The Washington times., 1901-12-31
First Performance in This
Country Last Night.
FRANCIS WILSON In CHIEF ROLE.
Bright Music and Clever Lyrics
Save a Very Sad and Englishy
Book-Foxy Quiller Arrives"
With Much Success at the Co.
lrmbia-Other Attractions.
c.sr or cHARAcrrRs-


Rinalta Robert A. Evans
GoYrrnor of lillsla. ................E Edward Co-c
Bafdi-.asief ---...-.--.-..-.-N N. Thompson
ttfaloio. ilIism Brodcricl
biuhiii- Joseph G. Pay
Moreno -..-..---. .--.---..-. Harry Wallace
Dom Scity -..... Adele Ritcirr
susan .QHaenie Nassar
Mrs. HoUpinics- .-......- Nguje Raymond
Nancy. .Cluiftic Macdonald
i's' -.-.-.--..-----..-.-- .-----Jenle hawley
isabella ........... Sylvia Lisc
Cora Bcllamy Sadie Peters
neE.-...........-...... Marjorie Relye1
Francis Wilson is ostensibly the star in
The Toreador," the newest Of the i'm
ported musical comedies from the London
Gaiety, which vas shown for the first
time in this country last night at the Ma
tional. but the large audience found many
other persons upon whom to shower their
applause besides the comedian with the
funny legs. Wilson was, of course. the
principal figure when he was on the
siege, but the gathering had Il pretty
good chance to become well acquainted
with the other characters bafSre the
commander-in-ch chief Of the comedy forces
of the Nixon & Zimmerman production
put in an appearance. As matter OF fact.
the audience was getting along very nice
ly without Nj. wilson's assistance for al
most half an hour or tbereabout before he
bounded into view in the guise OF an Eng
lish fooiman--a tiger" not OF the sort
that contributes to the allurements - the
open den Of the circus street paraie. but
the kind whose chief function is tc add
dignity to the Goa achman's box.
Wilson in The Toreador'' is Sammy
Cigg, an amusing little chap aud it is
extremely doubtful If the half dozen gen
tlemen who created the musical piece
could have fashioned merry little quips.
songs. and bits OF stage business that
would ht any other American comedian as
well as the former Caddy Of "Erminie"
fame. Indeed. Gigg offers Wilson better
opportunities for the exploitation OF his
vocal pecuiiarities and some nat limited
comedy abilities fian anyth;ai, he has
had for some years. And in The Torea
dor" Wilson Is not 4 he whole thing" by
any means. There are q number Of other
comedaDs-aHd especially Joseph Corne-
who do not suffer by comparison with the
star Still the funmaker with the squealgy
voice should be 1ery thankful 20 his man
ayers for rescuing him from The Stroll
ers'' xith it's mediocre cast and cu-tailed
opportunities, and placing him in The very
centre OF an aggregation OF COMEDIANS and
singers the like OF which Mir. Wilson
;evcr thought Of providing himself when
he WAS more chary about sharing the
centre OF the stage with anybody else.
In The Toreador.' London has retained
until the last the very best thing in the
line Of musical comedies that Il mas sent
across the water. And. good as undoIbt
edly was the George Edwsrdes' original
production. the promoters Of the Anleri-
can version have furnished a company OF
uncommon excellence and a production
that easily surpas5es anything in its par
ticular line that has come TO the Capital
for many a day. Anna Held's The Lit
tie Duchess was generally supposed TO
create distinct record in the matte: OF
elaborate stage pictures, but The Torea
dor" is 2 close second TO Miss Held S
glittering show Of feminnity and frocks.
while any comparison that may be made
between the home de musical comedy
and The imported article. must be in favor
OF the latter-mores the pitv--but our
English cousins seem to have mastered
the happy knack OF fashioning these
srothy musical affairs better than we have
at home I: took six experienced writer's
to tur- out The Toreador." but the re-
suit shows the wisdom OF the plurality.
james Tanner and Harry Nichols wrote
the hook: the iyrics-they are good ones
too for the most purt--are by Adrian Ross
and Percy Greenbank, while the music
was contributed by ivan Caryil and Lionel
Aonckton.
The piece Is divided into two scenes;
the first is located al Fiarritz. and shows
flower shop; the second represents the
plaza OF villaya, spain. The flower shop
one is particularly rich in colOring and
is one Of the pretties; pictures imaginable.
The costumes displayed by the sfnall-sized
amy Of chorus maidens are unc0mmOnly
artistic. not only in the matter Of color
ing. but as regards the designs. As an
exhibition Of what is possible in the way
OF expending money inteilisentiy. and at
the same time lavshly. Tor scenery and
dresses. "The T0reador" is a conspicuous
success
Wilson is the toreador FOR a while, and
he &C. led into any number OF amusing
c0mplicatSns OF the sort in which he
finds his greatest delight through me
innOceIf possession or a passport made
out in the name Of Csrajolo . famous
bullnghier Wlison-or Sammy Gigg. as
he arrears on the playbill-is mistaken
for tho heroic toreador and is made much
OF, notgiihstanding his protestations that
ii is all a mistake. He has all sorts OF
honors Ehowered upon him. and eventually
Is informed that h. is to fight eight bulls
in addition TO leading a Csriist uprising
The scene OF .Tho Toreador' located IL
Spain. affords Comedian Wilson moro
chances for creating laughter than any
part be has had since his earliest star
ring days. and he fairly revels in the
role. He Is finally rescued from his un-
comfortable condition by the timely ar
rival OF the Simon pure bullnghtcr.
Tho story is quite interesting and is
considerably better than most OF its kind,
while the lyrics are. as q rule. very cleV-
or The book can very pr0htably. how
ever be -AmCrieaniaed. The In.sic is
bright and full o, animation, and several
OF the numbers are OF the kind that viii
be heard on the streets before tonight.
The most popular are: I'm Romantic, "
eapitally sung by Aaade Raymond; "Ev-
erybody's Awfuily Good to BE" sung by
Joseph COyne: and Espana. a uuartette.
rendered by Joseph Coyne, Melville Ellis.
Christie Macdonald. and Adele Richie;
THE Ysller Boy and the Moon" a plain
tive Ethiopian ditiy as understood by the
Faglish con,poscr eErellenily surg by
Miss Macdonald; Mr. Wilson's 'He Ought
30 Have a Tablet IN the Hall Of Fame.
which erected much enthusiasm on ac-
count OF q Schlty verse: and Keep OF
the Grass" By Miss Ritchie The music
is decidedly the best portion OF the piece.
There is con iderabie color about IL. and
in the hands Of the splendid company IL
Is given its full measure OF merit
Mr. wilson scored 4 tremendous iadi-
vidua: hit, rs was attested by the contin-
ued cemanes for a speech at the end OF
the first act. when the S~stain had 10 be
raised fully ten times before the com
cdlan would consent to appear before the
footlishts and acknowledge the reception
CASTORfA falrtars and ctadsr