The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-04
AT THE THEATERS
acknowledgements Rival ch.+


Since musical comedy has risen tc
popularity, managers, librettists and com.
posers have been at their wits end tt
COOK up something new in this particula,
form of observation-disclosures "The Roya
Chef" 1'o' Gu
Originally heralded as "the musica
cockta1l' and as such appealing. strongl,
TO chicago audiences the past summer
Ihe Royal Chef has left the place o1
it's beginning and under new :.manaee.
ment, is for the second time testing it,
merits in foreign fields =
Ihat the piece is possessed of more al
these merits than go with most of its
class and that it also possesses "a power tC
please quite above the average has beer
demonstrated by the manner In which the
audiences at the Metropolitan have re-
ceived it, -
"A decade or more ago the demand for
plot character; individuality and original
conception IN the working out of a comic
opera subjected this form of entertain
ment to serious criticism and it was main
tanned that first class musical shows of
merit should have all these features. With
tne ADVENT OF the instantly popular must
Cal comedy new standard has been es-
tabl1shed, and it is by that standard that
Inc Royal Cher must be judged.
original only in the slender story writ
Ten ABOUT a Chicago alderman who ar
rlVes on the oriental island of Oolone and
IS Immediately impressed as the raiah's
COOK or royal Chef the piece NAV still
la"lully lay claim to the pubiics COM
menoaelon. 1t suffers from its first week
away from home, but it is rich in mo-
lnoraple airs, in good principals, beauti-
1ul scenery, appealing music, expensive
ana strlhlng costumes, many clever in
terpolated numbers, and pretty, able
and willing chorus.
Dave Lewis, the principal comedian
makes up for what he lacks in voice hy
much comedy suggestive Of the burlesuut
circuit, but Just broad enough to convuIse
the audience continually. He achieves
the triumph, also, Of closing the first OF
ing three acts conferred about him with
some real pathos. The triumph Is made
the greater since the pathos is conyeve6
IN song, Let Me Go Back"-to Chi.
cago! , Viii
Without good old Joseph Miron in his
accustomed role of the bandit chief mas
querad1ng as the rajah's prime minister
ana without dainty little Stella Tracev in
her songs, dances and clever imitation NJ
professional rivals, 1.-The ROYAL Cher
would not be where 1t is in public es-
teem. Mlron's powerful and musical
oasso and Miss Tracey's charming per
5olla!ty oomlrate thruout. Gertrude Nc
Aehsle' as Princess Teto, the raiah's
daughter, is find A sweet and s,,f.
nclently strong soprano a pleasing stage
presence and knowledge of the art
OF acting place her we'll in the fore of
those who in the musical comedy world
sing the inevitable role of the "ruler,s
daughter" ot
Two other principals are to be com
mended for their voices. Henry Leone
sings the rajah of Oolong sympatheticallv
ana with good method, while the other
tenor Joseph S. Welsh, ably carries the
SOLO numbers allotted to Harry Parkes
lieutenant, y. S. A. - ~
In staging "The Royal Chef" attention
mas successfully been given several nun
ners,notably The Tale of the Tailless
Frog" Let Me Go Back" odd MotheS
Goose and whats the Matter with
my Man in the Moon" The airs are of
the sort to become popular and the danc-
ing is unusually good. N<'Aio-
The show indicates tendency to return
10 tights where skirts have prevailed for
several seasons, but the show-that,s tbo
t word for It's not vulgar, is a delight to
me ear ana eye. vaca ton for the brain
and line exercise for the risihles
Earl G.. Nav