The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-07-16
DAN DAILY DONS DUCKS
The Comedian Appears as Blase
Dandy in The Founders"
His Clever Impersonation Forms the
Nucleus Around which the New
Casino Offering Must Be Built.
Phyllis Rankin In the Cast-othcr
Notes of the Riuito in New York.

New York, July 15.-After having been
subject to a sudden change OF name and
then postponed for two nights, the latest
Englander-Smith production, yclept The
FOUNDERS" was presented On Wednesday
evening at the Casino The title Of the
piece was altered late on Saturday because
Manager Lederer remembered taat the
former eognomen had been used by a Ger
man dramatist and that wild Oats" was
hardly as decorous and proper-sounding a
designation as might be desired for must
cal comedy TO be done at his house The
premiere was delayed because the work
had not been In rehearsal for a sutIicien,
length OF time. and because such proeras-
tination has become so much the fashion
in guliible Gotham that the public is not
inclined to believe in the magnitude of
performance until its initial rendering has
been deferred six or seven days. In this
case the disappointment must have been
most CALLING TO the theatres adj writer for
Monday was about as warm as one expects
to find it this side OF the Styx and Only in
sanity or inability TO get ones ticket ex-
changed should have tempted the most ar
dent into stuffy auditorium.
Now that The Founders has been ex-
hibited and the press agent has given
up his space in the amusement columns
to the professional critic, it is possible 10
say that the most recent labor OF Harry
B. Smith and Ludwig Englander would not
be likely to create much of a sensation in
New York were there anything else about
which to talk. The Offering has a few
really funny lines and great many very
suggestive ones, three or four dainty mel
oGies and score Of reminiscent tunes,
number of bright lyrics, more than Or
dinariIy frivolous plot, and-Dan Daily.
In my humble opinion. the last named fac
tor in the ayowed success of The Round
ers" is by far the most important. As
Richard Carroll remarked in The Three
Dragons last spring at the Broadway.
Mr.. Daily is the nucleus of the eonspira-
cy." Without the altitudinous comedian
the presentation would be most potent as
a cure for insomnia.
As | have already limited. the story OF
The Founders could hardly be used as
the theme for a novel. even by that mas
terful stretcher. Alexandra Dumas. 1t is
chiefly impressive for the plainness OF its
attempts at nastiness. A certain gay mar
quis has taken 10 wife a prim, little Qua
keress, and growing weary OF her sedate-
ness. has begun career of convention
al French-ball. cigarette and-champagne
wickedless with a Partisan dancer namel
Thea Priscilla, the dutiful spouse. els
covers the intrigue. hurries after her hus-
band to the BOULDER OF his enchantress.
and there witnesses a rather audaciou5
scene between them. In order to avenge
herself, she dons the attire of the per-
former and succeeds in making Maginn.s
Pasha, an Irish Turk. take her to supper.
She then aFranges to deeoy the marquis
away from Thea, to slip out OF the
clutches of her poIyglotic admirer. and
TO so inform her lord and victim of her
OF his way and announces his intention
of allowing her to domesticate him. All OF
which is very usual, very silly, and would
be very tiTesome without the few funny
lines, the three or four dainty melodies.
the number OF bright lyrics. and Dan
Daily.
The deep-yoiced jester appears In THE
Founders as a blase Duke whose evident
WEAKNESS would make the fortune of John
Drew if he could assume it. for the matt
nees. Mr.. DAILY dresses the part ludicrous-
ly, in one act covering his long legs with
tight-iitting duck trousers. and SO en-
phasizes his old-time vocal and physical
drawl that only mute could avoid laugh
ing at him. The speeches that fall to him
have apparently been devised with view
TO showing of the aforesaid drawl to its
best advantage and at least one of his songs
is fully worthy to be classed as the success
or to his From Far Cohoes" in THE Belle
of New York. This particular selection
is set 10 most appropriate music and runs
as follows: