The Washington times., 1901-09-24
AT THE THEATRES
The CoIumbia-"The Liberty Bellies"

The CoIumbia-.The Liberty Bellies"
The season at the Columbia Theatre
was rung in last night most HARMONIOUS
ly by kIaw and Erlanger's new musical
comedy, The Liberty Bellies" the hancl-
work of Harry b. Smith. as regards the
lihretto. ana a half dozen or more com
posers of music who have in the past
scored successes with their popular
songs The large audience gave the
Bellies a cordial welcome, and encored
time and again several of the best songs
of the entertainment, while Harry Gil
foil's limitations, familiar to patrons OF
vaudeville shows, and recalled as one o1
the features of many Hoytiah tafce'
were about as mach appreciated as any
thing offered during the course OF the per
formance. Eta Butler, too, gave lmlta-
tions and mimicries that were liked I'M
meuselv. Miss Butler was in evidence
during a large portion Of the performance
but her undeniable cleverness is perhaps
sufficient justification for the allopathic
doses of her mat the audience was asked
to stand.
Harry b. Smiths reputation will never
be greatly enhanced by his latest work.
for more inconsequential bit of writing
than is the book OF The Liberty Bellies
would be hard to imagine. The saving
grace of the entertainment is wholly In
the music. and the Interpreting company,
which as an exhibition OF the beauties OF
the metropolitan stage has never been
eGualed. while there are several come
dams in the cast who are altogether too
good for the work they are called upon to
Go in this newest of musical pieces. one
thing that Mr.. Smith has done, for which
he deserves world of thanks, is the OIL
liberation of the old-time merry, merry
band of chorus girls, who have always
Inquired so prominently in his previous
works. In The Liberty Bellies the
chorus is a thing of memory 1t has been
supplanted by sixteen girls-girls who
possess looks, abandon, freshness, grace,
and a knowledge of how to wear rich
clothes that the ordinav member of
chorus has never displayed. In :. : the
one great, big strong point of tl-s Bellies
is its coterie of bellies. 1t is decidedly a
girly shc'S, and as such will doubtless at
tract such no production of recent
seasons has, those theatre patrons who
take especial delight in the light and friy-
olous.
The piece is divided into three acts, al
though the first is as a matter of fact
nothing more than a prologue. For his
chief theme Librettist Smith has merely
borrowed from the same French source
that was responsible for Jane and
Lend Me Your Wife" and other farces
that made it necessary to pawn off wife
on the conyentionaily wealthy uncle who
lives in distant land. The opening act
dormitory At the rise OF the curtain
some of the maids are abed. These are
quickly Joined by nearby roomers. Every
girl is in some state of nocturaI dress
one blonde, Pauline Chase (Bliss), of
washington, comes trooping on the stage
clad in pink silken pajamas. 1t is
delightfully."- unconventional scene these
school girls make, and although there is
not single thing said or done that would
shock the most fastidious, yet the audi
ence involuntariiy gave little gasp of
surprise at the disclosure of the scene
last night. The president of the school
interrupts the spread" and threatens to
expel every girl concerned, whereat two
OF the more determined misses take
French leave and gain the name of Lib
erty Bellies. And there you are-the plots
diclosed so far as the title of the piece is
concerned.
Simple and familiar as the story of the
play may be, its Interpretation could not
easily be better nor could any set of
players get more genuine fun out of the
lines lines than do Harry Davenport, John
Butler, Sandol MilliIdn, and Augusta
Close. Harry Davenport is the Jack
Everleigh, the young husband and he
plays the part with delightful spirit of
humor. Sandol Millikin portrays the
young wife with much grace Ingenious
ness and sweetness. John Slavin is the
resourceful Fullerton. Everleigh's ehum,
and most of me comedy success of the
performance comes to him. The uncles
are played by Harry Gilfoil and j. C.
Marlowe. Both are excellent character
drawings and are faultlessly interpreted
.Angnsia Close comes pretty. near TO scor-
ing the most pronounced hit OF the even
ing in the musical line by her rendering
Of "A Lesson With Fam, ITO Marry a
Millionaire and "A Billet Doux."
The production is very elaborate. The
last act transpires in Florida at one of
the large hotels and the scenic artist has
been particularly effective In this bit of
work. Sartorially the chorus is a verita-
BILE dream and We're the handsome young
women only called upon to go through
the three acts without endeavoring to
sing there would be much to be thankful
for. Still one cannot expect wealth of
such exceptional feminine loveliness and
musical ability well.
There will be matinee performances of
THE Liberty Bellies" Thursday and Sat
urday.