Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-18
1.-THE BELLE OF NEW YORK"
She Makes a Pleasant Impression on the
People of Worcester.

GOR4G VI NfO4CSSlCls
The stars and stripes are again trium-
plant. The American girl as typihed in
1.-THE Belle of New York" entered the
lists at the Worcester Theatre Monday
night in competition with the pseudo-Gat-
lie subtlety of the Girl from Paris" and
the peculiar British damsel known as 1.-THE
Circus Girl" the ARTISTS Model" and
similar well intentoned but tiresome Eng
fish maids, and In the unanimous opinion
OF the many judges present came out at
least six ahead for brightness, snap and
vivaeity.
1.-THE Belle of New York; is nonsense.
to be sure, like all the rest; but in It's wit,
its fin de steele character and its perfect
atmosphere of the New York tenderloin, 1t
IS as clever as tale from Town Topics
dramatized. There was murmur Of
pleased surprise as the curtain rose on a
brilliantly lighted dining-room. A table
fanked with empty champagne bottles
and the debris Of a feast did as much to
show that the coterie Of gay young fell
lows In evening dress had been enjoying
night Of festivity as did the lively drink
ing chorus with which the scene opened.
Harry Bronson, the spendthrift scion of a
wealthy but Puritanic sire, is giving a
farewell supper to his bachelor friends
previous to his marriage to Cora Ange-
algue, the queen Of comic opera. By the
time Harry gets sobered off the bridal
maids to whom the young scamp has also
proposed marriage, and who forbid the
banns. To crown all, Harry's father ar
riyes on the, scene at the head Of the
Cigarette Society Of Cohoes," bound on a
mission of evangelizing the Tenderloin
district and seeks the aid Of his son in
the work. Being something of rounder
himself, on the quiet, he is not so shocked
at his sons companions as might be ex-
pected, and, indeed, makes himself quite
at home. with them; but eventually cuts
Harry off with penny, adopting a come
" Salvation lassie as his heiress instead.
In the end Harry marries the new heiress
and all is happiness.
With this for story Gustave Kerker,
Hugh Morton and the Casino manage
ment have evolved a capital show. Mr.
Kerker's music is q trifle more on the
music hall order than this talented com
poser Is wont to descend to, though the
melodies are swinging and bright The
concerted finale to the first act however
Will rank with anything he has DONE Mr.
Morton has contributed a brace of dainty
love lyrics and a lot of dialogue In the
way of chaff and repartee that keeps the
audience in a roar most of the time at his
sallies. The management have done their
share In royalty costuming the piece, sup
plying six realistic stage pictures, notably
Pell street, New York. and the Casino at
Management Pier, and providing a host
Of the prettiest girls and cleverest comedi-
ans imaginable
Harry Davenport as Ichabod Bronson,
Harry's frisky father, leads the fun MAX
ing. This part was written for Dan
DAILY, and that unique comedian woAld
have played it here had not his recent jse-
we're accident at Boston compelled his Jab-
sence during the company's one-night
stands. Most of the epigramatic flashes
and witty sallies are in the lines Of this
part, and it is to Mr.. Davenport's credit
that he made Mr. Daly's loss felt so lit
tie. William Morris was irresistibly fun
ny as a lunatic with a homicidaJ mania,
a CleSt9THRlOlQn manner and q Vivid Cor
man accent. 1t seemed odd to find George
Fortescue in male attire, but as the theat-
rieal papa of the story he looked as if he
might have stepped out Of Dickens pages
William Cameron and George Schiller
were excellent In character parts, and the
twin Brazilians of "''Pllddin' head wilson,
were eapita,lly buraesqued by VIM. H.
Sloan and VIM Gould.
Edna May, the Salvation heroine, is g.
maid whose face might well be her for
tune, so attractive and withal refined and
high bred 1t appears Her voice is timer
than herself even, but has been carefully
cultivated till it answers the purpose as
well as a bigger one, and her articulation
Is perfect. Phyllis Rankin as an Irnita-
ton Anna Held was almost as fascinating
as her prototype and the best songs Of
the evening fell to her lot. Marie George,
dancer, q prima donna and a Bowery girl
respectively, made hits in their several
roles.
The audience was one Of the largest of
the season, filling seats, boxes and stand
ing room to OVERLOOKING. Tonight and
Wednesday comes the "Black Crook" at
popular prices.