The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-15
AT THE THEATERS
Metropolitan--Marle Cahill In Infancy
Brown"

Marie CahilPs smile has lost none of
its power to illuminate the hidden mean
ings of apparently innocent statements
since she first won local regard in 1.-The
Chaperons." Indeed, its light seems to
have melloWed and certain hard cynl-
less pointed sarcasm. The humor of Miss
Cahill's comedy is of a subtle sort that
surprises one into laughter. She gives
an odd turn to some apparently simple
phrase and her smile does the rest. There
is no reaching for effect, no grotesquerie
in action or infection. On the other
hand. Miss Cahill has little talent for i'm
PRESERVATION, outside of her aptitude for
mimicry as exhibited in her coon songs.
She is always and everywhere Marie Cahill
and none else. But that seems to be
sufficient. Her singing shows a marked
Improvement, too, and she is evidently
learning to make the utmost of vocal
gifts, originally none too generous. In
stead of depending upon the converse
tionaf style in her SONGS as was her wont,
she now sings them, and sings them ef-
fectively, too. Like May Irwin, whom she
resembles in many ways, Miss Cahill is
a true artist to whom lack of personal
activeness is a handicap readily over
come by the appeal, not to be resisted,
that she makes to the intelligence and
the sense Of humor. The power of real
in repose, was never better exemplifed..
Nancy Brown is a musical comedy
decidedly above the average. Its story
fixes and holds the interest, and it's sit
uations are inherently funny. They show
the hand Of that excellent plot-artificer,
George H. Broadhurst, of What Hap
pened to Jones' fame. The dialogue
sparkles brightly and here, perhaps. his
collaboration, Frederic Ranken, is to blame.
At any rate, the book is original and
zestful-which is high praise in these
banal days. The music, furnished by S.
S. Helm and "Cole & johnson Bros
what a name for composers!-is merrily
| melodious. Some of the numbers have
the barbaric color so much affected now
in songs ambitious to become popular, -
but these-as, for instance, Miss Cahilr s
navajo sOng-are interpretations by
other authors.
The company is well planned to make
good fun and pleasing music. The COMEDY
department is especially strong with fou,
w. Frederick, Harry Brown, ALT Grant
and George Beban. All are good enough
| singers, and they cooperate admirably in
the fun making. Mr.. Tredenick's quaint
style long since made him a. favorite. Mr.
Browns old-maidish ways and the similar
tricks of cute little Mr.. Grant are good
| for many laughs. Mr.. Beban plays a
i
/ makes the caricature5 the best thing OF
\ the sort seen here, in many a. day. He
is aided and abetted by a German GIenry
VogeD, an Englishman George ]. Da-
mere) and a Russian edwin w. Lewis)
! in a travesty on the four guardsmen OF
Dumas that is genuinely funny. Their
there is Roy Atwell, who plays a young
noodle in palpabe imitation of Stuart
| Robson's Berthe but who atones by his
fetching grace in dancing, wearing good
! clothes and singing in several numbers.
In the singing department the leader
is julius Steger, who sings inspiringly
and who plays the prince with an en-.
thusiastc passion that never abates fol
an instant. Miss Clara Palmer makes {
charming little picture in her number.
with Mr.. Atwell and the cast is further
adorned by such "show girls as Donat
| Benrmo and Helen Sherwood, who are
cast as principals, and by the inevitable
sextet of beauties, who are American
| heiresses. Nor are the other members
Of the chorus far behind in the beauty
| contest.
The production is full of color and life
| Its brightness and its fun entertain with
! out paling. And Miss Cahil's claims t.
| starhood are we'll established.
w. B. Chamberlain.