Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-03-06

al Laurels-Clever
Work Of Cast.
The visit of Prince to Annapolis
S nothing rare or extraordinary. She
is quite used to them, thank you, and
royalty has no special charms for
her, either in title or gold lace, or
even IN plain clothes. On the many
occasions that we have had princes
visit rs, however, none have been
accorded such a thoroughly hearty,
enthusiastic and altogether hilarious
welcome as The Prince of Pilsen.
which came TO the Colonial Theatre
last night. There was laughter and
applause from rise TO fall of curtain,
and there was genuine enjoyment
ior everybody in the large audience
that packed the house from orchestra
20 door and both balcony an gallery.
Did you say it was Lent . Indeed /
Well, TO have peeped into the Colonial
Theatre last night you would have
thought Lent had been ''lent" for the
occasion, or was lost, strayed or stolen.
Every denomination in town was ~.
cluded in the large audience, from
pious Catholics and Episcopalians, to
plain Calvinistic Presbyterians, sturdy
Methodists and even Christian Scien.
tsts and Millenial Dawnists. All all
weIe there and threw Lent to the
winds, but this afternoon will doubt
less do penauoe and there won't be
standing room at church.
But, aside from the cosmopolitan,
nonsectarian audience, the show was
great. The Prince of PiIsen is such a
tuneful humorous, musical comedy
that it grows in favor and has lost
none OF its popularity since 1t was
here two years ago. Its charm has
Increased with age, and there is some
thing about the fascinating swing
aud rhythm of its music that hits a
popular chord and inspires the audi
ence with tuneful melody. 1t is one
Of Gustav Luder's best musical COM
positions and he was probably inspired
10y the poetic worth and idealistic ma
ture OF Frank Pixley's lyrics and the
picturesque aud romantic settings of
his story, to put forth his best efforts.
The company is a good one. Jess
Dandy as Hans Wagner, the brewer
from "ZInzinnati, is irresisitbly
funny. His very laugh is infectious
aud he keeps the audience in a good
numor all evening. Miss StaDhope,
as the hirtatious widow, is pretty, vi
vacious and charming and one of the
best scenes is between herself, Mr..
Dandy and Lord Shrimpton, Mr..
Clarendon. is excellent as the de.
bonuair English lord. AS the real
Prince of Pilsen Mr.. Arthur Donald
son is very pleasing. He is hand.
some, athletic and has good voice.
His duet, Pictures in the Smoke"
with Miss Marie Welsh, was very
effectively sung. Miss Ruth PEBBLES,
as the Vasasr girl. and Mr.. Ivar An.
derson, as her lover, the young lieu
tenant of the cruiser Annapolis, both
sang and acted well. Mr.. Anderson
has remarkably good voice and he
knows how to use it with effect, and
Miss PEBBLES has a sweet, flexible
voice of high range and bell like clear
ness. Miss Marie Welsh, as the brew
srs' daughter, is very dainty and
sings sweetly. Pauline Huntley makes
"a petite Jimmie, the bell boy, aud
James Il. Rome, as the athletic Fran
co.'s with chops in his feet, Mar
guerite Ferguson, dancing French
maid and stunning Miss Memay Ken.
nedy, the Annapolis girl in the "Song
of The Cities, make up an exception
ally good cast. The choruses were
we'll trained, the effects very artistic,
tue costumes varied and handsome
and the scenery beautiful.
The thread of the story is woven
about Hans Wagner. q Cincinnati
brewer, who is travelling with his
daughter. and who has princely hon.
ors thrust upon him as the result of
mistaken identity. VIXEN the real
Prince, a dashing student from He'll,
deberg, arrives with his suite, lac is
not only ignored, but even finds diff
Guilty in securing accommodations at
tne hotel He is told that the Prince
of Pilsen's stsy at the hostelry leaves
little room or time for entertaining
others. He decides not 10 disclose his
identity, but to await favorable OPP
portunity for exposing the impostor.
However, he happens TO meet Nellie
Wagner, the brewers daughter, and a
minutes conversation with her is
enough TO show him that the Amerl-
cans aIe innoncent OF any part in the
deception-that the situation has been
forced upon them. In full enjoyment
of the affair he remains commoner
and permits the blundering brewer to
involve them both in a series of ludi-
crous situations, but falling in love
with Nellie, the real Prince finally
declares himself, and happily ends the
complications.
Throughout "The Prince of Pilsen''
sparkled with wit, comic situations
aud mirth- provoking fun. 1t was we'll
sung and encored again and again by
large and enthusiastic audience
who warmly welcomed its return to
Annapolis after two years interval
in which time it had lost none of its
prestine freshness.
Visiting CIergYmen.
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