Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-09
WHITE cHRYsANTHEMUM."

l n 1 In the opinion of the majority O
 those who attended the performance,
 at Polls last evening especially tn,
 ones who presented a $2 bill at ths
 box office for the purpose Of entering
 the theater, the first thing that tht
 management of the play should de
 for the benefit of the public is to re.
 name the offering and call it "The Yellow Chrysanthemum." It would be
 much more appropriate. Naturally
 when a theater going public is asked
 to ante up $2 for show, they ex-
 pect something out of the ordinary consequently. when they fail to re- ceive that, it is only natural they should feel displeased with the pro- auction. Last evening at Polls a
 large audience was present and al-
 though they witnessed the work of
 some excellent actors they failed to
 enthuse over the performance as
 there is very little to the comedy to
 go crazy about. Perhaps if Miss Lima
 Abaranell, the original White Chrysanthemum," who quit the show after three performances because of a misunderstanding with the man. agement had been present, she might have warbled the audience into a pleasing mood which Miss .yoralie Blythe failed to do. Indeed during the evening. the flower was fading all the time and the audience seldom seemed to think that it was blooming. Edna Wallace Hopper, who seemed to have dropped into the comedy for no particular purpose, was just as sweet and attractive looking us ever, and as the dashing young widow tried hard in a role which could inst as well have been omitted from the comedy and very few would have known the difference. Although Miss Hopper is not a star singer, they are many who delight to hear her because of the manner in which she renders her numbers. Lawrence Grossmith gave an excellent rcndi- ton of Lieutenant "Chippy" Bel mont the assinine Englishman and although the character is worked to 1eath on the stage. Grossmitil's en. lctment of the part was well done. t is the only character in the play hat is worth anything. Van Rens- laer Wheeler and Edward Garvie, he latter is a Meriden boy, were in Ieeping with the remainder of the company and would score in a good 'ehicle. Henry Donnelley as tie old dmiral scored the hit of the night with his song, Theodore" idolizing ur own Teddy" Miss .I,ua.ta
 '''' who last season at the Jacques 'roved a big drawing card. has the ole of the American heiress and to hose who have seen the young lady n "vaude" her work last night was
 disappointment. She is just as fair i s ever but her acting is uneon- inc.ng and she mars what little she | as to do by speaking in 8 monotone. Ter variety number was fine, and if | he had gone through last evening, could have been brought in as well | s many other things, it would have rought the show along considerably. ave Leevis as the chauffeur was good nd his auto song was fine. The | citing was very good but the chorus 'as mighty small in numbers for ich a high class production. The umber of the choristers should be hanged immediately for no other sason than superstition concerning lirteen which the chorus now totals.
 X fellows and seven girls. Without all star cast the play would quick fall by the wayside and the critic
 ho remarked that ''he thought too
 ueh of the management to tell what 2 really thought of the show" was ot wide of the mark.