New-York tribune., 1908-10-21
STAGE AFFAIRS.
NEW AMSTERDAM THEATRE.
Little Memo in Sunderland" a Delightful
Spectacle.


spectacle. one more beautiful than the other the
whole marvellous exhibition of stage mechanism
that cannot but excite the admiration OF all who
witness It, Mr.. Herbert has written music for 1t
that is peculiarly adapted to the dreams of child
mood. Now IT is tender in tone again n,elodous.
and suddenly, when the scene changes a military
march or pretty waltz falls upon the ear And
'he story Is delightful in its simplicity 1t is
lhree hour panegyric in music and picture, of
'le charns OF childhood. Little Memo. the preco-
cious youngster whom every American child knows
as intimately as his Teddy Bear, is the hero. The
action begins in Sunderland. the first scene Of
'he hrst act revealing the Little Princess of that
restful cline surrounded bv her attendants, guards
pages anu maids OF honor. Despite the gttering
charms of the assembage. the royal maid is un-
happy Morpheus, monarch of that fanciful region
demands a reason for her melancholy. The
Princess was happy in everything that which
makes existence cheerful-companionship She
pinet for the company of something human. She
wished little playmate-a human child. hing
Morpheus commanded his court 10 penetrate the
skies, descend into the deep. fathom the mysteries
under the earth. yea earth itself, that the
Princess might have every wish of heart hlIed
While the Princess makes known her needs IN a
roguish song called Il want TO be a naughty
little girl" the court tries to amuse her great
box supposed TO be flied with goodies IS brought
in. and when it is opened out darts that typical
American creation. The Candy Kid
To the tuneful air of The Happy Land OF once
Upon Time The Candy Kid turns leaf afteF
leaf OF the Princcss's picture book in quest OF
playmate. All the delightful characters IN the
fairy tales handed down for centuries are re-
called in this volume. One by one the heroes OF
the modern freside are presented in thelr Narleu
attractiveness. the last OF this group being ue
shining orb OF The spectacle, Little Memo He Is
discovered asleep in the comfortable bed his crea-
tor made for him. The Little Princess selects him
for her playmate. During the progress or lhat
Morpheus is suddenly seized with an attack
Of rheumati tiSm Soothing DR.. PHI is introduced out
II
pain before it split open TO allow Minerva
TO spring from it, all remedies were unavailng'
Instead of hewing off the seat of his ailment, a
Dancing Missionary 0farry Kelly was brought
TO court TO drive away pain with hllarity. WhAe
the merriment is progressing the missionary steals
from DR.. PHI fabulous corcoction known as the
elixir Of life" 1t was that fCid which kept the
monarch young and its loss caused him TO be pro-
foundly sad. Only a child born of nortals can
restore youth. Old DR.. Pill wisely declared Where
upon the Princess beseeches the monarch to find
Little Memo That proud ruler of the Land of Nod
summons the entire court and announces an in
vasion of the earthly planet
The shifts. A broad recreation centre is
shown. Countless boys and girls troop into it sing
ing BLOW Up Your Bugles." and then enter into
game called Soldiers and Indians" a hundred
little throats yell Justify for leader Flip, whose
chief claim to notoriety is his ability to whistle
through his fingers and pun black cigars makes a
canvass for the leadership. Memo settles the dis
pute by thrashing Flip and procaiming himself cap
tain. by and BY there Is a demand Tor a queen
and at that moment the Little Princess appears in
an eggshell chariot drawn by two dminutive bears.
She is Immediately chosen Queen, and the assem-
blage sings g joyful song called Won't You Be
Ny Piaymate?" The merriment is interrupted by
thunderstorm and rain. DR.. Pill, transformed into
a Fairy Cop, arrests the rain. The children are at
tracted by automobile race, and Memo, under
SPELL falls asleep in the hollow OF tree. The
Fairy Cop finds him. wraps tablecloth about him
and carries him home. Mrs. Memo tucls her
ngsfHr bef fvreR he A
loose 10 prevent Memo from sleeping. But he sleeps
and dreams dreams; cats and dogs, Flip
burglar and scores of other mischief makers hover
over his bed. Eventually The Candy Kid gathers
him up in his and conveys him to Sunderland
in ship On the way 10 that haven of rest they
visit the weather factory in the clouds. Flip is an
influential parsonage in Cloudland. His uncle is
Guard Of the Dawn With murder in his heart he
selzes a cyclone and hurls it at Nemo's ship. 1t is
destroyed and Memo and his companions land on
Table dFIote Islands.
Again the picture is changed. Little Memo is
discovered in his bed still inventing mischief
holding miraculous transformations in the clouds
Presently he falls into a deep sleep and sees a
Palace of Patriotism" He is awakened by THE
Chime OF the Liberty Bell Eventually battle
ship arrives from Sunderland and he is finally
transported 10 that region. The curtain descends
upon a beautiful vision of Morpheus welcoming
Memo 10 the happy country beloved Of childhood.
Master Gabriel, young performer, who has given
the stage q portrait of Buster Brown. was Little
sionary. Joseph CawthOrn as DR.. PHI, and Billy
3. Van as Flip. provided the comical situations.
The Messrs. Klaw & Erianger excel in the pro-
duction Of spectacles and in this instance they
have given the public a beautiful representation OF
the fancies of childhood and employed the services
of popular composer to write music that viii live
when the memory of the chorus and the tableaus
has faded Particular mention should be made of
three especially attractive scenes in the produc-
tion-the Land OF ST. Valentine. the Palace Of Pa
triotism and the Country Of Dreams. Those
stage pictures that delight the eye with their fine
coloring and assembage Of youthful merrymakers.
The serious word to be said of the entire stage per
formance is this: There is tendency. here and
there to make of It a burlesQue. And that robs
the cradle of its simplicity. For stage purposes
the more simple the performers appear in such
spectacles the greater the effect What gives pleas
ure in The Soul Kiss becomes coarse in repre-
sentation Of the inventions of youth. The manage
ment will be quick to see this bemish, it is
prominent in the picture. and make Little
Memo" a production that will give genuine delight
to the town.
CAST OF CHARACTERS;
Flip Bily b. van
Dancing Missionary Harry heily
King Morpheus siunberland W. Black
OF Contnentals Louis f. Barnes
Gladys a Cat. and other animals. Dave Abrams
q sHnp6a n aIso Aigie nervous patient sim Collins
NJ Ciraeso Mr.. Foote. gouty patient Louis Hart
OrHeer Of the Guard. ..-.-.-'.-- -EqWard b. Kramer
be fattIe Princess. Aimee Ehfch
Valentine Fairy. .AIbertlne henson
weather Vane I, p
Mrs Memo rose Beaunor
- Sunshine IJames
NEW THEATRE FOR TENDERLoIN.
building theatre on a plot with /