Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-25
!: MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

1t was in the fall of 1894 that 1.-The Lady
Slavey' was produced in London with May
Yche, the burlesquer who won title, In
the role of Phyllis, the title part. 1t was
styled an operate comedy. 1t met with
great favor, partly because Miss Yohe was
in the cast and partly because there was
considerable novelty in George Danse's
book. It was not long until version had
been prepared for the American stage, with
entirely new music by Gustave kerker, and
with considerable revision of the text by
some unacknowledged hand, and with Dan
DAILY Marie Dressler and other popular
comedy people in the cast This cast. with
very few changes, was seen at the Coates
last night when the piece was presented for
the first time in this, city. Although the
story is still English. the Americanized YER
sion is entirely comprehensive. and her-
kers music is particularly meritorious, be-
ing the work of a composer who does not
let his knowledge of higher composition
stand in the way of necessary adaptation
to a triing subject. Indeed the light and
catchy spirit of the music, especially that
/ of the choruseS and part numbers, is the
life of the entertainment, and the general
effects are still further enhanced by a
stage fuli of girls that are fair to look upon
even If there is particularly striking
individual lbeauty. The fact that the story
is up-to-date revision of the Cinderella
happenings is not the least of its popular
merits.
Dan DAILY, he of the rueful countenance
and irresponsible legs. ambles through the
piece in a monotone disturbed only by the
a drag out dance. in which he is the dragee.
He is very funny, but not so funny as he
has been in other plays. Miss Dressler was
indSpoSed last night, but the management
announced that she would be able to ap-
pear this afternoon. Her place was filled
last night by Miss Dorothy Neville, who
was so handicapped by a cold that she
should have been excused if there had been
n second understudy. Miss Neville acted
the part of the music hall flirt effectively
however. and those who had not seen Miss
Dressler had little to complain of in the
arrangement of the cast. Annie. Buckley
makes a thoroughly charming Phyllis, Civ
ing a touch of artistic reality to a per-
formance of general eXtravagan Charles
Dandy who was the original sheriff in the
London production is retained for that
part and is frequently amusing. A pretty
little dancer of very artistic attainmentS,
but whose name seems TO have been omit
ted from the programme. gave one of the
most delightful of the specialties. The
entertainment was received with delight by
good Christmas eve audience. There
Will be matinee this afternoon and an
other tomorrow.
THE Little Trooper was sung at the
Auditorium last night by Della Fox and
her company. The opera is in some re-
spects superior to ''Fieur de Lis and suits
the present cast particularly we'll Miss
Fox is happily placed in the character of
Clairette and to that fact she largely owes
her successful departure as comic opera
star. Harry Masdonough is very anus
ing Girard. even If occasionally unneces-
sarily grotesque. The opera is prettily
staged and with its pretty music bright
comedy and general attraCtiveness makes
a particularly pleasing holiday bill. 1t will
be repeated tonight and the remainder
of the week with the exception of this
afternoon, when "Fleur de Lis" will be
given.
There will be a matinee performance of
The County Fair ut the Grand this after
noon. and performance of the Howard
Athcnaeum speciality company at the Ninth
Street.