The Washington times., 1908-12-29
The Girls of GOttenberg"
Has Auspicious Open
ing Here.
HUMOR HAS STAMP
OF ENGLISH BRAND
Production Pretentious, But Lacks
Snap and Ginger Of Modern
Musical Production.

The feature OF ''Ths Girls o. Gotten
berg" 70 the surprise of a large aud
fence at the National last evening was
not the Girls" at ALL The men were
the Whole show.
II was not until the moro serious busi-
ness of launching the merrment and the
music was well under way that the
Girls" appeared. Even then they
would hardly have been missed had the
name OF the production not held out
some Inducements alous this line. When
they did appear they filled the en-
sembIes well and rounded out the stage
pictures nicely. were just as essential,
perhaps, as the scenery and almost as
unObtrusiye
This Frohman production came TO
Washington with the stamp o. English
approval and the reputation Of scoring
a big success in London. That was a
bad recommendation and the press
agent should have kept ii dark. For
mny features the Offering merits ap-
rrOvaI, these may carry IT TO a de
served success. but at present it is yet
la little too English for American pal
ates.
Show Of Orthodox Type.
After a series OF musical shows de-
signed to exploit feminine figures and
hnery one that depended oa neither this
feature nor the Introduction Of vaude-
vile features was a decided relief The
Nationals Offering is clean, wholesome.
and devoid of slap stick comedy. II
shows signs Of being carefully worked
out. in many respects it IS Il finished,
even pTCtentiOus, production. But il
lacks snap and ginger Even the spriuk-
ling of American actors who supple
ment the English contingent failed 10
lntuse that dash now considered so cs-
Sentlal IN the American musical comedy.
OF the three elements which 90 10
make up modern musical comedy,
music, fun, and dancing. the music Of
The Girls Of GOttenberg'' is probably
the most satisfactory. II is tUneful II
not catchy
Men Have Inning.
This is where the men had their in
ming A male chorus is something Of
"A novelty these days, but its welcome
last evening was hearty enough To war
rant tie more frequent introduction Of
male voices. True, the mana -ers say
the men are not to be had, but that is
a mere detail Practically every man
in the east last evening was possessed
Of . fine singing voice and Ihey were
blended In several numbers. notably the
opening chorus Of the first act and in
the entrance song What is It?'' with
telling effect. The major part OF the
solo work OF the male contingent fell
upon Lionel MacNinder, and i-e mCasur-
ed Up to his lob. While neither fun nor
resonant his voice is pleasing
Several OF the song hits have spread
ahead uf the show This was the case
with 4 Remember You" which. how
ever, was new as sung by Miss Louise
Dresser No limitations can do more
than give a faint idea Of the i1imitahIe
Miss Dresser herself. her duet with Mr.
Blakelty, Birds in the Tree and
topical song, "Queenie Was There with
a Braid In Her Hair" were indoScrib-
ably funny end not a bit Englisi
BIakeley Scores Hit
Mr.. Blakeley deserves special mention
for making the most OF lines that were
not humorous and suppIementinS dehci-
encIes In this respect with facial ex-
pressIons which contributed the Hons
share OF the rerriment. He Rhocld not
sing that could be left TO other mem
bers or the cast who could 10 It much
better than he. but who could scarcely
have evoked the hiIarity that greeted
Mr.. Blakeley IN the role OF Max Model
kopf.
There were other essays at fun-maI1-
ing than those of Mr.. Blakeley. but
they were not designed for American
consumption. The hOnOred types. a
general who struts. q near-siEhted
patrician with piping voice. a wheed-
ling young man in the role OF a town
clerk, were all there, and then some.
Some OF the fun may have been a
little too broad, some too subtle, but
much Of Il missed the mark.
a chorus that did not dance proved
another novelty Terpsichorean honors
were accorded Miss Aimee Angeles
who is wonderfully graceful and
agile dancer, but who was not enough
i'm evidence in this capacity. Nyine
with Miss Angeles for feminine houors
was Miss May Naudain, a dainty in
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