The San Francisco call., 1903-09-22
''Prince of Pilsen" Proves
Tuneful, Bright
and Merry.

II + the bunch of musical comedies that
impend at all resemble "The Prince
of Pilsen," whose first night was
last night at the Columbia, there is
joy ahead for the public and critic.
Where so lately Dick Dudgeon went to
his death with an epigram on his lips,
and Villon flung defiant verse in Louis
teeth, Hans Wagner now asks: 'Vos
You effer in 'Tinzinnati?' !" This may not
be Inherently funny, but it looks that
way with Jess Dandy behind it. Not that
this IS the whole humor Of 1t. The lines
or The Prince Of Pilsen" can be laughed
at without strain, and there are besides
whistleful lyrics galore, a hilarious story
point. fun, and a cast of glittering effec-
tiveness. Needs not be said with a Henry
Savage production that the scenic side
is all II should be, and the frou-frou of
the freshest and smartest
The Prince of Pilsen" has no particu-
lar plot TO alright the idle. In fact 1t
seems TO be all those things musical
comedy should be and to have left IN
done all those things it ought not to have
done Hans Wagner Is the center of the
story. Hans is Cincinnati brewer, who
finds himself mistaken in Nice for the
Prince Of Pilsen, who is expected there.
He has a daughter, the Prince has an
afectional vacancy and sense Of humor
there is an oh. so attractive New York
widow, and there you are Simplicity
itself. The Prince of course abets the
mistake Of the Nice people and marries
Hans daughter, Hans pairing off with
the widow. But this simple and by no
means youthful material is worked up
with notable skill and fun. Comical scene
follows comical scene as fast as the
Orpheum biograph runs, and they all
seem new. Then there isn't the shadow
of a seXtette. and the trail of THE Lit
tie Duchess is far from It. The jokes
seem born on the spot, not lugged in from
everywhere else. So, also, the lyrics. Al
together, as the prelude of the lighter
winter fare. the end of the serious sea-
son. The Prince Of Pilsen'' is about as
attractive stuff as one could ask.
The fun begins early, with the appear
ance Of Hans, brewer by right of every
vein Of him, in the midst Of the bowling
population at Nice hotel. He here soon
gets into scrape with jealous English
lord, who loves the widow. The lord de-
vises a duel built for one, in which the
person unlucky enough to get the wrong
toss Of a coin has to shoot himself. The
fate falls to Hans. He takes the pistol
and the fatal shot is heard.
Then the brewer appears smiling with the
eloquent explanation: Missed" 1t is
still more joyous when the man from
Cincinnati gets tangled up with a foun-
tain Of real water after a night spent on
a billiard table at Fifty cents an hour!-
oh, myi' Jess Dandy has the role, and
to a face and laugh that seem made for
it, adds ripe humor that gets the best
from it. Some Of his sayings will be cur
rent coin within the week, and he has an
song, 1T Is the Dutch that
G : !: !. O
Of getting up 'Antigone' as a lark. The
knight OF the Burning Pestle, though
means work in preparation"
Mr.. Greet's closing remarks were di-
rected toward the influence Of the women
Of the drama. II had an awful vision,"
said the speaker, "of reading these lines
to a handful Of mere men. Oaughter)
What has Shakespeare done for woman?
has ever done. Examine his plays and
In the one hundred women characters
there are not more than six Of whom any
nation would not be proud.
Il ask you women to use your great
to inculcate the desire for good,
sense dramas among your friends
male and female (Applause) Let your
matinee idol be a beautiful play rather
than a beautiful man"
Professor A G.. Newcomer of the Eng
ish department. followed Mr.. Greet with
few remarks on the Elizabethan stage
He praised the work Of the Elizabethan
State Society of London in fostering the
old English plays.