The Washington times., 1903-09-29
''BABES IN TOYLAND" YVES
WITH "SULTAN OF SULU''
The Sultan of Sulu.


sulu." After a years tarrying in the
metropolis and the forming of an ae-
quaintance across the footlights with
practically all the theatergoers of the
big town and a part of the inhabitants
OF the nearby provinces, his Oriental
majesty said How d'y do" to a rep
Iresentative assemblage of Washington
ians last night at the Columbia. The
response vas a hearty and unanimous
one: Il am very glad TO see you And
the accen. was on the very"
When anything becomes the vogue
now it is thoroughly so, and the cpl
demic spares few. With the vogue at
tanned by George AIDE in his sparkling
thumb-nail sketches on American
foibles. it was inevitable that anything
he might produce for the stage would
be carried along in the same current
of popular approval. The injection of
American interests into a comic opera
plot brought his work all the nearer
home and had Fame by some mischance
temporarily neglected to bestow a
laurel wreath upon him heretofore. it
would not withhold it now. 1t would
be granted surely for his supplement
tary decision That "The cocktail follows
the fag"-a position on which all
PATRIOTS can agree regardless Of the d.
vision of opinion OF the Supreme Court
as to whether the Constitution does or
does not
AS a musical satire THE Sultan OF
SuIu" scintillates with the nimble wit
expected by all who have had a reading
acquaintance with its author. Those
who know George AIDE have hardly a
greater appreciation or him than those
who picture his personality from what
he originates. He sees life, and Ameri-
can life in particular, in all its whole
some, humorous phases, and gives his
auditors the bright side He picks the
diamond from the dirt and in the effuI-
gence of the former the theatergoer is
permitted a respite from the sentence
OF some other theatrical interests, in
being given a chance to forget the dirt.
A Tale of Civilization.
AS The Sultan Frank Moulan gave a
Francis Wilsonesque Interpretation to
the leading part. and Immediately i'm
pressed his audience with his control
over the destinies of the production as
we'll as over his Sulu kingdom. He was
the hub in the wheel of mirth- On him
many spokes depended. and to say that
all proved sufficient TO the strain put
upon them in turn showed the skill of
the playwright and the choice OF the
atrical timber for the production.
George O'DonneH. as the colonel Of
volunteers. who proposes to make his
brief military career in the Philippines
the stepping stone 70 political prefer
ment at home, caused some merriment
to his audience by his strong resem-
blance in huge build and austere ap-
pearance to an army officer we'll known
to Washingtonians. He carried his part
well. With Walter LAWRENCE lieu
tenant of regulars. and hence not
hero like the colonel-he gave j bright
presentation of army ways in the archi-
pelago. Fred Frear. as the Sultan's
private secretary, had such a grotesque
barrel shape and inimitable makeup
that opponents Of Darwin could not be
blamed for their theory on the descent
of man II they pursued their investiga-
tions among such natives of the Philip
pines. AS the sultan's constant com
panion, in intrigues and pleasures. be
ably fulfilled the difficult task of keep
ing pace with his royal master.
Singers, Costumes, and Applause.
Maud Lillian Berri. as the coIoneTs
daughter, created an increasingly pleas
ing impression as the play progressed. I
and in the second act presented pic
ture of sumptuous gowning which could
not fail 20 be adiudged admirable Ger
trude ouinlan. as Chiquita. for suficing
reasons wife number one" of the Sui
tan's list claimed the strong favor OF
the audience. Blanche Chapman had
less opportunity in the unusual role of
woman judge advocate in the army, |
but filled the part we'll
Costuming on lavish scale and stage
settings which were gorgeous in their /
barbaric elegance produced a brilliant
setting for the principals. The sHbstitu-
ton OF nimble quips and comments or
our national ways for all rough horse
play was as typical OF the sparkling
cocktail as the other is OF much foam
and little substance. The audience
showed its appreciation OF the differ
ence. which must have been mutually !
pleasing on both sides, of the footli ghts. |
A number of box parties and the pres
ence in the audience Of a score or more
OF people much in the public eye added
in giving the initial production of the
play an suspicious reception Admiral
Dewey, whose interest in Philippine
matter has a certain substantial basis. |
occupied the lower left hand box with /
Mrs. Dewey. In the adjoining box
Secretary Moody entertained another /
party. On the opposite side ex-Assis- /
tant Secretary Allies, John z. Wilkie, /
and their party occupied another box.
Oh III