The times., 1899-02-28
Lnfayettc-"A Runaway Girl"

rather than with those of laughter The
scenic investure is quite elaborate.
Lnfaycttc-"A Runaway GIRL
When it is explained that "A Runaway
Girl is a musical comedy presented By
DAILY company, everyone will know what
sort OF production it was that occupied
the stage last night at the Lafayette
| Square Opera House. 1t may be said in
addition that this melange of songs,
dances, and wisticisms seems likely 10
prove as satisfactory to audiences as has
any of the other like pieces brought here
recently.
The story, which is English in origin
and conventional in purport, deals with
the adventures of Winifred Gray who on
learning that her guardians, Lord and Lady
Coodle, have planned to wed her to their
nephew. whom she has never seen, runs
away from school, in company with a Land
of strolling minstrels. At the same time
Prof. Tamarind. one of the teachers at the
institution. becomes enamored of 4 pretty
gypsy named Carminita, and also joins the
strOllers. Soon afterward the heroine, in
the character of singing girl. makes the
acquaintance of the said nephew of her
guardians, Guy Stanley, and the two i'm
mediately fall i'll love with each other
without knowing that they were destined
to marriage by their natural protectors.
IN
these many minor characters assist, nota-
bly, the itinerants. the guardians. Flipper.
jockey; Alice. his sweetheart; an elderly
entomoOgist, youthful nobleman and an
unlimited number of tourists, flower girls
peasants, walters. carnival dancers, and
other interesting people.
Cyril Scott has IN Guy Stanley what is
perhaps the most difficult part in the pro-
duction. being forced to combine in his
npn hp pha nf
tic hero, a comic opera Juvenile, and
song and dance man. The lines which he
has to speak are not especially brilliant,
and his costume, which is p ain modern
suit OF clothes, gives him but little he p.
In spite of all this. he manages to get a
great deal out of the role. and pays it
from beginning TO end in a thoroughly
pleasing and unaffected manner. James
Powers, as Flipper, has considerably more
opportunity for funmaking. and makes a
great deal of it. Ethel Jackson. the sue
cessor of Virginia Earl proves very win
some and dainty in the character of Wini-
fred, her three branches of labor being
alike commendable. Harold Wizard, as
Lord Coodle. made an emphatic hit and
Frank Cell acts the part of the elderly
professor in very effective though some
what Henry Clay Barnabean form. Irene
| Perry. as Carminita. is satisfactory as is
Elsa Ryan in the role of Alice.
Although the music of the piece is decid-
edly reminiscent it is tuneful and peas
| ing, two or three of the songs being very
| catchy. Marching With the Band" as
| sung by the company, won much ap-
! plsuse. while Miss Jacksons little He
! Guessed Right the Very First Time" was
| one of the features of the evening. There
| is great deal of good dancing both by the
| chorus and by individuals. the plantation
steps taken by MIR. Powers and Miss Ryan
| being perhaps the most fetching OF all.
The costumes. especially In the last act,
| when Carnival OF Venice is introduced,
! are sumptuous and well chosen. The aud
! ience was large and aDpreciatiye