The Washington herald., 1908-03-29
Elsie Janis and "The EOYden."

From a little child with q baby face do
ing limitations around the vaudeville cir
cult 10 the position OF reigning soubrette
and idol Of the schoolgirls and chappies
/ who constitute the younger element OF
theater-goers is the Transformation sue
cessfully accomplished by that elf. Elsie
dozen years at most.
The possession Of sufficient personality
by an actor or actress will sometimes
more than compensate his or her follow
ing for the lack OF anything great in the
way of vehicle in which to ride through
a season or two Such people, and there
are quite few upon our stage. constitute
In themselves practically the whole
show and may be depended upon to
draw packed houses wherever they go.
no matter how the critics may Knock
the play itself The Hoyden" had some
such experience before II reached Wash
ington-in fact. such to-do was made
over ii, as compared 10 The Vanderbilt
Cup" the prior Janis show. that one was
prepared for almost anything far down
on the scale Of inanity. This semi-pre-
Paredness perhaps took the edge of our
resentment; but anyhow, when The Hoy
dem landed here at last It was found 10
be quite dainty and charming little com
edy. clean and wholesome, but with abso-
lutely no pretensions to being anything
beyond a comedy with music So we
were satisfied and were glad that the
show caught the town.. because The
town is always ready and waiting to be
caught with something that is genuinely
| entertaining and which il may openly ad-
mire.
Elsie Janis has not become suddenly
successful or had a meteoric career. as
some people. mindful Of her tender years,
would have it understood Hers has been
a long and hard progress, and II she has
arrived at the goal of seeing her name
ten feet high on biIIboards in her youth.
il is because she began early. very early.
and has been working ever since Many
well-known and highly paid star became
one with fewer years OF servitude in
humber lines Of work than Elsie Janis
So 1t is seen that hard work. as well as
genius. has accomplished for this young
ster happy popularity and its attendant
reward, finacial success.
When as Little Elsie" she used 10 lisp
out limitations Of well-known actors and
actresses. there used TO be a good deal Of
speculation as 10 the futures OF infant
prodigies. and some said that precocious
geniuses never amounted TO much. any
how. They have switched on that opinion
in the case Of Elsie. and they are glad TO
do II II they are honest; and they have
found, too. that Elsie can do thing or
however, are quite a bit above the usual
impersonations seen all about. mimicry
being popular now among the music hall
people. inspired perhaps by the success Of
Elsie Janis and a few others.
Elsie Janis does in her limitations what
few impersonators seem able 20 do. and
that is 10 look like the subject Her imi-
tations Of vocal infections, gestures. and
mannerisms are superb. but when it
comes down to the actual appearance.
she comes as close TO her subject as 1t is
possible for nature to get, and for this
trick. or gift. or art. or whatever it is,
she gets her greatest praise.
II is a pity that infantile efforts 10 be
heard in large auditoriums has threatened
her natural voice with a hoarseness that
seems 10 prevent her from singing for as
singing soubrette she would be a dainty
addition TO our stage for years to come
long after limitations are no longer the
rage But she can act. and perhaps as
pires beyond the comedy with music.
And with the weight of years all ahead
Of her. who would not prophesy success
for her?