The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-21
"San Toy" at the Lyceum.

1t was like being in Days "San Toy" pre-
scntcd at the Lyceum last night by the DAILY
Musical company was the closest approach to
Broadway performance that Scranton has enjoyed
in long and many day. There was such small
discrepancy between the "San Toy that was
such a success in New York and the 'san Toy
seen here last night that he would be capti9ns
critic, indeed who would do more than barely
mention the fact. 1t is is of the very
best things that has ever come this way.
''San Toy is a Chinese English musical conf
edy. Primarily it is Chinese. 1t is English only
incidentally The plo-for il is real and ill.,
teresting plots just oi the proper depth or
rather shallowneSs, for a musical comedy The
Chinese emperor summons 10 Pckin the daugh-
ters of all the nlandarins to comprise 4 house.
hold regiment. Yen How, the mandarin of
Pynka Pong seeks to avoid sending his only
daughter, San Toy, by having her assume the
character OF a hoy. \ young English officer penc.
trateS san Toys disguise and they fall in love.
\ jealous Chinese student discoSeS the deception
to the cmpcror's right hand man--who carcL-
lures Ii Hung Chang-an enemy Of the man
DARN. Ii, Chinese boy, in the employ of
the mandarin. with klcptomanac and very mis-
chicvouS procliyitieS is entrusted with IL mes
sage to the emperor that the reason the man.
DARN does not send his daughter is that his
daughter is boy. After Ii departs with this
message the mandarin'S deception is disclosed
and he is summoned to Pekn lie counted on
his boy, L. consuming about ten days in max
in the journey, but Ii took the steam cars and
had delivered the maudArin'S message some
days before the mandarin himself arrives.
The mandarin uocS not know OF his messenger
having preceded him and to save himself lc
makes Iii out u liar. What happens to Ii, as n
result OF his supposed falsifying oi message
10 the emperor makes mp the skeleton Of the
second and last act. dudley, the maid to ore
of the English ladies and Sir Bngo Preston,
British consul AT rynka Pong, are made leading
roles
The first act is street scene in PSnka Pong,
The second is Il part OF the imperial palace at
Pckin. The wealth OF color in the settings AID
costumes in both scenes is delight to the eye.
In fact, in this feature the entertainment is the
most pretentious. II was said in the frs. night
descriptions Of the piece that the costumes were
made in China. BE that fact or lust the state
mrnt Of press agent, they are certainly Orcn'
tai and as gorgeous as the most eNtravagant
Oriental taste could demand. The purple aud
gold outfit OF the imperial guard in the second
act is said and looks to be the most expensive
iSings ever put on ballet.
4 distinguishing feature oi the performance is
the activity OF the lesser characters. The "SiN
Little Wives" OF the mnlarin do work all
through the piece that in AN ordinary show would
devoyc OH principals. Their song with tile man
DARN in the first act Is quito as taking as the
much mimckcd forodorI seNtcttc. 1t will live
as one Of the hits OF musical comedy.
The moon song, with which the first act
closes, is one oi the prettieSt OF stage cor-
ceitS It's theme is a clever bit OF wit, Tie
music Is the most moonhcamy kind imaginable,
and the setting Is an extravaganza OF color IL
Elimination and grace OF grouping and motion.
Love Has Come lay CAPTAIN Bobby aud
san Toy, and "Rhoda and Her PLguda." 10y
Dudley are the principal Aolos, LIS topical song
is also mp 10 tho standard.
The book il especially CommcimLhlr for its
versilcution. In musical comedy II is demand.
ed that there shall be- frequency and novelty
in the rhyme words. II used to think a China.
man was twenty times as tine a man" is hap
hazard selection from san Toys book, quoted
TO illustrate how its authors es,Iycd To iUlhll
this modern demand The music harmonlls, Dll
through, preserving 4 Chinese flavor relgouSly
and containing end of really tunciul catchy
things.
Samuel Collins closely follows James \. Powers
line OF work in the character OF li. He isn't
"Jlmne" PowcIs, but he Is good. With Pow
er,' creations at his nec di59osal he makes of
the role all that could desired Paula Edwards
does not 1T the part OF Dudley as woll as lid
Minnie Ashley, but Paula Edwards "haS a way
with her. that make up Tor any handicap she
may be encountcring in this regard, Her singing
Of "Rhodl and Her Pagoda" was one Of tho veal
treats Of the evening.
Big, grotesque, George H. Fouesrue was funny
every minute as the mandarin and Melville Slew
art as Captain Bobby presented rare conlhi,
nation OF good voice and good looks The san
Toy Of Miss Celeste was prettily done, but
either She or the authors fail TO make the title
role the leading female part.
The audience Was one OF the largest, most rep.
resentatiyc and coldest OF tho season. The top
ical song was given real applause,