Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-06
THE CAST
BY slDLE LAMRENCE
F YOU are looking for problem,
| pretty, purple problem like thos

L
do we'll to keep on the east side OF
Broadway this week But If you care
for a show, the authors of when nave
concerned themselves more win ahdt-
omy than sociology, then cross tne
street, drop into the Mason ana see
''The Girl Question"
So far as the piece is concerned tnere
is no question about it. 1t is gooo
humored, frivolous, farclcal aItaiI,
with plenty of tinkling music, pright
costume effects and-girls. There is
plot. at least considerably more OIL
plot than is usual in such stage con-
triyances, a comedian VINO is worthy
the name and who is competently sup
ported; and many interludes OF qua
creator of the long popular Bill baA-
ter. ..,r,.. C..,
All of which means that "The Girl
Question" is not a problem play, de-
spite it's title, but a girl show because
of it. The comedy is sent mere py AS
kin & Singer, Chicago firm OF pro-
ducing managers which recently sent
MS "The Time, the Place and the Cir" :"
The two shows are not dissimiiar. II
you liked one you probably will enjoy
the other. At any rate it's worth the
chance.
The Wisdom of the Wise Guy
1.-THE Girl Question" has been called
a comedy in slang. 1t is more tnan
that. 1t is a philosophical comedy.
Now, don't be frightened. The wisdom
displayed is the wisdom of a wise guy
not the savant. 1t is the practical Wis
dom of Bohemia; a night-bloomlng
wisdom that attains its full grown
under the glow of electric lights, along
the great white way.
For instance, the philosopher de-
clares early to bed and early to rise
makes a man healthy, wealthy and
WISE" The wise guy retors: yes, put
If I went to bed early l wouldn't pe
wise to a lot of things"
Again says the philosopher: Its no
use crying over split milk" and the
wise guy adds: "Sure not. There's
thousands of cows making new milk
every day."
Do you want to know how to win at
gambling? The wise guy will tell you.
There's just one sure way" he says
"Buy slot machine and play 1t your
SELF"
Many Musical Numbers
The piece has been supplied with ten
musical numbers, the best of which
from musicians standpoint & are
'sBe Sweet to Me, Kid" and "Wher
Eyes Like Yours Look Into Eyes Like
Nine" Each OF the numbers has beer
attractively staged and each is cos
TUNED with picturesque variety. Sew
eral of the ensembles are given with a
display of agility and precision that is
really remarkable in a chorus so strong
numerically is this one.
There are three novelty numbers, one
for each act. The first act offering is
a waltz song, sum-, by Miss Nina Col
Inns, and in which the girls OF the
chorus wear directoire gowns, while
the men are in conventional frock
coats. There may be a costume in
which the average chorus man appears
more ridiculous, but If SO I don't know
what it is. The directories, however,
are alluringly pretty. Act two opens
with "The Old Buck and Wing" which
was tremendously we'll received last
night, as it deserved to be; and act
three, with "I Hate to Work on Mon
day." which likewise won the enthusi-
astic applause of the house.
Paul Nicholson, Actor
The company is headed by Paul
Nicholson, whose knack of comedy
proves him an actor of much ability.
Mr.. Nicholson plays his part straight"
He doesn't descend to buffoonery be-
cause he doesn't have to. And he
makes good. There are serious mo-
ments in his role and these he handles
with excellent effect. The laugh,
however, is never long absent. Its op-
posite is there merely for the sake of
the contrast.
Miss Henrietta Tedro realizes the
part of a head waitress admirably.
She, too, gives the character sensible
portrayal. The Baron Won Tesmar of
Carl George is presented with some-
what broader lines, but effectively; and
the Elsie Davis of sprightly Marquee
rite de Won Is joyous thing, exuber-
ent, rougish, lissome. Miss Nina Col
Inns is the vocalist of the organization
There has to be at least one, you
know, even in musical comedy. She
sings very we'll, but has much to learn
In the proper delivery of lines.
At the close of the second act comes
a series of limitations. Miss Collins and
the chorus give an imitation of Anna
Held and her show girls; the broilers
present a very funny imitation or
Eddie Foy; and Paul Nicholson deliv-
ers himself of an imitation of James j.
Corbett which last night set our dis
tinguished fellow townsman James j.
Jeffries laughing as though he had just
heard the best joke of the season.
1.-THE Girl Question" is here for the
week. If you essay its solution from
the front of the footlights you will see
plenty of fun, plenty lof girls and
plenty of them.
C. Fred Warren and Al Blanchard
serve to relieve the Orpheum bill OF
rather deadly mediocrity this week.
These men announce quite boldly
upon their program that they are
singers who can sing and comedians
who can comede.
OF the first part of their claim there
may be some doubts. OF the latter
there are none.
They convinced their audience of the
honesty of their claim before they had
held the stage five minutes, and after
that they were welcome for the rest
of the afternoon.
Their humor is unusual, nonsensical,
and quaint rather than broad. AS an
imitator of Anna Held Warren is one
of the funniest things ever, and his
costume is simply great.
The three Moshers, Tom, Daisy and
James, present a bicycle act which has
some novel features, and which COM
bines enough tumbling to give an ex-
cuse for clown performer as well.
The turn is well received and the
audience seems to enjoy and find
amusement in even the most obvious
of the clowns mistakes.
The Trapnell family, billed as
Europe's foremost acrobats and tum-
blers, were hardly up to that high