The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-18
THE EARL AND
THE CIR" WAS
DELIGHTFUL

"The Earl and the Girl" with Eddie
/ Foy, he OF the thin frame, thin voice ana
! excruciatingly funny face. as about the
4 only real fun maker, opened a three
nights and one matinee engagement at the
Providence opera house last evening with
large audience.
The book is by Seymour Hicks, lyrics
! By Percy Greenbank and music by Ivan
! Carlisle. and the production is under the
Shubert management.
Back In March of last year the piece
was seen at the Shubert theatre, but since
then some changes have apparently been
made, or perhaps II is that the players
are getting used TO what they have to
do. for unquestionably bit more ginger
has been inocuated, although II never
VIII be a piece that will create great
furore.
The music is decidedly better than the
book--there is not the slightest doubt
as to this, for there are really some catchy
songs and chorusus. while the book, is
lnane and devoid almost entirely OF any
clever lines. except those whose duty 1t is
for Eddy Foy to give out.
duction and this particular humor is not
the kind that appeals. TO any great ex-
tent, TO an American audience.
There isn't much of a plot and what
does exist centres about the earl, who
elopes with a girl and is pursued by the
angry uncle OF the young lady with a
gun and n loud voice, who does not real
lie that his prospective son-in-law has
blue blood. The earl. by the generous
Use of stage money, gets one Jim Cheese
dog trainer by profession. played by
Eddie Foy. TO assume his Identity and
about this change centres all the intri-
cacies OF the piece. or course all is sat
isfactorily worked out In the end, and the
audience apparently is satisfied that the
matrimonial tangle is adjusted properly.
Most every one knows OF Mr.. Foy's
style OF comedy work, and In THE Earl
and the Girl" he gets all that is possible
out Of the lines he has to do with He is
droll and runny-his work is clean, and
while at times II savors OF the clown, 1t
is all done in his inimitable manner that
can't fail 10 please. He Is the head
lirer" of the piece. yet for some reason
or other the builders OF thepiece don't give
the character Of Jim Cheese any too much
prominence. 1t Is decidedly the comedy
part, and more Cheese would strength
en- Il.
The company, on the whole, Is stronger,
with some exceptions, than that OF last
season. The chorus is apparently of bet
ter and stronger voice and the female
portion of It will stand inspection through
opera glasses.
AS 10 the music, II is in the main light
catchey and and lively, containing such
well-known songs as How'd You
Like to Spoon With Me" 81 Would Like
TO Marry YOU" and Cheyenne"
Among the principles Miss Isabel ID Ar
mond as Daisy Fellowfield Is decidedly
clever and chic. She is full of vivacious-
ness dances well and sings THE Poor
Little Maronette," quite one of the best
songs I'm the piece, in a bewitching and
commendable way. Miss Clara lnge as
Elphin Haye a schoolgirl, appeals TO the
audience by her winning ways, and sings
her songs cleverly. Miss Zelrna Rawlston
as Liza Shodham, and who plays the
opposite TO Mr.. Foy, is just as clever an
entertainer as ever and continues To
please.
Mr. Edwin Wilson interprets the part
OF the Hon. Crewe Doodle In mediocre
sort Of way from a hlstrionic point Of
view, but he has a very good voice and
sings the song when the Right Little
Girl Comes Along" very well. The value
OF his work would be apparently in
creased, however IL he were not quite so
STACY" Mr.. Harry Il. Lester as Dick
Wargrave is clever In his juvenile work
and reminds one, to some extent, in man
nerism OF George Cohen. Mr.. w. Ill.
Armstrong as Mr.. Downham, solicitor,
played we'll and sang his songs as clever
ly.
one OF the most effective things Of the
entire production Is the song "Spoonng
Song" which occurs In the last act. In
dvidual swings are lowered from tho
flies and half dozen OF the girls go sail
ing far out over the heads of the audi
ence. The effect is Increased when the
house is darkened and little electric lights
appear at the surry ropes.
The production is staged In very good
shape and the entire production moves
along without apparently, a hitch show
ing exceeding good stage management
To sum IL all up. THE Earl and the
Girl" will please the not TO critical au-
dience. IL, OF course, has its shortcom-
ings: but. on the other hand. IL has its
excellent points with the latter In the