The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-27
Volatile Little Dragon Fly
Swamped by Dizziness
of THE Sambo Girl"
Fay Templeton and Pete
Dailey-Good Vaudeville.
The Great Lafayette.

A young actress whose distinct per-
sonality has made her the object of a
watchful interest, Eva TgnSuay, ap-
peared at the Columbia Theater last
night as a star in a musical comedy.
She was received with many evidences
of kindly favor and she obtained
throughout the evening the most SYM
pathetic hearing. but her play-it is call
ed The Sambo Girl"-was so entirely
without sequence OF events and origin
atty OF idea that even this prediction
could not transform.
Miss Tanguay has the air Of some
thing wild, like a dragon fly. She fits
about tne scene, quivering, trembling,
darting from place to place. never still.
and as strangely fascinating as the
snake doctor IN the open field. Her
personality is still unspoiled. While IL
stays so It is full of the open air, In
fictitious ike sunshine. and crisp like
morning in the fan.
Her managers realize all this. no
doubt, ard they have encouraged Miss
Tanguay 20 draw upon II. Instead Of
developing into an artist she has been
dwarfed into an individuality. Even
her songs have been kept alive from
stamped all over her musical comedy
and robbed of its name for It. The
Sambo Girl" The effect is, and mama
gers with the foresight of ordinary
theatergoers would have foreseen it, very
much like that OF wild honey spread
over stale bread and molasses.
The Sambo Girl first came into the
world, II is said. as THE Blonde in
%. a4rr Il he
Ring When that young woman failed
In IL. carpenter Harry 3. Smith and
carver Gustave Kerker made Il over for
Miss Tanguay and gave f. the name Of
her best known song. There are the
usual limitations between the young mar
ried women of Paris and visiting Amer
lean men. widow is made 10 rhyme
with ''giddy;" the chorus appears TO con-
sist of much soprano. some tenor. and
neither alto nor bass, and costumes are
evidently expected to smear over ali the
open places. What sensible men could
have expected TO accomplish by launch
ing a new star, especially one OF Miss
Tanguay's strange charm. in so thread
bare and spotted garment it is impos-
sible to understand.
The cast does not require much at
tention. Those who have ability ike
Harry Short. Harry Lane. Melville Col
Inns, Arthur O'Heefe and Florence Nor
rison, struggle with The SambO Girl
I'm vain. IL IS doubtful II the Others
could shire in the best musical comedy
ever written. As II is they rely on whiI
and dash to do duty as wit and fun
jump about the stage while the bass
drum keeps time. and sing words which
no one can understand 10 melodies which
no one. apparently. cares 10 hear
To make a bad matter much worse
hoodlumism made its appearance IN the
gallery Whistling. enough Of null
sance was forgotten IN interruptions OF
the chorus and the throwing Of missiles
over the gallery rail. II was stopped
after awhile-but not by the Ushers
Miss TanEuay. herself. secure IN hei
position and armed with her WOman's
wit spoke only about two words as az
aside to one Of her songs. and the
hoodlums subsidized That was all tna'
was needed TO send away those who at
tended out Of sincere good wishes FOR
Miss Tanguay and at least one DID so
in a mood OF complete disappointment