The Washington herald., 1907-01-01
OPENING NIGHT AT THEATERS
Richard Garlic Makes n Hit at the
National in .sThe Spring Chicken"

Richard Garlic Makes a Hit at the
National in ''The Spring Chicken"
Easily the hit of the season In musical
comedy was made at the National TheateT
last night by Richard earle and his clever
associates in THE Spring Chicken" This
airy and artistiealIy wOTked-Up piece OF
nonsense Of French origin has as its
basis the adventures Of a Paris lawyer
and his American father-in-law. The
lawyer works hard and dep0rts himself
decorously during most of the year. but
when the first swallow appears in the
spring he renews his youth. shaves off
his beard. discards his dignifed raiment
Tor the gayest he can find and goes back
to the giddy whirl OF love-making and
boulevard life. His father-in-law, i'll when
he arrives in Paris consults a physician,
who giyes him an injection Of lamb s
blood that makes OF him a TT companion
Tor the spring chicken" as his trans
formed son-in-law is called. On this back
ground Of amusing imprObability is en-
0roidered bewildering network Of ridicu-
ious adventures and capital musical num-
bers that kept the audience at the
National last night as genuinely and de
hghfully entertained as the most ex-
acting could require or expect.
The first act is the best example Of what
can be done in the line Of musical comedy
that has been seen here in many years
Without obscuring the background Of The
plot a series Of the most fetching musi-
cal numbers and dances is introduced that
fairly take the audience by storm and
win round after round Of enthusiastic APP
plause. The elimination is reached in a
dance Of the nations. represented by
thirteen unusually pretty girls. who pirou-
cite bewitchlngiy in accompaniment 10
Ar- Carries song, ''AIl the Girls Love Ne. "
Inc audience was exceedingly 10th 10 al
low this interlude to end and the other
good things in reserve 70 be brought ON.
me other great hit OF the act. perhaps
OF the evening was Miss Emma Jan
Eler unusually clever topical song. u
Don Know, but I Guess" which was
zone IN style that was simply inimit-
aDie. Miss Janvier has comedy genius
an heF own. and fully shared the hoDors
WIN Mr.. Carrie. Her work throughout ra-
Feais The artist. In the most absurd of
the situations assigned her she succeeded
IN holding delightfully."- to character
heightenir=S In @ way worthy Of the study
Oh co-workers I'm this line the effective
ness OF her impersonation Hardly less
telling than her topical song was her liz
Tie tete-a-tete with the audience in the
second act, when the house again con-
sented reluctantly to have the action
move on.
Mr.. earle as Girdle. the American
iather-in-law, is as entertaining as he
mas ever been. His drou humor was
genuinely infectious. and he danced with
grace and abandon that more
tnan made Up for his vocal deficiencies
M Morley as BabOri, "the spring chick
en-" was a good second 10 Mr. CarIa
among the male participants. Arthur
Conrad. as Stephen Henry. GIrdIe's son
dld a bizarre dance that won the house.
He is young actor Of real cleverncss
As Resale. the maid. Bessie Mccoy vas
capital Avita Sanchez. as La Belle Sissi
the Spanish dancer, was auuringlv grace
iut and coquettish. Sylvan Langlois. in
baron Papouche, presented a character
sketch OF real merit. In fact. there is nor
a stick or Unframed performer in the cast.
ana as a consequence the piece went with
Dfeezlness. dash, and an artistic
smoothness that made 81 thoroughly en-
lpyabie- II Is little masterpiece {n the
nne OF musical comedy. The c0stllr1inay
Is exceptionally rich and fetching. ana
the setting was in every way worthy
The music Of the piece is very catchy.
ana the finale Of the first act is notably
nHa and effective. Just before the final
curtain fails Mr. earle sings with hilari-
Gus effect a Lemon in the Garden Of
Love"
The audience was large. and contained
many well-known people. There were
several box parties One Of the largest
was that of Mr. Mausen Moore. of Los
Angeles, whose marriage TO Miss Lucia
London takes place at Washington Bar
racks tomorrow. Mr. Moore and
friends occupied two boxes. Commander
and Mrs. Irwin also gave a box party.
as did Sir. and Mrs. Shonts. Other we'll
known people Ia the audience were Sena-
tor and Mrs Scott. Mai. and Mrs. Rich
ards. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles J. Bell. Mr..
and Mrs Julian Ripley. Mr. and Mrs Clio
yer. Mr.. and Mrs. John o. Evans. Mr.
and Mrs Perry johnson and NJ and
Mrs. Davenport Brown. Of Boston. DR.
and Mrs larrow, Mrs F. A NJ. Hon
Sins. Mr.. and Mrs. \. n. Hopkins. Mrs.
NoolSey AspiHwall, Mrs Tucker. Mrs.
Richard Hooker, Mr.. and Mrs. George /
Aayre, Mr.. and Mrs A B. Browne Ms
Martha y. HicLoorn-Blaine. Miss Denny. /
Miss Curtis, Miss Shepard, and Miss Adee /