The St. Louis Republic., 1902-09-08

| is a genuine comedy creation in the hands
OF Mr.. Robert Lett
And Blanche Chapman. whom We have
heard all summer out at Delmar-why.
Portia role of Pamela. the Judge Advocate
of the army OF invasion. The others of the
cast. notably Mr.. Templer Sake, as Lieuten-
ant Hardy. John ]. Fogarty and Edward J..
Flanagan. as Didymos and Rastus. the
Nubian slaves. and Charles Gibiin. as wake
full VI. Jones. American insurance agent and
salesman. may be justly praised Indeed
Mr.. Savage seems to have been determined
to start THE Sultan of Sulu' out with his
best foot foremost
Judging from the enthusiasm and unques-
tionable genuine laughter OF last night 3
audience AIr. AIDES comic opera Is In for a
seasons hit. beginning here In St. Louis.
II Is not free from blemishes. but its virtues
far outweigh its faults. II IS heartfully
funny-and that's the first and greatest
thing you expect from g comic opera. And
its closing half hour is Its funniest period.
a rare thing, indeed.
George AIDE. author of many things. the
most celebrated OF which are THE Sultan
OF Suiu'' and Fables in Slang" came to
town last night for look at his comic
opera at the Olympic Theater.
Instead of taking box or going back on
the stage with the actor folks. he leaned
over the rail- at the back and made a few
notes.
There isn't a great deal left to do he
said. except TO cut the piece. 1t Is too
long. although the process Of pruning has
continued for several weeks"
The trouble about cutting this piece"
said Mr.. Savage. the proprietor. who has
run in from Boston for a two-day look at
the property, lis that nearly everything
is 80 good that IL seems pity to leave any
OF 1t out. AS rule. there is enough OF the
bad In any opera TO leave plenty of room
for the pruning knife. In this case one may
almost shut his eyes in making changes.
for, whatever We DO, We are sure to take
out something that really ought TO stay
in
That most excellent play. "Under Two
Flags was presented at the Century The
ater last night with all of the heavy sur
roundings that It had when Blanche Bates
played in IL at the Olympic Theater less
than year go.
Miss Jane Remark. a young actress who
has been a stock player in Kansas City for
some time, was the Cigarette. She played
the advantageous part with a good deal OF
effect. 1t is generally unfair to say what
one thinks of a successor in a celebrated
role. for the reason that what one thinks
under the circumstances is not what one
would think IL one had never seen the
original in the character.
So IL is in the mstter of Miss Remark
and the part in which Miss Bates made a
secure fame
Miss Remark Is a good player and she
gets a lot out of Cigarette, but the I'm
preston after Miss Bates's performance Is
not what the newcomers work deserves.
All of the surprise of the piece is gone and
much depends upon this in a survey OF
Cigarette. More than this. the Cigarette
played by Miss Remark has bit too much
of the fine LADY, air about II. the re-
suit, doubtless of long line OF parts in
which long gowns and plays-of-society-
speeches have figured The supporting
company is rather good. but for the same
reason, perhaps. that Miss Remark is a
slight disappointment. 1t doesn't seem to
NIL the bill-entireiy.
II Is difficult to believe that c. T. Dazey
author of in Old Kentucky" wrote "rhe
Burglar and the waif." now at Havlin's.
Not that the new piece is without merit.
In its way. IL has many points of ex-
cellence. The plot. for instance, Is intricate
enough for two such productions. Two