The Washington herald., 1908-06-02
The Nationalist Runaway Girl"

The Nationalist Runaway Girl"
The change from the classic Martha"
to the more popular musical comedy. "A
Runaway Girl" was successfully accom-
plished by the Aborn Opera Company
last night at the New National Theater,
and the temper of the large audience
always indulgent OF first-night irregu-
larities-seemed 10 indicate that he mu-
steal plays Of lighter vein are more ac-
ceptable to summer patrons than the
more ambitious efforts.
"A Runaway Girl is in its way
classic on It's own account for II had a
most memorable run at Days Theater
some years back. and enjoyed a subse-
quent vogue that few shows OF the kind
have paralleled. Like all English-made
musical comedies 81 possesses genuine ar
tistic worth-the feeble clap-trap OF the
present-day brand being conspicu-
ously lacking In it's stead there appears
a real plot. with real people taking part
In II. with real music-not culled here
and there from the vaudeville and the
variety stage. but preserving the full dig
nifty OF an operate score. Six OF the
cleverest musical comedy collaborators
OF their day had a hand in "a Runaway
GirI'-Seymour Hicks. Harry Nichols
Ivan Caryll. Lionel Monckton. Aubrey
Hopwood and Harry Greenbank. all mu-
sicians. librettists, and lyricists Of note,
and the finished product is an object
worthy Of pride.
OF the performance last night a great
deal might be said, II space permitted.
about its excellence and its defects The
former was up 10 the usual Aborn stand
ard, and consisted Of those sins OF omis-
sion prevalent on Monday nights the
world over. The principals. for the most
I part, entered enthusiastically into the
rather rapid pace OF the story, which
ordains that every member Of the cast
shall be on the move pretty much all the
time. and the whirl OF excitement and
kaleidoscope action was well sustained.
| The chorus appeared TO be In difficulty
part OF the time. and although the six
show girls who grace the front line were
all doing their best, some persons IN the
audience were unkind enough to laugh at
their lack of grace in the 20, Listen 20
the Band" song.
Jessie Bradbury made a substantial hit
as Carmenita, the drol cockney gypsy.
An artist of this caliber simply eats up
part ike lnlS-Iuu or SATIRE ana jolly
ing. Agnes Finley, who, as Winnifred
Grey. sang The Boy Guessed Right, "
sang It so daintily that many encores re-
suited. This was also the case in the
| "Pickaninnies' duet between George
W. Leslie and Edna Reming. who fairly
brought down the house with their clever
work. Mr.. Leslie. by the way, was a de-
cided hit as Flipper, and worked up
| Follow the Man From Cooks in good
style. May Bouton was rather a disap-
pointment vocally in the 20, Listen 20
the Band song, ard does not promise to
be an ideal o Mimosa San next week.
Henri Leone was a splendid Pietro, and
II. w. frederick an amusing Tamarind.
Frank Rushworth as Guy Stanley and
| Fannie d. Hall rounded up a well-bal-
anced cast. not forgetting Trixie Cadiz.
who, as Folly danced back into the favor
Of the audience.
| There is something doing most OF the
time in "A Runaway Girl" and now that
the weather IS cool. packed houses should
resultant the show deserves IT. too.