The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-01
MERRY WIZARD OF or"
REVIVED AT CENTURY.

THE Wizard of o. as it is now given
at the Century, is a lesson in the art of
how to be funny. gorgeous and gIngery
without resorting to the tricks of slap
stick buffoonery. 1t is one managerial
trick to place you on the tenterhooks of
expectation. 1t Is another to leave you
hanging there. This sad and pendant fate
does not occur in THE Wizard Of o."
Unlike most musical comedies, it keeps
you guessing for a time and then gives
answers, most amusing answers You
don't have to take out your watch and
unle the tenor as he sings 10
She moon, Instead, the scarecrow QFred
Stone) and the tin woodman Dave Mont
senery) make merry in an original way.
IN general makeup Stone looks the real
ScarecroW of country memory-straW.
Tragedy suit. Tapping fingers and all. Did
you ever nouce the expression on the face
OF a toy soldier? Montgomery. somehow,
has acquired it. He seems to be the real
thing. enlarged. And when the scarecrow
and the woodman strut on, inflexible and
disjointed. it is to laugh. The scarecrow
Mark Hanna sort, oz's Wizard explains.
whereupon the scarecrow exciaims, "Oh!
how l love the poor workingmen; I Won
der If they'd vote for me?"
The cast is particularly good. because
nc one person is allowed to become a
nuisance. ,Alleen Crater is vocaliy and
dramatically a pleasure. nna Laughlin,
with the baby stare and frisky step.
proves a jolly, clever girl. J. X. Wesley.
as the Wizard. isn't so amusing as Bobby
Gaylor. who was seen in the part last
winter.
There's an up-to-date chorus. trained by
a veteran in that sort of thing. Julian
Mitchell. His personal direction has
eHun, ted for r.. a sos deal i The girls . march
The music. by Paul Tietiens of st. Louis.
is a satisfying feature. There isn't q tire
some song in the piece.
Charles Major. author Of when Knight
hood Was in Flower and Dorothy
Vernon of Haddon Hail." and Mrs. Major
arrived from Indianapolis last night and
took a suite of rooms at the Southern
Hotel. Mr.. and Mrs. Major will attend
the Olympic Theater Tonight, when Miss
rsgemsn Ga III nboE wilt open Esrna a W 1f Rsdd len,
Hall" the play dramatiZed from the novel
by Paul Kester. The ST. Louis engage
ment offered Mr.. Major the best oppor-
vantage of 1t. Mr.. and Mrs. Major will
remain in st. Louis for a week.
as
Max Agarty, leading Juvenile of the
German Stock Company, played Prince
Earl Heinz in "Alt Heidelberg at the
Odeon last night. A likeness to the Ger
man Crown Prince was strikingly brought
out by Agarty, who is tall and 1.-THE and
has an oval face. He read the lines with
intelligence. The company gave excellent
support in the leading characters, espe-
cially that of Katie, a character which
the author has surrounded with unusual
winsomeness. The performance Thursday
night will be George Heinemann's benefit.
He will appear as Pasewalk in Elm &C.
machter Mann" CA Man Of
sss
The Utopians. in vaudeville, varied by
a. series of short plays. appeared at the
Standard. The opening sketch was "A
vagabond Hero with George Alexander
in the title role. Then followed Hotel
TINS and Downs and THE Red Lion"
Tie olio included new acts by Madden
and Jess, Belle Harvey, McRae and Wy
Emmonds, Emerson and Emmonds
and George II. Diamond.
Francis Ferari presented his new animal
speciality, The Animals in the Ark" yes
tarday. Two beasts of each species were
IN the performing group. Il
Harry Meteor. the veteran German dia-