The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-20
MUSICAL COMEDY
THAT IS COM|CAL
At THE NEWARK
Laugh Provoking Situations Are
Replete in "a Knight for
a Day."
MAY VOKES AND JOHN
SLAVIN AT THEIR BEST
Leading Lady Sacrifices Her
Beauty to Art, but Scores
Safe Hit.
RIA KNIGHT FOR A DAY" Is
IA musical comedy in ever.

IA. H nasiea1 s comedy 4 pay IN every 's ,
sense of the phrase. It's
musical and it's comical, and the plot
stays in the dim and distant back
ground in such a way as to satisfy the
most frivolous. Lastly, the reason for
the title is not revealed until the very
last minute, which Is also as it should
be, according to prescribed musical
comedy rules as interpreted by au-
diences.
In the centre Of the stage, right in
the middle of the limelight, exactly
where they should be. are May Vokes
and John Slavin, as funny a pair as
has struck this Town In many
From the moment Miss Vokes, al Til
lie Day, servant lady, enters with her
wardrobe and pet parrot in a wheel
barrow, you are hers to have and to
hold. And she holds you well. Your
attention does not lag for a moment.
Her portentiously solemn ~colntenance
is at such variance with her ridiculous
costume that your risibilities rise, even
when she does nothing.
Miss Vokes is an artist. She a tho
art of making herself homely down to
a science. No facial c%ontortion Is too
ugly for her to pass by. She seems to
take delight In twisting her features,
which would be decidedly comely If she
would give them a chance. n
grimaces almost impossible. She wears
bungly. shapeiess clothes. that do their
best to hide her outlines, but they
only fool you to a certain extent. for
her small, well shaped arms and trim
ankles suggest an excellent build.
Sacrifices Her beauty.
I think 1t takes a sort of bravery for
an actress to sacrifice her good looks
for the sake of success. One always
wants to be the beautiful leading lady
with the golden hair and long train.
Miss Vokes might want to be this kin
of a leading lady, but she knows where
lies her success. and she is sensible
enough to grasp II, to the intense de-
light of a faded public. Hers is a low
able LONELINESS, anyway. h sings
songs in an impossible singsong voice,
but they hit you so forcibly on your
~funnybone that o want to hear more
and more.
A close second to this charmingly
homely little actress is John Slavin-
son of a Newark man, by the way-who
portrads Jonathan, JOY, fake lawyer
and ex-waiter. tough and jolly member
of young working society. One Won
ders how he came to go upon the stage.
He short, and-well, he's hardly hand
some-but nobody cares. because he's
so funny. The elopement scene be-
tween Jonathan and Tillie. at the close
of the first act. is delicious. You'll
have to see 1t to- appreciate It. De-
ecriptions Of what funny actors do
always sound decidedly fiat and silly
on paper. They're nothing without the
personality of the performers.
Chorus Pretty and Fresh.
All Of the principals do excellent
work, n the chorus Is pretty and
fresh. Another favorite rule Of musical
comedy is that In the eco act the
entire cast must be transplanted to
some foreign country. This gives an
opportunity for elaborate costuming
and scenic effects. In "A knight for u
Day they all 90 to Corsica with ex-
cellent results. The music Is a little
above the average. Life is a See-
saw" Garden of Dreams" and "Little
Girl in Blue are among the prettiest.
Miss Volks sings I'D Like Another
Situation Just Like That and Hang
Out the Front Door Key" In a style
al her own, impossible to describe, but
just right in Its effect. Slavin renders
whistle AS You Walk OUT and
sHurrah. Murray and Huroo for That"
which songs would amour to nothing
IL sung by someone else.
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.