The Washington times., 1902-10-28
Inimitable Jerome Sykes
and Company Display Va
riety of Dazzling Cos
tunes and Unrivaled Mod
ern Stage Craft.

The Millionaire" the new musical
piece, with Jerome Sykes In the CHIEF
role last night at the National Thea
ter established new standard in the
matter of stage sumptuousness, for
never has any entertainment of the kind
displayed such variety of dazzling
costumes, engaged so large a company
offered more genuinely diverting scenes
or introduced greater number of well
| known funmakers.
The stage pictures from the first. a
scene at Nice, in the carnival period,
to the last act, representing the Long
champs race course, are unrivaled ex-
amples of modern stage craft. Every
device known to the best of stage di-
rectors has been taken advantage of,
with the result that -The Billionaire"
is a Kaleidoscope whirl of color. femin-
unity. dance, melody. and fun. There is
a superabundance of almost everything,
SO 1t is small wonder that the audience
| was so generous with its applause
MI. Sykes Minus Makeup.
In "The Billionaire" Comedian Sykes
does away with the makeup box, and
is just Jerry" Sykes. His stage name
is John Doe. He is Millionaire who
is unable to spend his money fast
enough until he meets a pert little
miss named Pansy Good, from Bird
In, h. t. Do IT.
for the stage and has been put out of
her hotel on account of the non-pay-
ment of her bill The young woman's
story appeals to Doe, and he buys
New York theater and places Pansy
at the head of an operatic COMPANY.
The second act represents the inte-
rior of the theater and is an excellent
novelty. 1t is theater on a stage.
the members of The Billionaire" COM
pany appearing as the audience, while
the Pansy Good organization gives the
entertainment. 1t is a capital idea and
possesses unlimited possibilities for the
introduction of specialties.
Many Popular Comedians.
Harry B. Smith is responsible for the
lbretto, and while the story is thin,
it is of value principally to introduce
variety of songs and dances and plenty
of fun. Gustav Kerker wrote the mu
sic
With such list of popular principals
as Jerome Sykes, Harry Kelly. John P.
=
donough, Thomas C. Leary. Hans Robert.
Eleanor Kent, Nellie Follis. May Rob-
son. Gertrude Saye and Marie Doro, It
is difficult to conceive how any librettist
could provide enough merry bits to go
around, yet Mr.. Smith has supplied each
with plenty OF good things.
Mr.. Sykes is unctuous and thoroughly
at home as the owner of a controlling
interest in the earth. 1t is a unique
character, and fits the star much after
made very humorous speech after the
second act. Nellie Follis is a charming,
Ingenious and sprightly pansy Good. |
May Robson wears a red wig, converseg |
in a Mrs. Malapropish manner, and at
tributes her refinement 10 the fact that |
her father was the proprietor of 4 re-
fnery.
Miss Kent's Good Singing.
Eleanor Kent is the chief vocalist CT
The Billionaire' organization. She has |
a splendid soprano which is heard to ad-
in the second act, when her
to the performance is the
best thing of the evening-considered +,
nom strictly musical point OF view.
Marie Doro looks dainty and acts with
much charm, while Gertrude Saye, a
graduate from the chorus ranks, shows
n a small part that she has the ability
o handle more important roles
julius Steger has a good march song
Il the opening act, which he sings ex-
and in the theater scene fur
her distinguishes himself, musically. |
larry Macdonough is good as an Italian
waiter, while Thomas Leary and Hans
Robert are eminently satisfactory in
heir respective roles. Harry Kelly and
john p. Kennedy have chance TO show
low well they can dance in the second
substantial success.
There are numerous performers of
esser Importance who assist in making
The Billionaire" a highly enjoyable
nterainment-one that is well woI. h
eeing.