The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-01
AT THE THEATER


Haverly's Mastodon Minstrels, seen
yesterday in two performances, were
scarcely up to the standard of excel
lence claimed for them. While there
was much to commend in the stage
setting and electric effects, and in the
singing. the first part was distinctly
disappointing.
1t may be because Savannah is par
tial to minstrel shows and is visited by
so many during the season. in combi-
nation with the fact that there is moth
ing new under the sun, that gave a
certain unrefreshing quality to the
end mems jokes. But there is surely
something a little less old under the
sun than that too-familiar conundrum
regarding the five blackbirds, one of
which was killed and four of which
flew away
Eddie Leonard, who was advertised
with the show, and who is a Savannah
favorite, was not billed on the pro-
gramme. The best individual number
in the first part was a dance by Eddy
Koran, in which he presented some
entirely new and clever steps and orig
NAL rhythmic effects. Good. in a
different line, was the singing of
George Vail, who has a strong and
sweet basso, and sang very sympathet-
ically. The entire company wore the
minstrel black faces.
The second part was made UP of the
usual specialties, more or less clever,
and closed with a good scenic effect of
moonlight on the water, during which
Eddy Koran was introduced, with a
dancing contingent ofltwenty, in some
In 20
The remarkable veracity of a note on
the programme, which read Pro
granime subject to change" challenged
admiration. The programme was sub
ject to such constant change during
the entire first part at the matinee
that it required considerable ingenuity
to follow it at all.
'"The Storks," will be seen Thurs
day night.
This merry musical fantasy is pre-
scented in two acts and three scenes
the book is by Richard earle and Guy
F. Steely: the lyrics are by Guy F.
Steely, and the music was composed
by Frederick Chaplin.
The seat sale opens this morning.
Prices, orchestra $3.50, balcony 81 90
and 75c, gallery soc.
The plot Of king Dodo," the Pix
ley and Luders comedy opera in which
Richard Golden will appear at the
theater tonight, under the direction of
Henry w. Savage is not alone funny,
but unconventional as well. King
Dodo 1. of Dodoland is possessed of
the idea that he would like to regain
his youth. To this end he does all
sorts of foolish things, such as hav-
ing the calendar set back the tri1e of
thirty years and keeping his court
physician in constant dread of a vio-
lent death If he does not discover for
him the elixir of youth. A young SOL
der of fortune. Piola. has had the
temerity to fall in love with the King s
ward, Angela, and proposes to mar
ry her. To this King Dodo objects
most strenuously for she is the APP
pie of his eye and he intends to ac-
quire youth himself and marry the
young lady, until Piola promises to
take him to a fountain which will make
him young again.
The second act finds all of the inter
ested persons in Spoopjuland, which
is ruled by a Queen of surprising low
illness. who ANNOUNCES that she will
marry none but an old man of exper-
fence. When Dodo =. and his en-
courage are taken before her as pris-
has been waiting for. and. as she
pleases Dodo's fancy, the wooing speeds
right merrily until a conspiracy Is
Matched and Dodo is given a drink
from a spring which is indeed a veri-
table fountain OF youth. Presto, the
old KING is transformed into boy.
This pleases Dodo, but the Queen viii
have none Of him. Again the con-
spirators come to the rescue: for with
the idea Of drowning the favorite they
throw him in the same spring and
by it's marvellous powers he is again
transformed into the decrepit old
monarch, he was when the Queen of
the Spoopju people lost her heart TO
him. Dodo is of a forgiving DISPOSE
ton and when he finds that the Queen
will be his he gives everyone his bless
ing and his kingdom to Piola and
Angela, telling the former to Ego into
the King business on his own ac-
count" Thus all of the complications
happily are adjusted.