The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-01-30

The large number of strikingly hand
some gowns worn in the production of "a
Royal Slave, which will be seen at the Au-
ditorium, Burlington, on Friday, February
O. is the occasion of much comment in
every city where the play has been seen
this season. 1t is interesting to hear the
gasps of admiration and envy with which
the ladies of the audience invariably greet
each entrance of the women upon the stage.
Miss Marie Van Tossell, as the Countess
Inez, carries off the honors in this matter
of sumptuous costuming. She appears in
six handsome gowns. each one a triumph
of the tailor's art. The climax is reached
In the last act, when she appears in tight
fitting gown of black velvet, displaying
her magnificent figure to admirable advan-
tage, while novel girdle is the form of a
monster twining serpent, with its head pro
truding above the bodice of the gown In
frontan its length encircling the waist
and depending at the side of the skirt,
causes the masculine portion of the audi
ence to sit up and take notice. The
body of the serpent is literally covered
with spangles, five thousand in number
With the bright lights of the theatre re-
Elected from these glittering, quivering,
vibrant spangles, the light is one not sooD
forgotten. Little Fairy, as Annette, the
dancing girl. is likewise well supplied with
gorgeous gowns, appearing in a different
one in each act. 1t is interesting to note
that each of Fairy's dresses is covered with
spangles, always In harmonious keeping
with the color of the gown. AS she wears
one of these bespangled. resplendent gowns
when she gives the Spanish dance, which
is one of the features of the play, the effect
can be easily imagined. The other mem
bers of the company are all appropriately
and richly dressed. Inasmuch as the play
deals with royal family in the days of Cas-
lillian magniticence at Emperor Maximil
ian's court, it can be understood that the
costuming of the production is one Of the
most important features
Seldom in the history of New York the
atricals has there been such tale of con-
tinued success as is told of 'The Girl of the
Golden West" at the Belasco Theatre,
New York. This remarkable Belasco
drama is presented to a literally packed
house every night, as we'll as at the matt
nees. 1t is estimated that the floating pop
ulation of New York City is 500, 900 daily.
That is to say, 500.000 out of-town resi-
dents are in the metropolis every day
large percentage of this number want
to see the play they have heard so much
about, and the consequence is that the box
office of the Belasco Theatre is besieged
at every performance. Mr.. Belasco does
not like to use the sign, Standing Room
Only" at any of the theatres, because he
does not sell standing room to any extent
So the box Office men have to smile sorrow
fully at each would be ticket purchaser as
he comes to the window, gently suggesting
that he order seats four weeks ahead as
the only sure way of getting them at all.
The Belasco Theatre has a good seating
capacity, but it is taxed every night
Miss Blanche Bates, as the Girl" is Just
as full of life as she was at the beginning
of the run, while Frank Keenan,, as the
Sheriff ; Robert J. Hilliard, as Ramirez,
and the other members of the cast, all take
their tone from the star, and seem as if they
might be playing their parts for the first
time. 1t is the freshness of the perform
ance that constitutes one of its destinations.
This is characteristic of every Belasco
production, and of course has much to do
with his long career of success.