Evening star., 1901-05-07
VII Sc ENENTS.

COLUMBIA T1fEATER-A very amhi-
tious undertaking was inaugurated at the
Columbia Theater last night. and with
every prospect Of success, so far as pres
ent indications can be relied upon. Musical
comedy is about the only field of theatric
entertainment not Yet exploited as a means
of summer amusement and the attendance
last night was an assurance that the public
stands ready to bestow it's patronage and
applause just as long as the standard set
by this week 5 production of "A Runaway
Girl can be maintained. "A Runaway
Girl can hardly claim consideration as a
novelty. Surprise at the way i'll which Ar
/ thur Dunn landed in single stride from
the position of variety entertainer to that
Of hgh-cldSS musical comedian has long
since ceased. Mr.. Dunn is here and he
bids fair to become fixture i'll this line
of amusement. for h" gets laughs when
ever the occasion requires them. dances
with indefatigahle vim and sings all that
is necessary. Mr.. Dunn would seem lost
on any stage where ne appeared without
his; more comcy but less agile partner
Clara Bell jerome. Her work last night
was highly appreciated.
The English girl with the cockney ac-
cent is played by Paula Edwardes. who
originated the role. and whose further ac-
quaintance Washington Will have a well
come opportunity 70 make for she is one
Of the permanent quantities in the Column
bia organization. Miss EdWardes was SOU
bretttshly coy in skirts. dapper and trim in
t"S cos''iiie anu stn''IlciN humorous IN
h'i So'icS SoiS. oiie won "a iohs pro
C'HSioII VI e1i'ottS on on inns HiuS!cai hummer
Celeste Wyune is another attractive men,
p'i o4 the cohp"hE VINO sdllcd liberal
measure OF approval. one OF the best per
I%rlhahCes OF the evening was that Of
| Henri Leone as the leader of the banditti.
His singing was especially fine.
The exquisite music in "A Runaway Girl
fingers as d pleasant memory long after
familiarity has deprived the repartee of its
sniartness and the situations of their mrth.
The music had the benefit not only of a
competent Interpretation by the principals
but Of the cooperation of large and
efficient orchestra and a chorus whose
| members sang as If they expected by good
bt thaVlor TO earn the privilege of remaining
all summer The story of "A Runaway
Girl is not Important but it is sufficient
to maintain succession of song hits anv
one Of which would be enough to make the
manager Of current musical farce feel
safe. The audience was ready to listen to
| the hand any number of times and to let
the boy go on guessing INDEFINITELY II 10
safe to say that If the musical comedies
which follow are produced in the same
good style and with the same snirit that
characterize "A Runaway cirI,, W-asbi,.,
ton will have made a permanent and ,.rati
fyine addition ia ire rasonrnas - Co. .t.
of warm weather diversions ~ way
NEW NATIONAL, THEATER or tba
many theatrical taooseIs of tha r,usicaI
farce type who have iourneyed In tbic III
rection recently or distantly "Tha Casino
Girl" is unquestionally and strikinelIy the
most devoid of dramatic nurnose n W., .
natural for every person in the s,,dianca
of the New National Theater last eyeninp
on departing from the playhousa 70 nu3
the mental query. What was il ALI ahout p,
A Sherlock Holmes would be deserving of
the heartiest conxratulations n he co,,Id
solve the problem of The Casino Girl ;, %
far as anything even remotely resemhline .
a plot is concerned All the other t'pirlss'
of the stage have presented some sort OF
an excuse for existing but the Iadv of
the Casino caption has evidently "inst
growed and she makes no attemnf 10
masquerade The audience. nropressaS to
the extent of grasping that a Partisan nil
liner established I'm business In Cairo
was formerly a New York cborus giri
While IN the American metropolis she had