The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-16
THE MILLIONAIRE.
Brilliantly Presented at the Hyperion
 Last Evening

Gus kerker'S new spectacular musical comedy, "The Millionaire" occurred at the Hyperion Theater last evening be- fore one of the largest audiences that has ever been seen in this theater. By it's extraordinary and enthusiastic re- ception of the new piece, it accorded this enterprising firm of managers the credit of having attained one of the greatest achievements in their entire ca- reer. To say that the new piece made a hit would, perhaps, be putting it mildly. A sensational success would more aptly describe it.
 Klaw & Erlanger have been noted for years for making the most elaborate productions presented on the American stage. Their Ben Hur'' Sleeping Beauty and the Beast" and Rogers Brothers productions have given them remarkable regulations in three distinc- tive fields of amusement enterprise. In their present effort they have set up standard in musical comedy never be- fore attained in this country, and it can be said without hesitation, even in Eng land, where the fomous George Ed
  dies have been the vogue for several years.
 A gentleman at the Hyperion last night, thoroughly familiar with the pre- sentations at the London Gaiety during the past seven years, said that no such gorgeously magnificent staging of a piece had ever been seen at this cele- brated London playhouse. It would be impossible to picture in words the mas sive scenery and the marvelously beau tiful color schemes in the costuming. From start to finish the stage was one blaze of scintillating light and color.
 "The Billionaire'' is presente ed in three acts, which show street in Nice during the Carnival, the lobby and auditorium of a theater in New York and the Long champs race track in Paris. As the curtain rises on the opening scene the stage is immediately filled by over one hundred people in varied and novel fantastic garb. There are at least four complete changes of costume in the first act alone, and judging from those made throughout the action of the piece, there must be over six hundred costumes and gowns worn during its presentation. Many Of these dresses are the latest Parisian modes, imported directly from Paris. Others are from the designs of F. Richard Anderson and are the ham, diwork of the most expert costume ma ker in America.
 The scenes of the second act are un- questionably the largest mechanical sets ever utilized on the stage in a mu sical comedy production and very sel- dom indeed have any of equal magni- tude been presented, even in extraordi- narily large productions of drama. The interior of the theater shows a complete stage of large dimensions, fully equipped with scenery and with pre- formance in progress in the presence of a large mimic audience, so arranged on the stage as to look as if three times the actual number of people were wit messing it. Splendidly decorated boxes hold theater parties of ladies and gen. tlemen, the standing room is crowded with standees and in every feature the interior of the theater is exactly beyond description, the stage being filled with tallo-ho coaches, automobiles and vari- ous sorts of vehicles, together with over one hundred people, with thousands of spectators of the Grand Prix race pie tured in the grand stands and grouped about the track. Each of the great scenes and each set of the eXtraordina- rily beautiful costumes was greeted with enthusiastic applause. From the standpoint of artistic mounting, no pro- duction ever presented in this city has been received with such enthusiasm.
 MT. Sykes was never seen to better advantage, even surrounded as he was by the strongest company that could be formed for production of this kind The role of John Doe, "The Billionaire,' ; presents him in practically new char acter, for he appears in his own person. ality without makeup. He received a warm welcome when he made his en- trance. MT Smiths book is very unique in it's construction, as it com pines modern musical comedy with spectacle, opera, broad humorous farce, clever satire and roaring farce" so at tractive to lovers of fun shows. The music is exceptionally brilliant and will compare more than favorabiy with the score of "The Belle of New York" which made MT. Kerker an information al reputation.
 Bell, the fomous New York tailor, could not have fitted MT. Sykes with suit of clothes more effectively than MT. Smith has done in the character of "The Billionaire'' in this piece. It ex- actly suits MT. Sykes personality and stage methods and gives him full op- portunity to display that unctuous hu nor for which he became noted in the character of Foxy Quiiler," which will always remain identified with him as long as he holds 8 place on the Ameri can stage. MT. Sykes was in splendid voice and sang the musical numbers al- lotted to him with very pleasing spir- 1t and vim. In fact, his activity perva- ded the entire performance, which was presented with snap and dash which kept constantly before the audience q perfect Kaleidoscope of action and color. He made especial hits in the songs. Tt is Mine" "It Must Have Been John Doe" and "All the Worlds in Gay Pa rec" MT. Sykes was perhaps, at his best in the scene of the mimic theater, where, as John Doe, manager and au- thor" he plays the leading role in his own five-act drama presented in five minutes. exploiting his patent moon. Nothing so ludicrously funny as the en- tire theater scene has been presented on the stage in years, The incidents in