The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-07
THE PASSING SHOW.


often takes into the prisons of this coun-
try have come to realize that there is no
such thing as crime. The unfortunate men
and women confined at the expense of the
State all are victims of malignant persr-
cution. They themselves say so-and they
should know Corres!-Nr dinghy, the history
OF the American stage lbes not record any
inferior play ever produced. The dra-
matists of the world I-ver have done
ought but the very best of work. The
pieces that have failed have failed as
result of poor management. of infinite
excellence or Of malicious criticism. Ex-
ceptions there have been none. AS the
case may be. authors or hackers will con-
firm this statement-and they should
know,
When Children OF the Ghetto" a pow
erful story wretchedly told, went into the
Herald Square. and was universally con-
demned. certain folk were foolish enough
to attribute the end to the many faults of
the Offering. These persons were wrong.
Children of the Ghetto was stabbed to
death by the hired pens of mercenaries.
James A. Herne's Rev Griffith Daven-
port WAS let alone at the same place OF
amusement, not because 1t treated OF
moribund subject. forsooth. but because 1t
had been preceded at the Evans Hopper
house by frolicsnme farces And most in
point Kirke La Shelle's libretto of THE
Amer was laughed at in print merely as
a consequence of the fact that the writer
had been employed on sundry Gotham
newspapers and his former colleagues
we're jealous of him Why Frfnk Dan
iels' vehicle was not laughed at In the
theatre has not been set forth as yet
Narrowing down to the aforesaid instance
in point, the individuals concerned in the
rendering of The Amer were much
wrought up over the stating given them by
the reviewers. They contrived to submit
to the public an explanation 50 plausible
that it was believed by many who VOTED
of prisons and managers Offices alike. The
Times critic. who appreciates the real
cleverness and geniality of Ar La Shelle,
convinced himself that, in this affair, a
promising fellow had been sacrificed to
petty personal feeling. And then. on last
Monday night. THE Princess Chic" had its
premiere at the Lafayette
Square. The observation of a half hour
showed that the man responsible for the
words in that piece could never have
turned out a creditable comic opera book.
Making all due allowance Tor the newness
of the presentation. and fn. the scant OPP
portunity that had existed for the build
ing of roles, The Princess Chic" proved
most doleful and conventional effort. II
THE Ameer" was no better. Mr.. La Shelle
should ask pardon OF the New York scribes
whom his agents assailed.
The plot of THE Princess Chic is a
romantic one and decidedly fertile. No
fault could be found with Ii. Left to it
self as an unsupported love story, there is
IL. "A
with the delightful music of Julian Ed
wards and achieve success. But the humor
might have come from
Punch" 1t is entrusted to four come
dams. whose parts. respectively. are those
of Chambertin. a steward to the Duke of
Brevet and Brabear Two SOL
iiers OF fortune, and Pomrnard the guar
dian of the princess. The first of these
:nles is assumed by Richard Golden. whose
fannerisms and hard work were RESPONSE
Bile for much laughter on Monday. The
solitary thing contributed TO the character
by Mr. La Shelle. however, Is catch line,
which. lacking wholly in wit gains appeal
only by reason of constant repetition. J. c.
lIiron and win Vaudeville are the Brevet
and Brabeau. The parts are REPRODUCTIONS
nf those OF Rayvy and Caddy IN "Erminie,'
but are not amusing. The adventures get
hungry-a trick by which the risibles OF
variety audiences have been tickled for
three decades. Pcmmard becomes fright
aned and this method OF compelling levity
is older still. There are neither bright
lines nor clever comic situations in "The
Princess Chic" The libretto is distinctly
hat of an amateur.
After getting used TO their speeches
such entertainers as Mr.. Golden often man
age to build up the most stupid of roles
and so to save the presentations in which
hey are employed. This may occur with
The Princess Chic" oil MIR. La Sheile.
who is both sensible and clear headed may
get some one else to undo what he has
lone Otherwise there will never be made
4 dollar on the production. Say what one
will. amusement lovers go to comic opera
because they wish to smile. al of Mr..
Edwards charming music, and tf Mr.. La
Shelle's Interesting story. and Of :. Castel
Bert's costumes. cannot recOmI ense folk
who are disappointed in that particular.
Ii were real wisdom to employ Harry y.
smith. or some other expert. o.. the work.
And this is said with the most Kindly feel
ng to Mr.. La Shelle.
The yarn about malicious criticism has |
yorn rather thin for road use.
There is no form OF entertainment, how
,ver, that runs less smoothly than does |
-omic opera until time has creased its |
wheels. New shoes and new librettos |
squeak. Put an ordinary actor into part |
hat he only half understands and he will |
'ontrive TO ramble through in such fash |
DIN as to give an idea OF what the author |
lesires to convey man like Richard |
Golden depends for his creation of merri- |
nent so much on his own careless light |
d. Il
.ous interpretations that trifing uncer- |
ainty must destroy the whole effect |
damned He will appear afraid 20 walk, |
est he should take step moro han he |
vas directed TO take and. IL asked to in J
ect the alphabet into some scene or other, |
he would doubt his power OF remembrance. |
such hesitancy gradually communicates it
elf to spectators, and the result is gener-
Il nervousness.
''The Jolly Musketeer" had It's premiere |
N October 3, 1898. at the Broad Street
Philadelphia, and was brought
lere fortnight later. The excellence of I
he material was obvious. and yet the
Houses gathered were not greatly pleased |
With the Offering. Ii seemed strained and
Uneven. Last week. however. the assem-
,lages at the Columbia fairly laughed
themselves sick at the piece. Bright lines
hat had not been noticed before empha-
lied themselves. A year and a half of
performances had done wonders. History
'ossibly may repeat itself in the case of
The Princess Chic" The presentation
nay improve until. upon its entrance into
Few York the reviewers will greet it-as
he "burlesque queens" say-right royalty. |
md then again IL may not.
In the current number OF the "Cosmo-
Clitan," by the way. Kirke La Shelle has
m article on press agents. in which he
ellis of a few OF the expedienis at which
hose pentry will not stou He mentions