The Washington times., 1908-01-14

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Stones STOLEN 'slgita cent" If you've
Gotta da mon" don't fsiI 10 see The
Red Mill' at the National this week.
II is unique in that it is thoroughly
clean, charmingly tunefIl and genuinely
amusing; altogether the most satisfac-
tory musical comedy that has been seen
in Washington this season.
Inspired By q unanimously enthusi-
astic audience which included President
and Mrs. Roosevelt. and which filled
the National 70 tie doors, Montgomery
and Stone worked with a vim which
would have made even a poor show
worth while, but when aided by Victor
Herbert's music and Henry Blossom )
clever lines they gave an entertainment
OF sheer delight
The Red Mill demonstrates the fact
that Tisque lines and =, vulgar display
OF limbs and lingerie are not essential
to the success OF the modern musical
show. The production IS remarkably
free from all coarseneSs and sugges-
tiyeness, while the chorus is effectively
goBned in skirts that reach 20 the
ankles.
There is a plot 10 The Red MIL"
too Two young Americans find them
selves stranded in q small town in
Holland As they attempt 10 make
their escape by an improvlsed FIRE es-
cape made Of curtains they are dis
covered b. the landlord and set TO
work as walters until they can lqui-
date their Indebtedness. In these per
scout ed Americans, the burgOmaster
daughter, who wants TO marry sailor.
finds two ready champions When the
girl is locked up in the old red mill 10
await the arrival Of ner fathers choice
for a husband. an ancient and impe-
CuuiOus governor. the Americans effect
thrilling rescue Don QuiNote-Ake
charging the mill and coming In contact
with the giant arms. Instead of battling
against these mighty arms, they have
learned lesson from the ancient caVa-
Ler. and they ride 10 the top OF the mill
on them. Grasping the tre-e-n0lluR hero
inc in their strong right arms, with true
melOdramatic dash and VeTVe they san
back 10 earth and escape R L. l.:
while father burGOmaster storms ana
fumes as he opens the mill door ana
finds his dove has flown In the Sc
Cond act the Americans are disguised
as Italian organ grinders in order TO
escape the wrath Of the burgOmaster.
Learning that the father has offered q
magnificent reward for the capture or
his daughter by 8 o'clock, the Americans
disguise themselves as Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson, and produce the girl al
the required time, but not until after she
has married the man Of her choice.
This theme affords Montgomery and
Stone opportunities for a wealth OF
comedy Characterization, and the audi
enCe is in an uprOar whenever the pair
IS on the stage. The truly remarkable
eccentric dancing OF Stone brought forth
sUch a storm OF applause that the
comedian was forced TO continue his
absurd antics at the expense OF the
action OF the play. The Italian organ
grinders song, accompanied by the
shriH chatter of .. monkey, was one OF
the hits of the evening.
Much of the credit for the evening
entertainment Was due 10 the work Of
Miss Ethel Johnson, whose airy. fan
tastic dancing in the role OF Tina, the
barmaid, 1ecessitated responses TO many
encores- Miss Johnson sang one or two
songs quite cleverly as did Miss Edna
FasSett AS Gretchen, the burgOmasteT' 8
daughter. and Miss Allene Crater as
the buTgOmasteT's sister. The work OF
David L Don as WIlem, keeper Of
the Red Mill Inn, was well done.
Even Montgomery and Stone were
not more enthusiastically received than
the kindergarten SeXtet" with their
Tesounding sabOts and quaint skirts and
breaches.
The music in THE Red Mill' IS tune
full and melOdiOus, and al the same
time Of the whistling variety. Every
number received well deserved enCOTes.
The production is pleasingly staged
and the chorus rather COmely. Not the
least amusing incident OF the evening
was the curtain speech of David Mont
gomeTy, coached by Fred Stone. ANY
one Of 4 half dozen features Of THE
Red Mill makes Il worth while.