The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-10-06
Mr.. d'OrsaY and Miss LOTUS.

The show at the Belasco last week
which brought back "Cissy' LOTUS, in
company with Lawrance dOrsay and his
English bride, was aptly described on the
bills as IAN entertainment" II made little
pretension to be play. It was simply a
nice, wholesome show" delicate and in
teresting. The Lancers" has been
through an interesting evolution. It was
q farce IN the German. and as such it at
tracted the attention Of the late Augustin
DAILY. who had it translated and produced
It In New York in 1850 under the title THE
Passing Regiment" It had the following
remarkable cast then. Ada Rehan. John
Drew, Digby Bell, W. J. LeMoyne, Charles
Leclerc, Mrs. Gilbert Amy Lewis. and
Harry NJ Pitts. In London the play was
called "Our Regiment" In this country
3ts scene was laid in Newport.
Il made a fair success in New York and
was then taken on the road, where il took
only moderately well. On the road Mr..
Henry Miller played a prominent part in
#, and ii is 10 that fact that We owe its
revival to-day. Looking for a vehicle for
Mr.. d'Orsay and Miss Lotus. he naturally
q
uniform so well-of the brilliant uniforms
IN this piece. He resurrected il. turned it
over 10 Mr.. Hartley Manners for re
writing, and The Lancers" has been the
result.
The uniforms and the military back
ground fitted Mr.. d'Orsay, but something
had to be added for the sake OF Miss Ce-
ella LOTUS, and so came the idea of n
new second act. which shows a rehearsal
for a military concert, and which allows
the introduction of some charming music
and one or two OF those dainty songs and
graceful dances which show Miss LOTUS
at her best and prettiest. For this second
act Mr.. Miller called in Mr.. George Sphinx,
2 clever young composer. who, in order 10
see that his music had its full value, was
induced TO play it himself. and might
have been seen during the week playing
one Of the characters in the play and Of
floating at the plano during the singing.
Mr. Sphinx IS best known-it is almost a
title TO fame-as the author and COM
poser Of Bill simmons" one Of the most
popular coon" songs Of THE Social
Whirl," in 1896.
Miss LOTUS is also entitled to some
Of the credit for the music. as she herself
composed the pretty duet IF Love
Cometh Not" and also the song Come
Out in the Moonlight" sung by Mr.
Jeanette. The songs by Mr.. Sphinx which
are sung in the show are. The Yoodoo
Man." Captain D'Arcy." which Mt
dOrsay sings In such a funny way, and
Fairies" which Miss LOTUS sings.
It is really funny 10 find TOrsay TAX
ing himself seriously as a singer. As a
matter Of fact though he gets through
his song very we'll indeed, he has nc
sense Of rhythm or rhyme. His first es-
say as q songster was at a Lambs
GambOl some years ago. The Lamb
Club gave an all-English minstrel show
with d'Orsay as end-man. MI Sphinx and
Wilton Lackeye wrote an English coon
song for hiu-one Of those things about
Down IN the Cottonhelds of Harlem
Far Away" and the broad English ac-
cent mixed with the darkey accent made
a big HIT though TO remember the word.
Of the song Mr.. d'Orsay had to hav,
them pasted on the back Of a fan ht
was holding. His success that might