The morning times., 1896-04-28
is GOOD BRITISH COMEDY
"The Artists Model" a Pleasing
Example of a New Type.
"The Strange Advent ures of Miss
Brown" Presented at the National.
Other Plays OF the Week.

fayeGte Sqaate opera House.
In the passing OF absolute burlesque
from the Ield, tae decline OF the athletic
farce comedy which was monarch in its
day, the exhaustion OF any new .opic
or period or place to locate Il picturesque
comic opera, the English originals delyed
into the possibilities, OF actual life AROUND
atmosphere, incident. There has been
perfect epidemic OF this style or entertain
ment during the tweivenonth past. THE
Shop Girl,' was the first aspirant for the
fun aud melody OF musical comedy as
George Edwardes, OF The Gaiety, exploits
it. Next 'sIht Lady slayey,' reiInqulsned
domestic life 10 give counterfeit IN fine
lace caps and stunning hosiery In the real
stage. 'Gentieman Joe' followed ana the
iasC recruit, to these shores at least for
other contemporary characters have gone
into the lime light IN England, is The
Artists Model.''
This title sounds very naughty; sug-
gestiye of Unconstitutional demands Oh
poseurs which shocked Little blliee when
THlby whispered IL into his ear. Whit is
naughty is IN some estimates synonymous
with what Is nice. SO suggestive IL tile
as this comedy bears has no difficulty III
attracting But it doesn't give what it is
supposed by some 10 promise. There is no
touch or vulgauty or lmpropriety, OIL the
contrary the simple story is very discreet
aud proper.
The only suggestion Of the "all together
is the unanmIty with Which everybody in
The long cast heaves TO for night OF
unalloyed fro!ic. Those who come with
other expectations are disapp Clnted of
them, but remain to enjoy bright, spirited
example of modern British fun.
HOweverit may fail loTcCnforming to some
peoples ideas or entertainment, this style
OF piece is an effort 10 consistently combine
rational story with entertaining special
ties. An audience that comes to hear
story usually finds specialties beneath its
md
spcclallles yawus at The teGium OIL story.
But in this case the story may be forgiven
Tor The SAKE or the many excellent enter
talneTs which / { Introduces.
There is Marie StudhoIme, who is the
life of the female contingent, and the star
or the piece, though she isn't the artists
model. This woman is a youthful sprig OF
NlVaclty, whose charm or manner is ac-
centuated by radiant face and friSky
manner which makes her fascinated audi
tor forget that the musical director swears
every moment she is singing because no
latOn in the world could divine the erratiC
little liberties she takes with the tempo.
Ic is very delightful, and the natural over
flow of magnetic anlnailty Which Will
not brook restraint. It's hard TO say
whether or no Miss Studholme is the benuine
beauty hcarsay and the press agent, not
to mention the photographer, have made
her. When woman smiles ana pirou"ttes
and does thousand things minute ara
has "a suggestion OF rare beauty. one is
apt to take the suggestion FOR the fact and
the impression really becomes fa@t, To
the iOOker-On. In the absence, .hcn, OF
any evidence to the contrary. Washington
Will have to catch step with tue other
cities. and the press agent, ina pronounce
her u beauty.
The first scene disCloses an artists stu
dio in Paris, and the atmosphere and en-
yironment are so decidedly Quarter Latin
that one almost expects 10 see TafTy ana
the Laird and Sveugalt and Trllby step
forward. But instead, there is a troop or
models and artists. John Coates is heard IN
a baritone solo, lis Love a Dream and
Marie StnChnime next contributes little
song, I'm Little Daisy with a DimPie.'
Other notable features of the act are Daisy
Nixon's skirt dance. Maurice Farkoa's
''Triby' song, WHICH is decided hit;
DARCY as the dude, and Cissie Neil as
Nine. a nelie in duet, the sextet dance
of school girls, repeatedly eIicored: a song
and eccentric dance in the finale by Fred
Wright, .jr.t who is nosmggcr and Just as
funny as his brother Eertie, who did the
shopwaiker in THE Shop Girl" aud "A
TNttic Kiss, 'csmpos sett 6y-F rank LSsnlbert
Of thet company ami sung by Miss Stud
hoIme and Mr. Farkea; = .,,u,u, %.
ting representing a s;baiiroom. The con-
Spfcuors Sfeo53ItfeS were Studholme'S
Tom Tit Song Coates Volunteer song,
which is teE5e used by the ne W branch OF
the saiya9on Army; Farkoa's Laughing
song. and Fred rights song and dance,
Dear Littse Model"
There w4s a. Crowded house and demon
strative arIfreEiation demanded encores
for most offlfe Seatures. Every one holding
,o&pons wliS presented with handsome
photograph of Miss Studholme. All i'll all
the ARTISTS Model opened auspiciously
and will doubtless spend profitable week
i'll Washington.
"The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown"
of which much has been said and written,
was produced at the New National Theater
last night for the first time in Washington.
The piece achieved notable success over
in England, where it Is still on the boards
and it remained for some time in New
York city. 1t was greeted last night by a
large audience and il laughter is the meas
ure of its success there is no question OF its
popular favor, for nearly every thing that
was doue and said on the stage prov okeo
risible response from the audience.
Miss Brown, with her strange adventures,
IS a relative of that amiable lady from
Brazil where the nuts come from, dear
and FAMILIAR to us a Charley Aunt" Be-
ing a Younger person it might he said that
the adventurous young thing is sort OF
niece AT least The IaInlly resemblance
is very strong, even though they are both
decidedly different people. In both cases
young man dresses up in female garp, but
the motives are disSimilar us the ma keup.
In aunty's case she is pursued by bar
rister and makes love to his wards, in
Miss Browns strange case she is pursued
by a detective, who sits by her on a SOFA
in the dark and she finds her arms con-
tinually about an lrrefresslDle, out couieiy
young person.
The fun in both cases arises out of the
situation Of man imperSonatlng Wo-
man placed among women.
The main IDEA of the farce is that a
boaYding-SchOOl girl elOpeS with an army
officer. who is not familiar with the laws
governing a ward i'll chanCery. They marry
and the officer becomes Culrrit Tor con-
tempt OF court, he loses his wife and dis
guises himself as woman, ard, calling
himself Miss Brown, goes TO the boarding
school to Tecdpture his wife, and so sue
cessfully carries out the deception that
he makes his point.
The action was carried along with con-
siderable dash and go, and the points
made were frequent as the teeth in a fine
comb. The unfortunate Capt. Courtenay
who married the ward and then had to
ma SO querade himself and brave a night In
played by Mr.. K. E. Graham. He was
farcicaly humorous, and succeeded in
depicting n new ia shton of female imper
senator without suggesting the personality
or peculiariteS of his aunt, Donna Lucia
Herbert Sparling gave capital cocknsy
hit as Sergt. Tanner Of Scotland Yard. The
Major P. o. Gallagher of E. A. Locke
suggested a ward politician of Gotham
east side more yividiy than an Irish major
of British dragons, but he found himself
plunged into situations and fed with lines
that gave him an opportunity to be
genera lapse.
The ladies of the cast who were most
conspicuous were: Miss Belle Robinson,
who pla yed the mistress of the academy,
and looked enough like Sol Smith Russell tu
be sister to Noah Vale; Miss Perdita
Hudspeth. as Angela, the young Wife; Miss
Jennie Satterlee. as Mrs. 0'Galla CHER, and
| MISS tn Allen. as Euphemia Schwartz
There was a merry band of pretty school
girls, who appeared at the end of the
second act. cad i'll their nightieS, pre-
senting a scene reminiscent OF the Gay
PariSiaDs."
But the hit of the evening was made with
positive and palpab BILE directness. b Charles
Coote. His performance of Herr Won MosieT
was one oftthe cleverest and most artistic
bits OF cha racter portrayal which this