The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-27
AT THE THEATERS
observation-disclosures Gloria"


One must take issue with the playbilrs
title-"Glittering Gloria, comedy"-but
that is about the only ISSUE The COM
edy of "Glittering Gloria is not that of
familiar English successes-subtle, deli
cate, exquisite, so that one laughs as
much from pleased vanity at ones own
splendid sense Of humor as because of
the situations. Rather it is broad, bold,
racy, even noisy at times. The handle
"comedy' is a misnomer unless lie be
qualified by that very convenient word
farce" For comedy must be as true to
life as portraiture, which "Glittering
Gloria is not, except in spots. Comedy
must leave the caricature to farce. So
let us call it farce, in spite Of the label.
But there is no quarrel or issue with
words therein. Whatever it be rightly
termed, there is no opening for bubble
in anything that makes for gratitude at
between-act rests that bring physical re-
Taxation from continuous laughter. So
away with seeking for the term to fit.
In real life man may buy for a pretty
chorus girl a $4,000 diamond necklace
if he but have the money-even tho he
has but just returned from honeymoon
trip with beautiful wife. But it is
hardly likely that three other men would
be after the same necklace for the same
chorus girl on the same morning before
IL o'clock Nor it is likely that in real
life a young husband would write to his
chum-betrothed to his wife's dearest
friend-appointing to- meet him and buy
the necklace for a Gloria, and then leave
the letter for his wife to find just in
time to send herewith her dearest friend
to the jewelers. at the appointed hour.
But the next moments are true to life
the husbands. confusion, his attempted
ho If h hmm in
his behalf, and finally his eloquent at
tempt to vindicate his honor even at the
expense Of his beloved-and newly Gre
ated-friend Millikin. So the scene comes
very near to true comedy and Is by all
odds the DISTRACTED bit in the piece.
Presenting a pseudo Millikin to the sus-
picious wife almost convinces her-but
not quite. A later invasion of Gloria s
| apartment opens the eyes of suspicion
again, and with the entrance Of Gloria S
| need to conceal the husband and the
Farce may reign. For Millikin haunts
| the glittering one, and so does Millikin's
bulldog. This latter sterling actor rends
| the garments Of the graceless ones tt
| shreds; convenient departure Of Gloria's
! trunks gives concealment and escape tt
| the shred-wearers, and from the chorus
girls apartments to the baggageroon
| of a railway station rush all concerned
Farce and her helpmeets, Noise and Pre-
| dicament, in van or rear. There Pre-.
| dicament gains Gloria's absorbing atten.
| ton, to give way before Subterfuge's
cleyerness, and j. from the enormous
| trunks the ,graceless,, shredded ones
| emerge, with thef explanation that con.
| quers doubts, to- an anticlimax that is
the only other real issue to be taken with
this winning farce.
| "Florodora" has made Isadore Rusl
adequate to the title role and capable
for the two songs with which she helps
| to -prolong the piece. Command of facia
expression gives George Parsons sway al
the husband; painstaking attention tt
detail of mannerism makes Wilton
| Heriot almost tha real star as the chappJ
chum. And this Is conceding ]. Gunni
Davis claims, for he is thoroly salts
! flying Poskett, alias Millikin. A brigh
1 spot in the piece, too, is Edw. M. Favor
4 the third assistant superintendent O
! luggage, with his: captivating telephone
! turn and his "Cordelia Malone" Indeed
! he Is the last act-the rest Of it is tn
flaw in an otherwise neary perfect farce
| The others? Theirs the fate to wea
the well-worn phrase 1.-The remainder o
the cast was adequate" Sympathy ma.
go out to many such in the scores tina
pass in the nights Of theater season
On the playwright be it that their lines
win no more, for every night and mat
inee they give their share to make tn
theatergoer's life worth living.
Harry B. Wakefield.
| Foyer Chat.