The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-03
AT THE THEATERS
MetropoIItan-"The Girl from Rays

MISUNDERSTANDING Girl from kay's."
While there lis little real merit in the
substance of s"The Girl from Kays," the
most popular trif1e that London has sent
us since "Florodora,'' good acting and
artistic production have conspired to such
purpose that it is quite the liveliest en-
tertainment Of it's kind now before the
public. And yet it is to be noted that,
trif1e as " Is, this farcical fancy of Owen
Halls continuing is well-considered piece
OF work, far removed from the wearisome
lnan1tles OF the ordinary musical comedy.
Even the songs are for the most part
fitted into the story SO that they seem to
belong, instead Of being inserted after the
usual Iashlon III an interstice pried open
for the purpose. These songs, mostly by
ivan Caryn have an individuality that
sets them apart They are at least differ
emit from the everlasting jingles with
which most American made productions
are scored nowadays. Three pretty inter-
polations are by Clara Hummer.
But al; after all, it is the people" that
make 1.-THE Girl from Kay's'' go-two of
them especially, Sam Bernard and Hattie
Williams. Mr.. Bernard's inpersonation
OF rich German Jew of London is GER
tainly the funniest3 character creation
seen IN many a day. But 1t is more than
that. Beneath the broad comedy with
which 1T is overlaid, there is a subtle quail
1ty that springs from keen appreciation
| OF the characteristic inordinate vanity of
+ the man which constantly impels him to
expenditures which his business sense dis
approves, his utter lack of sense of humor,
Wnlch ne tries in vain to supply for the
entertainment of the girl he Is pursuing,
MS excessive caution which reduces to
pusslllan1mity his desire for vengeance on
! the man who has taken her from him.
These and other funny, because human
| n no n1f>v& ,~@ n11a3@ l.
Mr. Bernard with an Inconsistencies thai
makes the portrait&caricature tho it be
irresistible. No matter how funny a stunt
he perpetrates-a burlesque dance, 8
comic song, or whatever it bet Is al
ways Hoggenheimer and none other. This
is art, as few OF our ;comc opera come.
dams understand it. Jefferson de Angels
whom MIR. Bernard resembles somewhat
in method, also knows how to forget he
has an audience. The portrait of Hog.
genheimer Is complete, even to that walk
like nothing ever seen before and oddly
reVelant OF his character, and his mimi.
| table but never overdone dialect.
| For her part, Miss Williams achieve!
a p1quant picture of the young millinel
who knows when to be innocently demurt
and when to reveal by a twinkle Of thu
eye: the profundity. Of her knowledge O.
the world. A type Of saucy, bruno
beauty, she contrives to give an appear
ance Of mercenary innocence to her rela
u lions with Hoggenheimer that Is a triumph
of artistic skating on thin ice. Moreover
she sings her songs with consummate art
so clearly that not a word is lost, and witt
appropriate action Her voice has ,
pleasant, clear quality, despite her nasa
habit in the middle register.
y Katherine Hutchinson, a White-and-pin
blonde, plays the bride with distinction
Grace Dudley, she Of the spirituelle face
ltssome figure and twinkling feet in
) vests the maid with airy sauciness an
sings her songs fetchingly. George How
ard, who plays the young bridegroom, |
a handsome actor, who knows better tina
, to pose, and who sings his numbers wit
= artistic discretion and distinctness Hi
conversational songs are unusually we
done. Then there is Ernest Lambart, VIII
perpetrates a very funny London swell
employed by Hoggenheimer to get hi1
into the swagger set. Good character bit
} are furnished by George R. spraguc q
! the brides father, Carrie Lee stoyle as lie
mother and Louis R. Grisel as her por
eyed uncle.
The piece is put on in faultless styl
Costumes, scenery and all the accessorie
are beautiful, and the chorus is traine
to do its work with engaging precision
Z One finds it nothing, to wonder at thu
, | the success Of "The Girl from Kay's'' hs
been so great in the large cities that
: now for the first. time is permitted to 9
1 on the road. wi B. Chamberlain.