The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-17
AT THE THEATER

| 1t is the unexpected that happens in
| things theatrical, as we'll as in other
| regards. Now and then comes a play
| or an opera, or a farce-comedy, un-
| heralded by phenomenal runs in New
| York and Chicago, or too-laudatory
press notices, as in the case of the
late production of king Dodo,' OF
melancholy memory, and proves its
| own title to almost unqualified praise.
| Such was the presentation yesterday of
| "a Girl From Dixie" which possessed
| so many merits that it would be cap
| tious to find fault with its faults. A
conspicuous quality, and one that
| might well be adopted by more pre-
| tentious shows. was that the best
numbers were kept for the last, and
| there was a steady Improvement from
the beginning of the short and rather
| boisterous first act to the climax of
| the last. the interest and enthusiasm
of the audience being sustained to the
| end.
| The piece is of the farce comedy or
| der, with a distinct plot and musical
| interpretations of a most tuneful sort.
| There was reminiscent suggestion of
|
| in the season. although "a Girl From
| Dixie is less dainty and more broadly
| comic.
| It's humorous side was it's toest, and
no cleverer work of the sport has been
| done here this season than by George
| Beane as Squire Mink of the Tana-
rack bar, D. l.. Don as Ludwig Regen-
| bergen, the village music teacher,
| Charles K. French as Jack Randolph,
| Of h inc of TanA-
| rack School, and best of all, Charles
| H. Shelter as Maria Louisa, who work
| ed for the best old family in Maryland.
| If ever a stage darkey was true 10
| life, it was Mr.. Shelters Maria Louisa.
The work of these four together was
| probably the best specially in the piece
Their conference regarding the mar
riage of the girl from DIXIE, win the
| addition of Mr.. Clifford Leigh, was
almost, if not quite as good. for MIR:
| Leigh's Lord Dunsmore was capital
from first to last. and showed up bet
| ter than any other part in the nrst
| act.
| Charles H. Bowers as Edward Bran
| don and Wilmer H. Bently as NICK
| Calvert were both good. The men In
| the cast, in fact, had considerably the
/ advantage of the women. Miss Bea-
| trix Bronte, who appeared in the lead
| ing role as Kitty Calvert, was not nat
ural enough to give the part charm.
| She was at her best in the Dixie MEM
ories, with Jack Randolph ana MARIA
Louisa, when they invaded her New
York home. The Bess Jackson OF Miss
! Blanche Adams was very good.
The incidental dancing and music
were entirely pleasing, and the scenic
effects that accompanied them unusual
and wonderfully pretty. The blowing
of soap bubbles by the chorus during
the singing of Bubbles" by Mr.. Bow
ers, whose voice is clear, sweet ana
well trained one, was so charming IN
effect that the audience broke into
quick applause.
There remains to be mentioned the
costuming, which was fresh, artistic,
and graceful and the attractive set
ting OF the last act. as well as the
realism of the first.
1.-THE Chaperons" will be the attrac-
ton tonight. In the cast Will be seen
John G. Sparks, Mabel Hite, Thomas
Whiffen, May Boley, Genevieve Day,
w. " Strunz, Mae Stebbins, Arthur
Earnest, Oscar Ragland, and Harry
Ladell There is a chorus of forty and
a coterie Of chic show girls.
The story of THE Chaperons" is
simply an episode--a search for the
missing seal of a will. On this idea the
characters are developed and manipu-
lated One of the most attractive and
catchy songs in THE Chaperons' is
Were All Good Fellows" song that
is now being sung in almost every
Eastern college of note in the country.
This song, in which the baritone, Ar
thur Earnest, has his finest opportuni-
ty, first attracted attention the opening
week of the college year at New Ha-
| ven, when the Yale boys occupied al
most the entire parquette during the
| two performances of "The Chaperons"
| in that city.
| Ezra Kendall in 1.-THE Vinegar Buy
| err will be seen tomorrow night. The
| company includes j. II. Crosby, Frank
| A. Lyon, Ralph Dean, Roy Fairchiid,
| John d. Garrick, Harry Hanlon. Frank
| A. Howson, Jr., Helen Salinger, Lot
| tie Alter, Lucille La Verne and June
| Matthias.
The piece relates to the life and adj
ventures of Joe Miller (Mr. KendalD
| Observation-Disclosures and master-of-none.
except the art of fun making. With
cheerful nonchalance he roams
through the Middle West. peddling
| musical attachments for sewing ma
chimes that enables the farmers wives
and daughters TO enjoy popular melo-
! dies while at work In Indiana, Joe
chances upon CROSSROADS village,
whose honest natives. charmed with
Joe's wit and good humor, persuade
| him TO settle among them. Miller be-
ing a ready speaker and possessed of
the "eift of CAB" and the art Of story
telling. rapidly makes himself lead
ing citizen, and is ultimately elected
the Mayor Of the town. Aleck Stripes.
who keeps the village tavern, IL OPP
posed 10 Miller, In whose uprightness
he sees a menace TO the scheme OF his
son Henry. the village lawyer, 10 mar
~ Mildred Arlington, whose mother Is
a wealthy widow. Mildred loves Wall
ter Talbot, and the shady village at
torney. acting IN the Interest Of
stripes indeayors TO prevent the mar
rage OF the lovers. Realizing that
rldicule Is the most potent weapon
against vnlainy Miller makes the law
Yer and his clients ridiculous and the
laughing stock of the village. and in
me end poetic justice ~ done and the
Villain. who really HASN'T committed
ans crime. only tried 10, ~ given bic
walking ticket
''Ths Professors Love story" win De