The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-30
At St. Paul Theaters

The Girl From Kay's' rightly des-
1gnated on the bill of the play as a
'farcical comedy with music" vastly
entertained an audience of liberal pro
portions at the Metropolitan last night
The reasons for the success are two in
number. intrinsic merit in the play, and
It's music, and a thoroughly capable
company of farceurs. Those upon
Whom it devolves to be amusing are
funny, and those whose duty it is to
ornament the stage do so constantly
and effectively. Indeed the grade of
Feminine beauty of face and figure as
exemplifled In the principals and chorus
is exceptionally high. 1t is always a
delight to the eye
This is more than half the battle to
begin with, but the complete victory is
assured by the manner in which the in
terest is never permitted to lag, and the
bright dialogue and the amusing situa-
tlons into which the characters are
thrown.
Sam Bernard, a comedian new to this
section of the country, provokes the
major portion of the laughter An en-
Iertalner of original methods and ec-
centric personality he succeeds in
arousing merriment where antics of the
same character in a conventional farce
comedy clown would seem fiat and
unproftable. Bernard plays the role
- $500 -AO5SOiitiClIliSI, d LOHQOn he
Drew, and makes him truly inimitable
IN dialect, makeup and behavior That
dlafect is an indiscribable tumble of
German idioms in English mixed with
malapropisns. laughable, introduced as
they are at moments when their alb
surdity is most noticeable.
MIR. Bernard is amply and agreeably
AIDED by Miss Hattie Williams, an ex-
ceptlonally comely woman, who plays
the title role, that of the milliner from
kay's establishment. Miss Williams
possesses besides pleasing distinction
OF face and figure, unnistakabIe mi
metlc talent, entertainingly demon
strated by her song in the second act,
Customers From Kay's.'' in which she
cleverly initiated the affectations OF
customers ranging from awkward
school girls to actresses. The encores,
which were numerous, were merited,
and SO insistent as to interrupt the
progress of the play for while.
admirable support was furnished by
all the others. Grace Dudley, remember
ed here for her t7ashing impersonation
of Lady Holyrood in .'Floradora'' some
seasons ago, contributed a pleasing
haracterization. of Ellen. a sagacious
lady's maid, and sang two numbers,
Tips and @ssBeb and Me- with the
same relish that marked her singing
of Tact, Tact, Tact IN the other mu-
sical comedy.
George Howard, who impersonated
the husband Harry Gordon, caught on
his wedding day kissing the girl from
Kay'S, played the character in a
straightforward, manly, unaffected
fashion to be commended. His stage
presence is decidedly in his favor, his
voice good and his acting marked by
Intelligence land good taste, the last
named quality being too scarce
in leading jlivenfies.sst His song,
| ~Mathilda and the Builder" is a piece
Of Gilbertian versifieation, quaint and
amusing.
The most n1elodious numbers are the
| solo, Egypt sung by Winnie (Miss
Wllliams), and duet between Winnie
and Harry George Howard), Make
1t Up" while the funniest song is
| "Sufhciency." a character lyric by
Bernard, which evoked much laughter
and applause. A mixed auartette sang
| a syncopated composition, 'Lucy Lindy
Lady, effectively. 1t is the work of
| Dave Read Jr. "Sufficiency" and
| Egypt were composed by Clare Kum-
mer.
A fetching dance, a la Tanguay, to
music entitled Smiling Sanbo," was
| contributed by Kathleen Clifford, who
| displayed much grace and agility. The
| subsequent burlesaue on it by Bernard
was ludicrously funny.
The performance, which comprises
/ three acts, is rather lengthy, and the
| curtain will rise at 8 p. m. this even
ing. F. G. H.