The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-07
THE GIRL FROM VIENNA"
Premier Night of Louis Manns Ne1


 Play Takes on at the Hyperion.
 Since the failure of Julie Bonbon, one of the most deserving plays, by the way, which has come to New Haven this year, MT. Mann has been hard at work elaborating a new attraction which should combine the worthiest el- ements of his old play with the most popular features of light opera, and the. result of his endeavors was seen last night at the Hyperion, when the initial performance of "The Girl from Vienna" was given an enthusiastic re- ception by one of the largest and most appreciative audiences of the season.
 It Is more than gratifying to find an actor of MT. Mann's capabilities and devotion to his work starring in suc- cess which will both take on with the public and at the same time give scope to his own individuality; but such an attraction MT. Mann has found in his present production.
 If you read the advertisements of the show you will notice that MT. Mann wants to emphasize the fact that The Girl from Vienna" is a musical com- edy; but as a matter of fact, MT. Mann is too modest by far. The costuming, songs, chorus, and all that sort of . thing, are very well and took immense ly, but, nevertheless, nine-tenths of the merit of the piece was due to MT. Mann < himself, in one of his inimitable Ger man character roles. He took the part of Hensie Blindner, country hotel~ keeper of the Austrian Tyrol, who has signed a marriage contract with Pepi Gloeckner, an actress, and then falls in love with another girl, while at the same time Pepi gets desperate case on a young fellow named Blancke. Both want to get out of the pickle, but can't, for variety of reasons, till Hen- sic contracts a sort of Jacob and Rachel connection with the girl of his choice while he thinks he is actually being lugged to the altar by Pepi. The ensuing complications give a large cast of laugh-makers all the chance they want to excite the risibles of the audience, while at the same time big and beauteous chorus steps forward with song at the rate of about two every ten minutes, for "The Girl from Vienna" is nothing if not musical comedy. Most shows of the sort, you know, only give you song every once in a while, but this one gives 'em two or three times in while. MT. Mann has lived up to his ad.; he's been more than generous with his music--hes been actually prodigal.
 r,Ia hoay9 con11 here before in that charming little idyl "Veronique," is now with "The Girl from Vienna" where she takes the part of Pepi Gloeckner. It's shame, isn't it, that such jolly girl and good ac- tress should have to stand for a name like that? Her singing, as of course any one who knows her voice could tell YOU, was away ahead of anything that has been hfeard here lately in a similar attraction. Her two solos, "On tie Banks of the Danube" and Spring is Approaching" surprised the audience with their excellence. Speaking as a hotel-keeper in the play, MT. Mann said: tAch dots der wife for me, yess She pack my house, you bet" but his compliment to Miss Cunning would hold good as we'll outside of his part as in it. "She pack der house, you bet" if the show wasn't worth rip Lotta Faust as Lisa Sommer, Hensie Blindner's true love, to whom he is married and doesn't know it, tops de- cidedly the rest of the supporting cast She'll head conipany on her own hook some day.
 "The Girl from Vienna" is going to play at the Hyperion again this even- ing. and if you don't go "ach, vat a times you loose," as Hensie remarked in another connection. It's good show --one of the best.