New-York tribune., 1903-03-15

pleasant that is not at all loath to
give it a of detailed attention Miss
Cahil indeed. by her work in Nancy Brown
has proved that this corner has nothing funda
mentally in common with the Tenderloin,
OF her managers in the past seemed to suppose,
that may confidently expect 1t to become
more attractive in future seasons Miss Cahill
Is in position to have something TO say her
self about the character Of the pieces IN which
she will appear. and her own tastes. 1t appears.
incline strongly the clean. satirical. musical
comedy with dominating story. which at present
George Ade Is nearest to proximating in this
country.
Miss Cahilrs appeal to the public is made SO
directly by the methods which fit lyrics like those
by Oliver Herford, Gilbert, that such declara-
ton her part should surprise nobody. The
vocal methods Of prima donna not best
adapted to bringing home to an audience the
satrical import of lyric, are the comedy
methods of McAvoy Ionly mentioned here, let
hasten add. because he in Sally in Our
Alley" associated with Miss Cahl in several
songs conducive to vitalizing dainty fancy
pointing the shaft Of pretty wit. A clean cut
enunciation; good sense for the Hit OF a tune
but no tendency "vocalze': mobile face
that. above a body wellnigh mpassive. sparkles
with meaning and a quiet fashion of meaning
much more than is said-constitute, roughly speak
ing, the elements Of Miss Cahill's method. Rightly
wrongly. the managers who cater directly to
the TendcrlOin elemcnt-and at least two firms
no produce musical comedy very frankly d" just
that thing-do believe that such method vii!
be appreciated unless the songs. at any rate. are
suggestive. Rightly wrongly. Daniel Y. Arthur
who put Miss Cahill forward as the star Of
Nancy Brown" believes that such a method will
be appreciated by paying element Of the public
if by the frequenters of the Tenderioin. AS
far as Miss Cahil is concerned he has kept
any It Of the noisy the farcical horsepay. the
yaudeyl style OF song and speech, out Of Nancy
Brown" and throughout the piece he has expur-
gated anything actually coarse or suggestive lie
has in musical comedy that cannot he con-
s!dered inspired, yet given Miss Cah a chance
to demonstrate that she is capable Of carrying 10
success entertainment the charm of which
lies almost entirely in this bright. clean cut
one may even say intellectual fashion Of singing
songs and pointing dialogue. The success of
Nancy Brown should he help in Miss Cahills
career.
Miss CahiIl herstlf who. unlike some of h7r fell
low actresses and actors. has pretty distinct
theory about her methods. is not unaware Of this
1t has been a great pleasure for me to play in
Nancy Brown she said the other day. be
cause feel If the play gives pleasure 10 the
public it does along the lines of legitimate musl-
cal comedy, Musical comedy should give piF;snre'
It seems me. because it is comic. That l. simple
enough A song should not be sung solely because
IL ie tuncfIl. dance introdI ICED hfCaus" II ia
pretty, anything of that sort A musical
comedy should. first of all. have a story that Is
consistently developed and interesting. And the
songs should 70 sung that the comic idea or
course one wants Il G1rightly tun". hut that tune
should carry the words along. not sm tf"r them
The whole effect should be sense OF satisfaction
TO the intelligence of the listener as we'll as 10
his ear A man who once heard me sing at my
music teachers went to the theatre IN 'He even
Ing and heard me sing a lyric
What is the matter with Miss Cahill? he
asked nv teacher the day. She has lost her
voice
Now i think, though most Of the people who go
IN the theatre to hear don't seem 70 agree
with nr that have voice In fact. am
rather sure that sing. But l don't try 10
when I'm on the stage. with comic song to rem
der 1ry rather, bring ont the meaning or
the words suggestveIy that their comic ell
fect will be fully caught. and to make III" rhythm
the Ilt of the tune. sound pleasantly III my du-
disnces care go that the effect may be what |
consider the true effect OF musical comedy !
we call fl humor tunafuy served up? To do that
right one cannot make Of the stage musical
recita, to show off ones voice. Neither can one
have pointless lyrics lead, horseplay vaudes lie
acts nterpolated. One must have good lyrics ara
bright story then-the brishter the heter
Il met Mr.. A2e not long ag1. and he nAt
me by saving that [ sang d lyric as II should ne
sung quietly suggestiveiy. clearly and WITH satts-
wing comic effect He said he didn't consider the