The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-11
Cbe CbeatreS
apEGGY FROM PARIS.

hdOnlBomeTianS nave reao GeOrBe Ade's fables and stories and when ! they read them they realized that George Ade was very clever young man.
 Last night at the Montgomery The | atre. a tremendous audience for the first time saw a musical comedy pro- duction by the young Indiana author and Peggy From Paris did not mar MT. Ade's excellent reputation. The breezy musical comedy, which comes nearer being comedy than most of this class of theatricals was more than favorably received. The hit of the performance Is distinct tribute to the subtle humes Of MT. Ade' and a number of clever principals who speak his lines and sing the songs of Peg gy from Paris" Without these the performance would be commonplace. In other words the music of Peggy from Paris" is a secondary feature of the entertainment. 2 and Henry w. Savage has performers in the Southern company presenting MT. Ade's piece, who are decidedly clever. And Peggy from Paris" Is far from commonplace.
 In the first place the action takes place in Illinois. Think of 1t! Think of musical comedians playing in any other locality than an island bearing a name similar to that of a Pullman car.
 In the second place consider for the moment a musical comedy in which there ie not lins spoken that has any flavor of the pyramids and instead think of many lines that have the bril- liant wit and insight into human na- ture that made George Ade's name fa- nous.
  add the thoughts of comedians who can properly convey the ideas of Mir. Ade's funny lines. singers whose voices rank well with the voices of any peo- pie in musical comedy. a troop of chorus girls who are far from homely l who have good clothes and know how | to wear them. and scenery which does | not startle. but which is full of color | while entirely free from shoddiness. | Such is the nature of Peggy from | Paris" You would have enjoyed see- l ing it. wouldn't your
 George Ade will some day be termed | the savior of musical comedy and as the name of Sullivan shines on the pages of comic opera the name of Ade will plash on the records of musical comedy.
 Luders and PixIey have helped some in this redemption of musical comedy. | - | King Dodo" and King Dodo" was bet ter than The Prince of Pilsen" an6the rest of the school of Luders and Pi.xiey nearly all of them turned out matter that jarred the sense of humor. But George Ade came along and l scorned the beaten path. He knew the American public. He conceived the Idea of making good in musical comedy | as he made good in literature by ap- | nealin1 to fha Avervdav Hfa of Arnari- cans.
 | The mind of George Ade did not have to imagine the Isle of Thetis, to have a beautifully staged musical comedy; he did not have to imagine intensely im- probable conditions for humor. His neighbor State of Illlrols had enough of the beautiful for him and Chicago and its characters was an abundant
 field from which to gather the funny things that make Peggy From Paris" | a go, a winner.
 It is pity that a composer of the ability of George Ade as a humorist
 had not written the score of Peggy I From Paris" The music is by William
 Lorraine and although it cannot be said
 to be anything but good. still 1t does not measure up to the pace set by Mir.
 Ade And it's well that 1t does not, for if 1t did the theatre going public
 would expect too much for its money.
 Numbers that pleased were "Old l Fashion Songs" We Are the Prlnci
 pals" ''Hehny." I'll. Love You
 News From the Old Home Town" T Left My Heart in Dixie"
 A large audience saw the perform ance. one of the largest of the theatri cal season. The audience was pleased undoubtedly. but what kept its atten- ton was the lines of MT. Ade. The wit was not of the order that is re- sponded to by an exultant whoop. It
 is the sort of wit that makes you nudge yourself and think how true the
 lines are to nature and then you | chuckle.
 There is no member of the company
 whose name appears in 24-point type
 in the front page of the program. but ,I the work of Arthur DeAgon put him
 there in the opinion of the audience.
 Deagon has a character part that has been worked to death, but he revived
 1t. He Is tough boy, the kind of creature that appears with Jim Jetfries
 make up and Chimmie Fadden speech
 Hut Deagon Is given the part that
 speaks the slang that made Mir. Ade
 rise from common S25 a week news
 paper reporter to the owner of auto-
 mobiles and Deagon knows how to l sneak that glad lanRuaRe He ia q