New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-11
THE DRAMA.
Peggy from Paris. .
wALLAcKs THEATRE.


George Ade's second musical comedy. Peggy
from Paris" had it.-irst New-York hearing at
WsIlack's Theatre las- night. before large and
for New ork-extraor ordinarily impartial Audience
After the popularity OF The Sultan Of Sulu."
much was expected OF Mr.. AIDES second venture,
and without doubt. many who came expectant went
away disappointed. Others viii criticise the play
some severely 4 Few. even. and they the ones
who get the widest hearing this morning because
they speak through the press. may go far
pronounce r. dull But Peggy from Paris is not
dull and II has faults garng faults there is yet
underlying vitality about IL which will keep il
IN popular favor mere. as r. was kept for months
both in Chicago ana Boston Indeed. we venture
20 state that Peggy will grow In favor on second
hearing. credo eKPer'o. not because Of its music.
its chorus its frlls specialties but because OF
its vitality.
But Just because Il does possess vital spark. it
should he all the more severely criticised for its
many shortcomings II is too good not to be
better. Nr. Ade is of intelligence; Mr. Saw
aEe. his manager IS possessed OF the same rare
virtue and the first question 70 be put TO one or
both OF them is what became OF the author after
the first act? The prologue showing meeting OF
the Richard Harding Davis Literary Society Of
Hickory Crick. H. vas capitaIly handled. both 70
start the story on its way and exhibit local
types Of character IN amusing and satiricaly
pointed situations. This prologue. indeed. has the
life Of real drama in IT, Then the first act carries
Al0uzo PIlmmer and his younger daughter up to
Chicago 10 find the elder sister. Peggy, who has
been 10 Paris 10 study music. and has returned as
the star OF comic opera The scene is set 10
represent the stage OF the Paragon Theatre" and
che arrival q the farmer and his daughter among
the stage folk the antics OF these folks them
selves, their elaborate welcome accorded by mis-
take % Peggy's c0mcal German maid and finally
the arrival Of the real Peggy calling herself Mile
Careuelle. and refusing 20 recognize her father
because she thinks Il would spoil her chances OF
success. all furnish admirable opportunity for
annT r-rHa
thermore 50 handled that the interest OF the story
is not lost sight o.
But with that act the story stops developing.
the satire on the worship OF foreign art
lists because they are foreign to
bisu; the real homely worth Of Hickory Crfck
civilization no longer gets insisted on with the
irorical touches Nr. Ade can, when he chooses,
apply M. Ade. in short. either by a process OF
sef-surrende- Or benevolent assimilation, IS lost
in the stage managers "specialties" Now no
stage manager ever aid or ever viii make a must
cal comedy that Is worth while. Mr. Savage should
know this. Mr.. Ade should know this. After the
welcome given by the audience 10 the passages
81 Adean dialogue and the somewhat chilly recep-
ton most Of the 'specialties received they cannot
possibly doubt that the public are aware OF it too
the Wallacks public. at any rate Mr.. Ade has
Just unburdened himself OF play: let him return
now 10 Peggy from Paris" and hnish il Of IL
he can-and many OF US have faith that he can-in
the spirit and force OF his prologue; let him cut
substitute a real dramatic climax 20 HIS story
well begun, and he viii have written a musical
comedy Hbretto wortL going far 10 see.
other defects. Of lesser degree We're manifest
n the production. too. The scenery was rather
cheap and hashy: those fearful bores stage chorus
para5ing a college boys were Haunted
brszenly. and the "F1orodora" sextette idea was
not wholly absent But these are minor faults
apparently well nigh ineradicable in the American
made musical comedy. The cast was good
George Richards as the father. kept well In char
aCter. and could. doubtless have finished the play
with a note q reality. II a trife The old
Homestead order. IL he had been given the
chance Miss Glelma Baker. the youngest
daughter. sang exceedingly well. and Miss Helen
Hale. young miss whom Mr.. Savage took fresh
from Wellesley College, danced her way into pop
Ularity with girlish and wholly unsophisticated
charm.
Paul Nicholson was adequate. usual. and AT
thur Deacon. the boy with biceps and slang
vocabulary. excellent. Miss Georgia Game. in
the title part. cid less than she might help the
story by intelllgeDt acting. but her gowns were
effective Miss Josie Sadler, her German maid IS
real comedy Of the cast. Her part IS well
conceived and better played
- the music. little need be said. Some Of IL
VIII be whistled more OF II viii not; and that is
fortunate. Mr. Ace has Yet % find the proper COM
poser for his lihrettos. but that he does well
without the proper is proof Of the vitality Of
his work and a OF sorrow that he does not
stick TO his task TO the end.