The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-11
AT THE THEATRES.
The NatiOnal-s'The Girl From UT
Thcrc,v

There
There is familiar saying in the the
atrical world that any musical enterprise
with which Charles Frohman is connected
is pretty certain to be failure and this
proverb is backed up by a long list of mu-
steal disappointments that goes as far
back as the Englishy I'm Town" and the
recently frostbitten Rose OF Persia
Now, however. the gentleman whose ad-
mirers have tenderly termed him the
little Napoleon of theatrical managers
has launched out all by himself, and at
the National Theatre last night made one
more effort to ascertain whether he must
go through life with the stigma OF being
musical hoodoo. If applause and othef
manifestations of approval count for aught,
THE Girl From Up There which had lis
first presentation on any stage last night,
must be accounted great big success
and Mr.. Frohman's friends may this morn
ing send in their hearty congratulations
OH his possessing distinctly valuable mu-
steal piece-in fact, one of the very best
that local audience has witnessed in
some time.
In determining to make another try at
the musical field. Mr.. Frohman has made
no mistake in selecting work of Hugh
Morton and Gustave Kerker, who have in
years agone turned out some Of the most
delightful and successful product that has
been given the stamp OF the New York
Casino approval. Each has remarkably
good idea of the requirements OF the aver
age audience, and in their latest enort
prove that they possess the knack OF shoot
ing at the bulls eye OF popular approval
with almost unerring accuracy. FROM q
purely critical standpoint THE Girl From
Up There will not enhance the reputation
of either Mr.. Morton or Mr.. kerker
great deal. Neither will it injure their
standing as writer's for the stage, but 1t
will bring much coin to their Golfers in
the shape of royalties.
THE Girl From Up There is put forward
with the announced determination OF in
Producing Miss Edna May, of The Belle
of New York fame, as a star. And in
making the production, Mr.. Frohnan has
taken no chances for failure. He has pro-
vided what is undoubtedly the best COM
pany OF comedians that local audience
has lately laughed over. while the piece
is staged with prodigality that is Simply
amazing, even in this day of sumptuous
young actress been given such a chance
to make success as has Edna May in the
present instance, and it would be small
wonder were she to fail. She exhibits
much better work in this new piece that
was revealed last night, than even fef
most enthusiastic admirer thought II ssh
BILE. She exhibited not a little dramatic
ability. while the songs that she Was call
ed upon to sing We're rendered in voice
OF much purity, even if not OF uncommon
strength. The affectations that eharac-
terized Miss Mays stage work immediate
ly after her return from her London sue
cess in The Belle of New York.. were
lacking last night, and in their stead were
found simplicity of manner and artless
ness and occurrences that were really
delightful. The management has been
particularly lavish in the gowning of the
star and some of her dresses were marvel
Gus sartorial displays. In a word, Miss
May did even better than anyone looked
for, and she was pronounced surprise.
The Morton kerker piece may be best
described as a buriesque or extravaganza
of the spectacular order. The company is
programmed as Charles Frohman's Musi-
cal Comedy Company, but it would be
nearer the actuality we're 1t termed
Charles Frohman's Extravaganza and
comedy and vaudeville fields have been re-
sorted to TO secure performers for THE
Girl From Up There, and the result has
been eminently successful. There is not
the slightest doubt that when the come
dams were handed their parts they were
instructed to go on the stage and do or
say anything that might win a laugh. And
the best part of it, everyone has chance
at the audience and the good things have
not all been reserved for the star.
Hugh Morton is easily the best writer
of graceful lyrics in this country. and in
THE Girl From Up There he has not al
lowed his ina ginatiOn to be fettered By
conditions or convention, and as a result
his contribution to the performance. while
perhaps as absurdly improbable and fan
tastical as the average fairy tale, is ad-
mirably done. Some of his lines giisten
and sparkle with the brilliancy OF a lime
ligh; en- an Edna May costume. Mr. Ker-
ker's music is OF pleasing quality. al
though at times disappointing and not SO
good as much of his previous efforts. Sew
eral of the musical numbers are of kind
that is readily recalled after being heard
once. and IL will not be many days before
ones ears are assailed with such whistle
able airs as Edna Mays I've Lost My
Fiuttering Heart" We've Been Walking
Round the Ocean," sung by Harry Kelly
sweetly rendered by Virginia Earle; Edna
Aug's catchy When Seraphina Plays the
Concertina, and Harry Conor's I'm the
Meanest Man l Ever Saw
From the irst curtain until the last
drop of the painted canvas there is
constantly changing Kaleidoscope stage
picture. huge iceberg is rent in twain
by mysterious electrical contriya1se in
the hands OF a Yankee inventor, and in
In mi dat nj ba
Edna May resp!endent in glit.erins
gown. She represents Olga. a princess,
who has been a glacial prisoner for five
hundred years. According to an ancient
edict of the gods, she will be turned into
a frozen figure again If within ninety days
she does not drink from golden goblet,
which, unfoT tuIately. for the peace OF
mind of the fair princess, was stolen BY
pirates hundred years prior. The hunt
for this golden cup allows the entire com
pany to utilize the succeeding two acts.
one of which is located in kokariko, and
the last on one OF the Partisan bou!e-
wards. or course. at the last hour the
cup is found, and the curtain descenls
upon the usual happy scene OF the fairy
story.
Throughout the acts OF the piece num-
her of spccialties are introduced, none of
which Is more enjoyable than that of
Montgomery anu otoHe, tle ocst soiS "'iS
dance team on the native stage. In the
first two acts they appear in the guise of
very wicked pirates, but they come into
their own in the final scene, and in their
familiar black face makeup. do all sorts
of fancy dancing. Charles T. Aldrich. too.
scores pronounced hit with his clever
Juggling specially. which is divided into
sections, one half of which is given in the
second, and the other in the last act. Ed
ma Aug wins a prominent portion of the
annlause with her really brilliant rendi-