The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-12-06
THE STAGE
''PIFF PAFF POUF''
SPLENDID MUSICAL COMEDY PRE-
sENTED TO A LARGE AUDI
ENcE AT THE GRAND LAST
NIGHT.

1t sometimes occurs that when
theatrical attraction has been boosted
unusually strong that the performance
fails to come up to expectations, but
such was not the case with "Piff Paff
POUR at the Grand Opera House last
night From the rise Of the curtain
to the end of the performance there
was something doing, and it was done
in such manner as to make it inter-
csting and amusing in the EXTREMIST
sense of the word.
The company was large, the chorus
strong and well trained, the principals
all exceedingly clever and the produc-
ton elegantly and artistically staged.
"Piff Pan Pouf" has won the non de
lIume of The musical cocktail" and
when it is said that 1t sustained its rep
lltation last night it is true. 1t made
good and that is all there is to It
Robert E. Graham, who established
himself as favorite, when he appear
ed here in "Florodora" two years
ago, part similar to that of
August Melon, the role taken by
him last night, twas exception
ally good, his comedy and musical
numbers being far Above that usually
seen on the local stage,
The principal fun.maker. however,
was Fred w. Mace, who played Peter
Poufle and his "sand man" and his
numerous other stunts kept the audi
ence in a roar, and hisssongY"I I'm So
Happy" was inimitably-done8 and the
audience worked him almost to ex-
Laustion, and it was only after he had
gotten of two local hits that absolute
1y took the house by storm, that he
was allowed to retire -
The dashing widow, Mrs LILLIAN
Montague, by Miss Kathryn ,oster.
man, was part in which there were
many possibilities, and she succeeded;
admirably in bringing out all, there
was in It.
Miss Eveleen DunmOre, wlio7took the
part Of Rose Melon, besides being a
very clever actress, possesses a voice
of rare sweetness and power, and
showed excellent training, and it Is
rare indeed that such voice is heard
either in comic opera or musical com
edy, and her song, my Unkissea
Man" was the real musical treat Of the
evening and was encored to the
1imlt.
Miss Lulu Mcconnell as Cora Melon,
was clever little girl and her dolly
Dimples" song was one of the goo!
things Of the evening. Her dancing
was also unique andjyery good" d.
Miss Dorothy Maynard, as Nora
Melon, was also clever and her musl
cal effort, "Under the Goo Goo Tree
which was sung with excellent effect
60 "the man in the box" was very good.
Many Of the audience we're not aware
that the man in the first upper box on
the right was member of the com
Dany. and the embarrassment he
seemed to be suffering was very anus,
ing. The box was also occupied by Il
prominent CIarksburg doctor.
The "Lutie" song by the Pony Bal
let, led by James s. Devlin, who took
The part Of Macaroni Pafle, was anoth'
or CT the good things. The Pony Bal
let" puts the "Piff Paff Pouf" show m
a. class distinctly its own, and demon
strates that the management was put
to great expense and labor to secure
SC many small and pretty girls'to sue
cessfully carry out the idea of the
Pony Ballet" EasH
Other members of the large cast are
deserving Of special mention but sIiRqc
for5ids. The chorus was one of the
largest ever seen on the local stage
and also presented the most charming
appearance, as the large majority Of
them were very pretty girls.
The production showed eScesEe8l
stage Management and the tos dact0l
in the orchestra pit directing the mu
sic added much to tES Sns ctof Chi
songs by his painstaklng efEort, Stan