The Washington times., 1903-10-06
Paula EdwardeS and Her
Company in Musical
Comedy of ReminiS-
cent Type, and Liber-
ally Equipped as to
Costumes and Scenery.

Another combination Of opera, spec
tacle, and farce, this one bearing the
seductive title of "Winsome Winnie
ran the course of the modern musical
comedy at the Columbia Theater last
night. and again an audience of indul
gent and smiling people listened to
music with their feet. heard jokes with
their eyes, and viewed the two stage
settings of the work with their ears
and noses. All the concommitants of
music comedy. in short. were present
in due form. 20 the apparent satisfac-
tion of everybody.
"Winsome Winnie" is evidently
planned for New York-a fair infer
ence from it's original presentation in
Baltimore and its visit here before OBJ
tanning what its managers will term
1.-The New York verdict" AS il is in
tended for New York, then, IL is con-
structed on a New York plane. There
are the usual bright scenes. There are
the customary lyrics" duets. topical
songs, and ensemble numbers, with the
usual gasp before the last strain of the
choruses and the usual violence of ges-
ture There are the established sug-
gestive jokes-no promoter of musical
comedy would dare either to leave
them out or use substitutes. There are
the invarsable harbor scenes and
brigands' retreats, Illuminated by the
same comedy. the same serenades, the
same drills. the same dances, and the
same show girls" as of yore. And
there is the inevitable vacuity Of sense
and slothfulness of wit which have been
the pride and Joy of Americans ever
since musical comedy made its bow ane
grand opera. light opera. and comic
opera retired in turn before it, Fur
ther description OF "Winsome Winnie"
is not needed. 1t is the same old calico
printed in the same bright colors and
substantially the same old pattern
To reach this high altitude. the
Messrs. Sam S. ShubeTt and Nixon &
Zimmerman announce work by Jacko-
bowski and Paulton. known TO every
person who attends the theater as the
authors OF "Ermine, paraphrased into
an American version" by Gustave Ker-
ker and Frederick Ranken. The result
suggests the experience Of "The Sleep
ing Beauty and the Beast" which came
TO this shore a pantomime and left it
a burlesque. What there is of En-
mimic" in "winsomc Winnie could not
possibly spoil it. Even the program,
in Identifying twenty-three efforts as
musical numbers, feels bound to ac-
credit seventeen of them to the adapt
ers outright.
with this basis of imported names
and native talent. then. are provided
fairly competent chorus in typical cos
tunes which suggest Lord Macaulay' s
description of Turkish rugs-that they
resembled nothing in the heavens
above, the earth beneath, or the waters
under the earth-and a cast OF several
actors, several vocal performers, a
young woman who can dress her part
we'll. and the star In the first classi-
fcation are E. Lovatt Fraser and W. p.
Carlton. In-the second are Helen Red
mond. william f. Philip. and George c.
Miron. The third consists Of Jobyna
Rowland. who appeared at full length
in Mr. Hackett's Rupert of Hentzau." "
The star is Paula Edwardes. a young
woman with some natural talent for
comedy. rather vulgar sense Of humor,
and an apparent charm of manner for
most of those In the audience OF last
night. 1t should be said Miss Red
mond bore herself with characteristic
grace and repose. and that she. Mr.
Philip, and Mr.. Carleton sang with much
effect: that Mr.. Miron is notably sue
cessful in his comedy role. and that
an octet of men sang with remarkably
good effect at the opening Of the sec
ond act. and it should not detract at al
from the credit due these choristors that
the whole number Toy Messrs. Kerker
and Ranken) Is the same imitation oi
the corresponding scene IN Robin Hood.
which has become an integral part o
every later operate enterprise. But with
these exceptions there is nothing e
disturb the view offered Of character
istIc musical comedy which is neither
pure nor simple.
AS was said of Mr.. Sothern's play
when produced in this same theatei
several weeks ago, IT will be interest
ing to observe how "Winsome Winnie
is received by our New York fellows. L
the light of earlier years Il ought t
shine brilliantly. Indeed. IT is custom
made, and IS certain TO fit. But I'll,
1Dle of Washington. who get only on,
engagement each season OF real opera
will bid "Winsome Winnie" a ligh
farewell and turn again to hope tina
New York may some day give back wha
Il took away-an opera of real music an,
genuine vocal art, For this largess tn
National Capital waits patiently
a. ID. a
Nat;onal-Dockstader Minstrels.
With the aid Of tambourine. bones
the old Southern breakdown" an,
other attending features a iolly Grove