The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-23
AT THE THEATRES.
The Columbia-"Foxy QuiIIcr.n

The COlumbia-"FOxy CUTLERY
After witnessing the first city presenta.
ton Of Foxy CUTLER by the Klaw &
Erlanger Opera Company at the sColumbia
last night, one is quite apt to write in ex-
travasant language Of the production. the
book of Harry B. Smith, the delightful
music of Reginald DeKoven, and of the
I splendid company. headed by Jerome
Sykes and to fervently exclaim. Here. at
last. is real comic opera. so long looked
for and so often delayed in ARRIVAL fit
| ting successor to Robin Hood" 1t was
all SO good. so entertaining, and gen.
| timely funny that the immense audience
| was demonstrative to a marked degree.
| There is no doubt of the great and pro-
| nounced success Of Foxy CUTLER" and it
is certain to delight series of crowded
houses during the engagement at the
Columbia
Mr.. Smith has once more taken the
character of CUTLER. the laundering bonn
bastic sleuth, which he first introduced in
1.-THE Highwayman.' but the new CUTLER
is an infinitely more ludicrous parsonage
than was his predecessor. The comic
opera ferreter is shown in new sur
roundings. is given a stupendous task to
perform. and the result Of his work is
obtained by series Of inductive reason
ing that would cause DR.. Doyle or Emile
Gaboriau to confess themselves ANA
teurs in the detective business. This new
CUTLER will convulse many audiences ere
he is, in turn. succeeded by some other
character for comedian Sykes, but he will
have the satisfaction Of knowing that in
his day he broke all records in the fun
making line. And Mr.. Sykes may in days
to come hit upon some other parsonage Of
an amusing type, but 1t is doubtful IL he
will ever again win more emphatic or
distinct personal triumph than he did
last night.
In making the first production of the
Klaw & Erlanger Comic Opera Company
the management has been prodigal in the
matter of expenditure for scenery. cos
tunes, and accessories, and in the selec-
tion Of the company to support Mr.. Sykes
rare judgment has been exhibited. The
scenic portion Of the performance is mas
sive. elaborate to a fault, almost. while
the costumes are varied and rich that
the spectator is inclined to wonder what
new surprise in raiment will be shown
next, each succeeding change of costume
being regarded as the apex Of
a remarkable sartorial display. AL
most any opera would be accept
ably rendered by such company
as is seen in Foxy CUTLER" but with
the admirable score of DeKoven and the
clever lyrics of Mr.. Smith the result is
u comic opera presentation of almost un-
precedented worth. In choral work, in
particular, is the performance unusually
meritorious. and when the mass of aux
iiiaries Is observed one is compelled to
believe the programmed assertion that
the chorus numbers one hundred. Unlike
the average comic opera chorus. this one
can sing and sing WE'LL too. Indeed. it is
evident that it's members were chosen for
their vocal abilities rather than for their
charms of person, although many of the
feminine portion are possessed Of faces
and forms that are fair to gaze upon.
Mr.. DeKoven in his score-which. by the
way, was written in Washington last win
ter-has discarded the romping, tiresome,
and trite two-step movement. without |
which no comic opera of the last few sea-
sons was supposed to be complete. The |
music in the first act is typical Of the old |
English song forms. When the Corsicans |
put in an appearance number Of delight |
full waltz rhythms, full of delicate fancy
and poetic grace. are introduced. In the
last two acts, the scenes of which are laid |
warmth and coloring. Mr.. DeKoyen's
score is a musicianly effort and while he
has written above much of his recent out
put he has struck the chord of popular
fancy in a number of his songs. and there
is small doubt but that several of the num-
bers will be whistled Oh the streets before
the end of the week.
OF course, Jerome Sykes is good-he al
ways is, no matter in what character he
1,.& s.UN
fairly eclipses all OF his previous work.
He reads his lines in broadly humorous
while his excellent voice makes
his songs real pleasure to listen to. The
was keyed right up to concert
pitch last night and his fun was unctuc Is
and snappy and Infectious. He received
that might well cause any of the
few remaining native comic opera COM
edians to rub their eyes and awaken to the
necessity of rebuilding their efforts lest
they be outstripped in the race for public
appreciation by Mr.. Sykes. The reception
that was given to the new Foxy CUTLER
was none the less fattering than it was
deserved. The audience insisted upon a
speech and Mr.. Sykes responded by ad-
dressing his admirers in the language and
of Foxy CUTLER and not OF
Jerome Sykes. His talk was almost rs
much OF success as his regular work.
Mr.. Dekoven was also called upon .cr a
lew remarks and the composer oontenied
himself by thanking the audience for its
kind reception of the opera.
Adolph link who has been seen by local
audiences with the Liliputians. makes a
great hit as Kimmo, the Japanese dwarf
with Sykes constructed on the six-foot-
Two style of human architecture and link
coming but little above his knees and
playing an opposite part the contrast is
funny. Helen Bertrahn has a
part that should be copgenial because it
provides her with some splendid songs
which she sings with good effect. Her
vocal efforts are decidedly successful, and
she is given hearty reception Julius
Steger, possessed of an admirable tenor
voice and German accent which he is
too fond of to part with, is seen
rs the owner of a healthy, hard working
Corsican vendetta. His songs are rem
Tered with a fervor and dash that aston
sh even his most ardent admirers. The
is perhaps the best that
Mr.. Steger has ever shown locally. w.
J. Stewart formerly a Castle Square
avorite. is a good looking Ned Royster |
md gets much ont of the part. Harry
interprets the role of Wal
Bingham Binks very effectively and skill
ully. Georgia Game is a pert and at
ractive Polly Prime, Cockney maiden in
search Of 1.-The perfect man A note
worthy success is scored by Edna Hunter {
good looking young woman who shows ,
n small bit an ability to handle parts
II considerably more Importance Her
work stands out prominently. and she is
he ablest of the lesser performers. Other
Members Of the cast are: Josie Intropodi. ! ,
Clara Bancroft. Almira Forrest, Edith ,
Barr, Grace Cameron. Louis Cassavant,
nrriy, gfn
,ert S. Sykes, Louis Kelsc. Owen ]. Nc
,ormick Edward Everett Frank Todd IL |