Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-25
PRETTY WESTERN GIRLS.
Are Supplanting Eastern Ninidens In
OPERA Chorus.

There arc certain prophets who fore
SOC In one of the present conditions Of
Tho stage in this country day not far
distant when the West can lay just
"lnim to the distinction of having given
to the American public the greater mum
her NJ its celebrated singers and actress
cs This prophecy arises from the we'll
RECOGNIZED fact that the West is now
furnishing by far the more recruits to
IN" stage, and it follows that from the
recruits will arise the leaders of the fu-
ture. Hence tho proud hope of the West.
The vogue which has been enjoyed in
recent years by that style of amusement
known rs musical comedy led to the dis
covery of the fertility Of the West In the
| matter. of stage supply. Musical comedy
! has developed chorus work far beyond
thot OF the old time farce comedy and
| of its predecessor, light opera. Tho Choir
| us has become n decided factor in the
! musical plays of to-day and the West is
way in the lead in the quantity If young
women in contributes to the 'ield and it
| leads in quality, too. Western girls are
! admittedly superior to Eastern girls for
| chorus work. and from the ranks of
| these beginners will come celebrated
artists.
Henry w. Savage discovered the fertil-
! ity Of the West in the chorus girl field
Mr.. Savage organized his king Dodo"
company in Chicago and took it thence
10 New York All his chorus girls were
| from the West. They were Il revelation
to New York's seasoned theatre patrons
to listen to- for they could sing. wen the
| admiration of all broadway and received
any amount Of praise. Then along came
Peggy from Paris" for its New York
run at Nallacks Theatre. Here was
another company which Mr.. Savage had
organized in the West With hardly an
exec ption the chorus girls were from Chi
cago or from points beyond
No orb 4 eli in, &c
seat at the theatre and stare at them in
arntified approval How different these
bright. animated and g neral chorus girls
from the long familiar "Broadway reg,i-
lar" az the old time New York chorus
\ girl had come to be callcd-the tall hard
faced. metallic voiced blonde who
couldn't dance and didn't seem to care.
! These Western girls were a delightful
surprise. They contributed in no snail
measure to the enjoyment of the play
They we're prettv-admttedlv tho pref.
ticst lot that had ever struck Broadwa
and they had flesh on their bones and
natural hair and every voice camc over
the footlight clear. distinct and of coed
quality. hrl then their department on
the stage! They did not stand about
i listlcsslv or move like creatures of wood
THEY We're Vivacious. graceful and plain
" healt and soul in their work The
audience felt the smell. and from the frs,
! night the chorus in Peggy from Paris
, Was n feature that set New York talk.
Ing.
Ncxt comes the tribute of Mr.. Flanagan
al the greater because he himself Is an
. Ia stornor. He saws that tho class OF
, Young women from the West VINO go or
the stage completely ovcrshndow II,
Eastern aspirants for positions. The,
are higher grade of girls. better cdu
Gated and of greater intelligence. The,
bring to their work a resolute purpos,
to begin at the beginning and succeed
They are whole hearted and sincere
. They are actuated by Inherent Western
pr1ctica bilitv. Ir other words. they ar,
busine like in their ambition. They ar,
attentive. alert watchful and quick {,
receive and obey suggestions They be
gin in the chorus as a stepping stone I,
sonnet hing higher and try 10 do thei
very lest IRE result must he advan
tarcous. II is this intelligence and earn
estnoss among its individual member,
which makes a company of Ncstor,
, chorus girls SO much brighter ard NOR,
offorvcscert than a like organization n
Eastern girls
Pcyord this Mr.. Flanagan asserts tho