The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-21
AT THE THEATERS
MetropoIItan-"The sho. Gun .


George AIDE and Gustave Luders have
proved that 1t can be done. Those observ-
ers who have watched the gradual sub
mergence Of the stage beneath a flood Of
meaningless and mirthless musical COM
edy and who have doubted whether the
golden age of comic opera had not de-
parted forever, have had their doubts re-
solved by 1.-THE sho- Gun" It is return to
first principles in construction. Max
ers Of latter-day musical comedies do
not bother with ideas until everything
else has been provided-music, costumes
scenery, jokes and dances. Then, at the
last moment, they strive to inject enough
ideas into the ccnglomeration to give it
| life. "1he Shotgun has a story-and a
good one-to begin with. The idea is the
| basis on which the superstructure is
| raised.
A breezy American from Iowa goes to a
Korean island in search of ancestry and
title. He introduces all the latest Ameri-
can ideas-truSts, labor unions, litigation
and the like The result of this occi-
dental invasion of the orient is series
| of events funny in themselves and not
dependent for their humor upon puns,
gags or other devices for un-making.
The fanciful story is worked out cleverly
and with growing interest until the final
| triumph of the American and his ridicu-
lous rescue are accomplished amid gusts
of laughter. I'LL.
AS may be imagined, this sort of a yarn
has afforded Mr.. AIDE, master of sat
ire that he is, many opportunities for
saying smartly cynical things about the
way we do things, And we all laugh
consumedly when he cracks us so merrily
over the knuckles. These outlandish Ko-
reans of Mr.. AIDE have WISE things to
say that sound very odd, coming from the
lips Of supposed orientals. And thus the
! humor of the tale gains in relish from the
gorgeous incongruity of it's setting. There
| is whimsical fun, for instance, in the idea
of a Korean astrologer acting as attorney
for the American, and turning things in
the sedate island upside down with his
| injunctions and other legal moves.
Mr.. Luders, for his part, has provided
musical setting that fairly coruscates
with gems They follow each other in
rapid succession-mostly with choral ac-
| its purpose. With SO many pretty anG
singable numbers. it is difficult to par
ticularize, but the topical duet, "Your
Honeymoon Will Last" the cornhusking
| song, 1.-THE Games We Used to Play
with its attendant dancing. and the DASH
ing military number. 1.-THE Jackie, -
seemed to win most favor.
| The production is put on in the most
| complete and resplendent manner. The
|
good taste and of picturesque effect. The
settings are brilliantly beautiful and the
| changing stage pictures are full of life
| and color and light.
| The company enters into its work with
great zest and an enjoyment that is con-
tagious. John E. Henshaw plays the
American in his smoothest and most as
sured manner. Always graceful and thoro-
ly sure Of himself, he fits into the part
perfectly. His fun Is spontaneous with
out being unduy hilarious, and he sings
a topical song or does bit of dance
| with equal facility. The role of the 'Sho-
Cum" altho comparatively a '1ean'' one
/ is in the capable hands Of Edward B
Martindell, while Thomas C. Leary gets
much dry humor out of the astrological
lawyer, with his twisted proverbs and his
wise observations. E. F. Parsons play:
a tall and fierce general with appropriate
bravado. William c. Weldon has the
tenor role, and he makes a handsome
sutton, albeit rather throaty in his sing.
ing. His duets with the princess, who i:
none other than the petite Christie Mac
Donald. are charmingly done. Miss Mac
Donald's Scotch face is piquant and ex
pressive-but it isn't Korean. It would b,
we'll If she would transform the impossible,
sandy-ha1red princess Of Ka-Choo by tn,
arts of her profession Agnes Game Brown
makes an alluring young widow who sings
ana dances quite orlentally. One coult
wish that she articulated more distinct,
in topical songs. A third charming prin
cipal is Charlotte Leslay, as leader of tn
Sing-Song girls, whose innocent smile i
most beguiling. May Ten Brock play
the naughty old dowager with apprecia
ton and Henry Taylor, as the naval en-
, sign, leading a squad of fighting American
= jackies, makes a decided hit in his brie
: occupancy of the center Of the stage Hi
| md fho CT 10 oI,~
ingly.
Altogether, 1.-THE Sho-Gun' is refresh
|. ingly different. w. B. Chamberlain.