The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
an Correspondence of the Journal.

JEW YORK. May 2.-The first OF
| N the summer musical shows was
sprung upon New York this week
EHxx3 by George w Lederer, the orig
inator Of metropolitan reviews"
The new piece. which had its initial pre-
sentation at the New York Theater Mon-
day evening is called 1.-The Southerners,"
and it is a typical hot-weather production
of the sort for which Broadway is becom-
ing famous. These summer extravaganzas
are not always received with expressions
of Joy by Western audiences when they
take to the road after they have worn out
their metropolitan welcome. but Gotham
ties simply revel in them during the heated
term Just think of the hit that 1.-The Run
aways' made at the Casino last summer,
and then think of the same shows recep-
ton in Indianapolis a few weeks before
the season closed in the Hoosier capital!
Well. THE Southerners'' is not unlike
THE Runaways" in that the thing is abso-
lutely lacking in plot and wholly without
sense. But Broadway audiences want moth
ing but pretty girls and bright music at
this time o. the year-for the silly season
is already "on'-and there is no lack of
pretty girls and bright music in this latest
Offering.
THE Southerners' is remarkable for one
reason If for no other. Its musical score
was written by colored man-Will Marion
Cook, who is one of the brightest fellows
in all New York. / made his acquaintance
In the Emusic room" at Witmark's, the
music publisher. on Thirty-seventh street.
This particular music room, by the way,
is one of the most interesting spots in the
atrical New York, as it is a meeting place
and rendezvous for all of the well-known
composers, lihrettists, song writer's and
/ have
to write about II before the summer is
over. To return TO Mr.. Cookie is a tall.
thin fellow, light brown in complexion, but
with unmistakable negro features. Nerv-
Gus in the extreme he is, and he couldn't
keep quiet & moment when the pianist at
Witmarks was running over some OF his
compositions on the keyboard. He is not
much OF a performer on the piano himself,
but he understands music thoroughly and
is not only creator of tuneful melodies,
but an expert in harmonic arrangements.
There have been other musical comedies of
recent years in which music by colored
writer's was introduced-Cole and Johnson
wrote most of the songs for Nancy
Brown"-but 1.-The Southerners" is about
the first piece produced by white perform
ers to be written by a negro. Cook Is full
of enthusiasm for his work, and longs to
compose more ambitious scores. He'll do
1t, too, some day. for the music is in him,
and 1t is sure to come out
+
1.-The Southerners' scored a pronounced
hit with the big first-night audience and
has been pleasing the large crowds ever
since. The piece starts out if it were
going to be a musical edition Of Uncle
Toms Cabin" but when the jolly lot of
chorus girls once prances before the foot
lights all thought of the melodramatic
chestnut vanishes. What a geniouS is
George w. Lederer when it comes to dis
covering chorus girls! Where does he
get 'em all? This new army of merry
merries," as they are called on Broadway,
would experience not the least difficulty in
taking Port Arthur or any other fortress
in all the world. The handsomely-costumed,
joyous creatures are prettier than Richard
Carries "Tenderfoot'' girls. and they get
as much fun out of the show as the audi
ence does.
Elfe Fay is the bright particular star.
This really funny little woman, who, 1T will
be remembered, made a great hit in In
dianapols during her week at the Grand
early in the spring, has not been given
many opportunities for fun-making by the
librettist, Richard Grant, but she makes
the opportunities for herself and before
the show Is over manages to interpolate
enough comic business to keep the audi
ence in roars of laughter She appears first
as a Southern belle, and then, in quick
succession, turns up in various DISCUSSES,
the best of which is her masquerade an
Irish girl-a sort of feminine Pat Rooney.