The Washington times., 1901-10-08
AT THE THEATRES.
The CoIumbin-Frnnk Daniels.

/ says:
Holy Smokel I'm fun of gasoIene."
Where are you goins,' a member of
! the cast asks.
I'm not going; I've BEEN" replies the
| funny man.
/ Daniels or Blossoms, as he is known
! in Miss Simplicity" is a valet who has
/ been left to bring on the baggage of the
party. Of which his master, Lord Bob
/ Something-or-o other. is member.
After the news of the destruction of
the automobile is duly related by Bios
SONS he is asked:
rs any of the baggage left?"
Yes; it's all left: 1t left when l did"
! These are but a few samplcs-early ones
| of Daniels lines in Miss Simplicity"
| his new piece, which was given here for
| the first time at the Columbia Theatre
/ last night. and which sent away one of
/ the largest houses that has ever greeted
| him, fun of good humor, and confident
| in the belief that the comedian has a
I splendid succe essor to his Idols Eye"
Wizard of the Nile and THE Amer
! The piece was rot originally fashioned
! for Daniels but for Boston amateur as
sociation that makes a speciality of pro-
ducing a new musical affair once a year.
But if the Iibrettist. r. a. Barnet, had
]
fitted Daniels better than he has in Miss
Simplicity" and it is doubtful If the ac-
tor has ever had a more congenial part
than that of Blossoms.
There is not a great deal to the story
Of the piece, although it is decidedly
more sane than most of the similar things
that have come this way for some time
| The proprietor OF a three-acre kingdom
I is about to be crowned and is scheduled
! to marry a young woman he has never
seen. blossoms is the kings man. and
Blossoms has a young woman" of his
own. Claire de Loinyille. the f1ancee of
the King, ana Patty. her duenDa-Patty
is Blossoms young woman''-decido
that Claire viii not fulfill the com
pact to wed the king ard she changes
positions with Rosalie. a beg,;ar
maid, while Patty is passed off as her
aunt. The youthful king meets Claire and
the aunt and Immediately falls in love
with the former, after the most approved
fashion of the modern iibrettist, and
quickly makes up his mind to abdicate
The prospects are not bright enough to in
duce any Of his numerous friends to as
sumo the responsibilities of the regal of
flee, but he finally prevails upon Blossoms
hat he is the very man TOR the exalted Job,
and Blossoms thinks so, too, until along
toward the end OF The performance, when
tnInES are Strengthened out by Claire's
Identity becoming known TO the real king
and he revealing his aristocratic sell.
while blossoms and his Patty swear
eternal devotion.
The possibilities of such a role as Bios
SONS -onsr to Daniels almost unlimited
opportunities for the display of his droll
aud comic art. As about every person In
the audience last night came especially
To see Daniels and cared but little for
any OF the other members of the large
cast, they were well Pleased. for in Miss
simplicity there istan abundance of
Daniels. although at no time does his
presence weary the spectator He is
genuinely funny as the spurious ruler
Win q ministry that gives him an infinite
amount of worry. He is given more songs
than he has ever before enjoyed, and for
the most part they are excellent compost
lions. His DON'T Mind Me- The Chest
nutty Language of Lovers THE Good
Little Sunday School Boy Foreign
Ditties," and The Interrogative Child of
Mrs WhimDle were all received with
many evidences of genuine approval
While the last named proved to be one OF
the best songs Of a eomical order that has
heen heard on local stage thus far this
Throughout the performance there are
plenty OF surprises in the excellence Of
the music, the credit for which is given
on the programme to Harry Lawson
Hearth, a new composer, so far as Wash
lnBtOn Is concerned. While some of Mr.
Hear,z contributions to lie piece are
admiraoie the most popular numbers
clifton Crawford. The latter is respon-
sible for the music of the Mrs Whimple's
child song, while the piece that sent Ia,
aidlence away from the theatre hum
ming and whistling its infectious melody
kosalle, was written by Mr.. Corliss
"Rosalie' is sung by Harry Woodruff. and
although his voice is sufiicie ntly good for
ms particular number. he fails to get the
beauty out Of When viii My Dream
Come True" which he sings with Helen
Lord, and which is perhaps the most
beautiful selection of the entire score
The only weakness Of Miss SIMPLICITY
as matter of fact. lies in its lack of
voices good enough to adequately render
the music of the different numbers. AL
lthe crater is about the best singer of
the organization, and even she has never
haasted OF her prima donna abilities
Isien Lord has iirst-class march song
The Nursery Grenadiers." which is one
OF the best compositions of fits type heard
In long time, bat she fails to give the
requisite spirit and dash to it's rendition
If Atr. Daniels had the assistance of a few
singers his Miss Simplicity would be
the greatest musical success of the year
AS II Is his own songs are about the only
ones that are satisfactory.
Helen LORD, one time a belle of New
York, but now grown more youthful in
figure and face has succeeded TO the
honor Of leading support to Comedian
Daniels. Miss Lords Claire is a pretty
picture, even when she is in tatters. and
throughout the piece she evidences a great
improvement in the manner in which she
speaks her lines. but her vocal efforts are
disappointing. they are lacking in color
ana suggest grey tone more than any
other. But aside from this deficiency
Miss Lord makes very beautiful. grace
iul and pleasing follower of Helen Red
mund. Allene Crater is an excellent
RCsalie. the beggar maid, and her sing
ing is one of the most enjoyable portions
Of her work. Grace Belmont plays the
Patty very cleverly. Harry Woodruff en-
DOidcned by his success in "Papa'S Wife"
and evidently forgctful of his undeniably
fine acting in When We Were Twenty
one, rs once more in musical comedy.
and while he looks handsome as the owner
Of a kingdom and wears his clothes very
unactor like, and acts with distinction and
Intelligence. yet his best friends cannot
deny hat he is out of his sphere; that he
might do better Were he not called upon
to sing that little love song with Miss
Lord in the second act but with this
musical handicap he is quite out Of the
running. owen Westford, a good com
edian mas but small chance TO distinguish
himself. while Lawrence Wheat finds him
self in the same plight. OF the subsidiary
roles, Fred Bailey has undoubtedly the
best, and as DR.. Willie Pellets he gives
a splendid imitation of the modern maker
Of pills, whose remedies demonstrate that
there is hope" Mr.. Bailey also has a
song which he sings well enough to get
a number of encores, and otherwise his |
work is so good that he stands out in
bold relief among his associates
Miss simplicity is supplied with some
pretty scenery, a profusiOn of costumes |
hat are In good taste and represent a |
large financial outlay, while the chorus is |
not only good looking but very strong |
'ocaliy. II is well directed and adds
greatly to the general excellence of the |
production. There will be matinee per
formances Thursday and Saturday.
The NatiOnnl-Primrosc and Dock
stadcr.