The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-27
THE LOCAL STAGE.
"The Little Host" Observation-Disclosures
VIII Unppcn" Tonight.


'The Little Host" entertained a large
and select company at Sweeney g. Coombs
theater last night and If everyone was not
thoroughly pleased with the efforts made
to amuse the fact was not in egide nee
But few, II any. OF the attractions OF the
season thus far have been productive o.
more mirth, The audience was kept In
constant state of good humor and some
of the specai features were encored sc
often that the clever members Of the cas-,
presenting the piece grew tired OF re-
spending.
THE Little Host" creation of Edgar
Smith and Louis DeLange. tells the story
of a young man. Jack Dashington by
name. who leaves his country home to
seek his fortunes in New York and who,
affected by his environment, becomes a
thorough Bohemian, notwithstanding the
tact that his parents continue to tn nix
of him as youth who is really too good
to exist. His father pays him visit on
a night when he Is entertaining a large
party of kindred spirits and, in order TO
prevent the complications which would
ton, he conceals himself and allows his
sweetheart, Margery Dazzle. an actress,
who has that night played the part OF a
boy, and who has retained her masculine
costume, to appear as the occupant OF the
rooms In which Dashingtou pere finds
himself. The old gentleman falls under
the influence of his surroundings and. to
use his own expression gets on an "ele-
CANT load Of peaches. During the even
ing he invites all OF those present TO visit
him at his country home next day The
invitation is promptly accepted and the
second srene OF the play is laid at the
residence of the elder Washington, where
all sorts of complications occur and where
is finally disentangled the pa
ternal consent being given to the mar
riage of Jack with Margery aud prom
Use being eXacted from the same source
TO produce the cash necessary for the
production Of an opera in which Olympia
longacre, singer who has made favor
able impression on the elder Dashing-
ton, is to star. The plot is by no means
a complicated one and the action of the
piece affords an excellent opportunity for
the introduction of number of special
ties.
The hit of the piece is undoubtedly made
by r. ID. c"Bob'0 Graham. who appears
10 "oEiah i'hNHIu6hul. MI. bTdUHm ms
lost none of the qualities which made him
SO immensely popular in "The Little ny
coon" and other productions, and his
work last night could not have been I'm
proved upon. He had n close second in
the person of Mr.. John j. Rafael. a we'll
known player who appeared to part Gu
larly good advantage as William Reilly,
the leader of the crowd OF Bohemians
with whom Dashipgton surrounds HIM
self. Mr.. Rafael changed from the part
Of Jack to that OF Reilly only a few DAYS
ago. but this fact ia by no means demon
strated by his work which is artistic aud
finished throughout and which is especial
y enjoyable because it Is perfectly ma =
iral and free from aifectation
Corinne as Margery Dazzle the actress
ioes some very clever work. but II can by |
10 means be said that her performance is /
taultless. She has not gained repose |
'ince her last appearance here, nor has
The lost flesh, as is evidenced more than |
plainly by the cotume she wears. There
$ certain suggestion OF mechanical a. |
ION about everything she does and, Whit
he seems to succeed in amusing her audi |
ors, her work could be improved on IN
everal different ways. The musical re-
Iuirements OF the part, however, abe fills
cry we'll.
-"'oS iNu'u NuIlt. VINO possesses
pleasing soprano voice, does some good
work as Olympia Longacre. and Miss
ieneiviye REYNOLDS and Miss Harriet
lark are effective in the respective roles
Y Aunt Jane and Susie Mr. Arthur VII I
ars gives fairly satisfactory rendition
4 the part OF Jack. considering the fact
nat he has been playing II only few
avs, and Louis Delange. one OF tho au-
hors of the piece. appears 10 excellent ad-
antage as Einsany. the German musician.
he remaining characters are in geoi
ands' The piece is prettily dressed. some
the musical numbers are unusually
God and the production, as whole. gave
eneral satisfaction.
The next attraction will be tho farce
Mistakes VIII Happen" which wiIl be
resented tonight and tomorrow matinee
nd night by One of Jacob Lifts com
anies' headed by Charles Dickson. Tho
reduction comes with unusually nattering
recommendations from the towns in which
has already appeared