The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-21
Society Performers
Score a Hit at
BelaScO.

ton this season that have equaled the
presentation of 1.-The Prince of Par
cheesl.' given by washington talent
under the direction Of Miss Ruth Hal
ford At the Belasc0 Theater last even
ing, and which will be presented for the
balance OF the week for the benefit OF
the Washington Junior League OF the
National Junior Republic Ths prOduc-
ton last evening Was remarkable for
three things-the excellence Of the voices,
the dramatic ability shown the MEM
oers of the cast and the costuming and
Suggesting.
Quite naturally here and there, one
could see evidences OF nervousness and
stage fright on the part Of the perform
eTs, some Of whom appeared in public
last evening for the first time; but IL
was so slight as 10 be scarcely notice
able. and the production was noted for
its smoothness.
One Of the features Of the production
one that IS noticeable from the outset
IS che freshness OF the voices and the
enthusiasm displayed in singing the
songs, both solo and ensemble numbers
There is no mlstaking that each mem
Der Of the cast IS putting forth his -
her best effort. thus causing an entire
absence OF the I'm doing this for Nv
ing atmosphere that is frequently no
uced in a professional production
Tuneful Musical Melange.
The Prince Of Pareheesi'' IS an ex-
tremely tunefuI musical melange, IN
which the songs are clever and pretty
and the comedy keen and refreshing.
There IS total absence Of horse play,
50 often injected into a musical pro
ducton in the Euise OF comedy. The
comedy IS real and the capacity audi
ence last evening was kept IN con-
tinuai Uproar
Like the majority OF musical COM
edies. The Prince Of Parcheesi" is not
strong on plot Situations. Ike Topsy,
Just grow up" and songs and special
ties are sprinkIed in every few minutes
TO lend the spice Of variety. The book
and lyrics are written In three acts
and BY close attention &c the lines Of
the book one can eventually discover
the Semblance or a story running
through IL which deals with two far
East Islands. On one are two athletes
who nad fed from Missouri and are en-
gagged as boxing instructor and trainer
&c the king This Is the island OF
n abOsn and the scene OF the first act
An American wsrship visits the island
and happens there just as a private
yacht. owned by a millionaire Mis-
sour1an, who Is entertaining a large
party OF young women on a tour around
the world arrives. In the party IS A
charming widow and Doe Bunch the
boxing instructor, falls desperately IN
love with her.
Flee From the Island.
Doc" and The Kid" the trainer
eventually nre from the island. They
are shipwrecked IN their small boat and
land on the island OF Parcheesi. They
find the price IS an American, who has
been on the island for eight years. hav-
ing led from Boston because his hancee
was such a temperance advocate. The
warship and yacht visit this island
shortly and new complications arise.
The prince finds the chaperone OF the
young women is none other tlan the
girl he was TO have married. and that
she is now an old maid. It does not
dampen his ardOr. and their love is re-
kindled- In the meantime Doc Bunch
turns out 10 be a long lost heir 70 a
large fortune, but IN the interim he has
won the affection o. the widow. The
third act finds them all on the deck OF
the warship. on the eve OF departing for
the United States. an participating IN
a vaudeville show.
THE Prince OF ParCneesf" makes its
first successful appeal 20 the audience
with the opening chorus, Happy Little
Too Foo sung By Miss Downing Miss
Earlougher. Miss Slack Miss A Slack
Mrs Wheeler. Mrs. Cough. Miss Mar
gUerita Morse, Miss Stafford Miss Port
ner. Miss Dunbar. Miss B. Sessions
Miss 0IullIken. Miss Goodwin Messrs
Townsend. stead. Van Loan. Cady
Porter. Mason Craig. and Gallagher
II IS well sung and the applause
that greeted II was tremendous
An encore was sung last night and that
marked the beginning. Thenceforth no
song or specially escaped an encore. and
some were repeated half a dozen times
IN the next number A. r. Hopkins as
Doc" George O'COnnOr. as The Kid. o"
and Charles c. Harris. as king Ki
King so well that they scored a de-
cided hit, and the audience was lOarhe
10 let them cease.
"Kabosh" Scores Heavily.
Another song that scores heavily IS
We've Landed Here in Old Kabosh. ''
by the American girls. impersonated
by Miss Collins. Miss Ridgely. Miss
Helen Downing, Miss Vera Downing.
Miss Stone Miss Alice Shepard. Miss
Darlington. and Mrs Randall Hagner.
stu another section OF the large chorus
appeared in the next song. "Aikali. Sc
sung BY Morven Thompson, the rich
Nissourian. Those in this chorus are
Miss Prescott. Miss Stephare Prescott.
Miss Isabel Magruder. Miss Woodward,
Mss Curtain, Miss Polly Mason. Miss
Hester Shepard, Miss Sadie Murray,
Messrs. Baxter, Wardwell, Jones, Sin
cerbeaux, Green, Reamey. Hopkins, and
Spofford
Philip Lee Scantling. as Lieut.. Jack
Fillmore. sings 1.-THE Land I Love"
most accepta-bly. His flexible baritone
voice was at its best last evening, and
ne scored a decided hit with the au-
dience. as did Mrs. P. Lee Phillips in
the following song: My Garden That
Blooms for You" Mrs Phillips por-
trays the part Of the widow. and IS
especially good both IN her songs and
dramatic lines
For vivacity. clever Interpretation.
and ability to dance there is not one
professional sOubrette IN a hundred that
can equal the presentation Of the role
Ct Sylvia Jones by Miss Olga Con
verse Her work is q pleasing surprise
and more than merits the vigorous ap-
plause given II last evening. Her rem
dering OF ANY Little Girl IS espe-
cially effective Her dancing speciality
in the last act is one Of the features