is in the next sized type, is really a come- dian and reaches his results without vul- garity and without undue force. In fact, the whole performance is agreeable from its freedom from the uncouthness which marks so many of the entertain- ments set forth to lure the patronage of that large section of the public which finds its chief joy in musical shows. It may be said safely that “The Slim Princess” is very far from being dreary and that its chorus persons have evi- dently been chosen by descendants of the gentleman who awarded -the golden apple to Venus in preference to Juno and Minerva. ECIDEDLY wow! And again wow! If you are suffering from any slackening of the pulse go to the Lyric and see “The Deep Purple.” It’s a melo- dramatic thriller with action swift enough to play the long roll on a snare drum. It is generally be- lieved that it's impossible to throw a *LIFE:= pie-knife on certain sections of Sixth Avenue without stabbing a thief. Same thing in this play of Messrs. Armstrong and Mizner. There are just enough vir- tuous characters to supply inspiration for the crookedness of the crooks. It mustn’t be taken from this description that the play is a joke. On the con- trary, although it deals with the nether world, it is ingeniously and logically put together and gives the attention no opportunity to go wandering. And it is mighty well acted. It was tried on Chicago for several weeks and the company is absolutely smooth in its work. Ada Dwyer has the rdle of an ex- thief who has turned honest, but not unpleasantly so. It is so well drawn a character and the artist impersonates it so admirably that it might be taken from real life. The veteran W. J. Ferguson is admirably fitted with a character rdle and Mr. Jameson Lee Finney does the best work of his career as a worker of the “badger game.” With the ex- ception of the juvenile women it would be difficult to suggest an improvement in the cast, excellent work being done also Ly Messrs. Emmett Corrigan, Wil- liam A, Norton, Richard Bennett and Rosamond O'Kane. “The Deep Purple” may not be a classic, but it has power and virility enough to ward off an attack of the sleeping sickness. Eo B@ ww 4 One bit of dialogue in “The Deep Purple” failed to stir the first New York audience very deeply and the actors on the stage scemed startled. The hero is talking to a police in- spector. “ Being a detective,” he says, “I don’t suppose you believe there’s any such thing as an honest man?” “Not in New York.” The repartee had evidently been popu- lar in Chicago. Metcalfe. Life's Confidential Astor—" Judith Zaraine,” with Miss Lena Ashwell, ice later, Belasco—" The Concert.” Well acted and well staged clever satirical comedy ridiculin the adoration of women for professional musicians. Bijou—Mr. Henry Havoc.” Notice later, Broadwey—" The Silent later. Casino—" Marriage a la Miller in Call.” Carte.” See “The Notice ve. Comedy—Mr. William Collier in “I'll Be GOING INTO A DECLINE Hanged If I Do." Light comedy giving full opportunities for Mr. William Collier's’ fun- making. Criterion—Mr. William Gillette in revival of his former successes. Daly’s—" Baby Mine.” spite of its long run. Empire—Revival of “Trelawny of the Fine old comedy reasonably well Goiety—" Get Rich Quick Wallingford.” A slangy but funny depiction of the vicissi- tudes of the confidence man. Garrick— The Scarecrow,” with Mr. Ed- tound Breese. Notice later. Globe—" The Slim Princess," with score by Leslie Stuart and book by Henry Blos- som, based on story by George Ade. See Over Night.” See above. Herald Square-Grace Van Studdiford “The Paradise of Mahomet." Notice later. Hippodrome—Ballet, circus and elaborate spectacle. Hudson—" Nobody's Widow.” Blanche Bates and good company in pleasing and well-acted American comedy. yceum—Miss Billie Burke in “ Suzanne.” Pifling play with the star's pleasing person- ality as the main attraction. Lyric—" The Deep Purple.” See above. Majestic—" The Blue Bird.” Well staged spectacular production of Maeterlinck’s alle- gory of child The Gamblers.” Still funny, in Maxine Elliott’ s— Pow. erful drama of business life well acted and Nazimove—' We Can't Be As Bad As All That.” Mr. Henry Arthur Jones's admi- rably presented and cleverly written depic- tion of the rotten side of English society life. New—" Vanity F with Miss Marie Tempest as Becky Sharp. See above. Republic—" Rebecca of + Sunnybrook Farm.” Refreshing little play of child life in New England, with excellent impersona- tion of the heroine by Edith Talliaferro. Wallack's—“ Pomander Walk,” by Mr. Louis N. Parker. Perfectly charming bit of English romance well acted by a good Eng- lish company. Weber's—" Alma, Where Do You Live? * Catchy songs as the excuse for a not clever imported farce. comicbooks.com