The Washington herald., 1908-01-28
iGmi1in-RaymOnd Hitchcock in
"Fhe Yankee Tourist"

Raymond Hitchcock continues % be "a
Yankee. In that bright thing. THE Yam
kee Consul he fairly exudes patriotic fer
vor as an American exiled in foreign
land. In The Yankee Tourist ne sings
.of the delights of wandering in countries
beyond the seas, but always with the saw
ing clause of the pleasure of getting back
TO bis dear old native land. Hitchcock
cannot be anything else than the quntes-
-sence Of the Broadway idea-if he is him
self, and the shows in which he appears
are the typical girly, fluffy and tuneful
.udbits that are so welcome to the popu-
lar fancy. The Yankee Tourist" has q
substantial book by a man Who knows
how TO handle the spirit OF adventure
Richard Harding Davis, being a war cor
respondent himself. hit upon happy idea
for this play when be put Hitchcock In
the position of a man reluctantly mas
querading as a famous war correspondent,
for the comedians peculiar brand of uRc-
thousand one might almost say bash
fui-comic methods extraordinarily fit
him for the cowardly assumption Of bray
ado which is necessary when running a
bluff.
In singing a topical song or turning
Joke, Hitchcock has a large assortment
OF comic opera-and otherwise-comedian
beaten by a margin wide enough to write
his fame upon, with room to spare. Last
night big audience laughed with him.
and he had the house with him from
the start His popularity. and the in
formation that The Yankee Tourist" IS
regular Hitchcock show, is sufficient for
those who know where to look for an
evening Of good, solid enjoyment
Alfred G. Robyn wrote the music and
Wallace Irwin the lyrics for the show
and they have succeeded IN supplement
ing AIr, Davis book with just the required
soupcon of ginger-a spice which adds
much 20 the performance as "a whole, al
though at no time is the logic of the
farce disturbed by irrelevant interrup-
tiOns
Pretty Flora Zabelle is leading lady for
Hitchcock, and her attractive presence
added much to the performance. Helen
Hale. graceful dancer, with a chic per
sonality. was another bright particular
star, while d comic hit only second to
Hitchcock himself Was made by Mrs
Cawthorne. as Sibyl Schwartz. a lady OF
rotundlty and rare good nature. who sub
mitted 10 a great deal of Kidding" but
carried OF her part with much aplomb.
She literally beamed with expansive
humor when the audience encored her lit
tie dance and her attempt az high kick
ing. Her song, when a Girl is Born 20
be Lady" made a distinct artistic I'm
preston. HitchcOck's song, Whats the
Use?' In the mOCk-sad manner in which
he is so clever, was recalled again and
again until the verses and the comedian
were exhausted
A large and very capable company sup
port the lesser roles, those of Herbert
as Mr. Griggs; E r. Phillips.
as Billy Ashe. and HarTy Lane. as Can't.
o OMalley. being especially good. The roles
are superior 10 those usually found In
musical shows, excellent character com
edy work being the rule throughout. The /
fun is wholesome and infectious. as well 4
as up to date. The music is catchy. with
good voices in the chorus. A crowd of /
girls In which one may look IN vain
for a face that Is not pretty, graced the /
stage al the slightest DrOVOcatfOn.
We ought 10 be thankful for such shows /
as 1.-THE Yankee Tourist" for the bright /
Il offers for a good laugh
and glimpse Of youth and beauty IN its /
most alluring aspect,