Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-12
At the Theaters

"a Girl at the Helm at the Boyd.
Book and Lyrics by Robert h. smith: mu-
sic by Raymond Hubbell. The cast:
Fred Stsnhope, proprietor Of a garage
at ~Larchmount, y. N....BHly s. Clifford
Colonel Hisginson, an enthusiastic
sportsman ..-....."..... Harry Brown
Dorothy Higginson, his daughter"....
Florence Martin
robbed Of his vocation by Governor
Hughes anti-betting law. ..........
Minerva M~artindale. a victim Of the
...........t. Countess olga Won hatfield
Carl Wallenstein, a professional motor
countess Won Hertz, a follower Of sports
Maud Lambert
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. -. Charles Mast
Jim, boss mechanic in the garage.
Officer Ketchum, a guardian OF the
peace John Arthur
Competent principals. a sprlghtly chorus
and novel stage effects are the salient
characteristics OF the musical comedies
which originate in the La Sale theater,
Chicago. and after 'dellghting a large eli
entele there for long runs are sent out on
the road. To this rule THE Girl at the
Helm" Is no exception.
This lively offering was given It's first
presentation at the Boyd last evening and
its comedy. %tuneful melodies, dances and
handsome settings make a favorable recep-
ton certain. There is also a plot, perhaps
a shade more coherent than the average
musical comedy plot, but not so much OF a
story either that it will become famous as
a narrative. 1t serves effectively. however,
to introduce a little flirting, a little love
making and considerable music.
Substitute a motor boat contest for the
great motor car race, motor boat racers
for chauffeurs, and the tale unfolded par
allels that of The Vanderbilt Cup" in con-
siderable degree. In the present crisis Billy
5. Clifford-not William, but "Billy'-is
the man who saves the day, wins the race,
the girl and the plaudits of the audience. 1t
was not because his is the best part that
Clifford captures the lions share of the
honors bestowed by spectators, but because
he is a clever fun-maker with an engaging
personality. Comedy is, in fact. his forte.
although his dancing is fair and his sing
Ing. while excellent. vet not remarkable.
Maud Lambert, whose name appears on
the program i'm the same size type as
Clifford's, sustains a large part of the vocal
burden. Her co-laborers in this are Flor
ence Martin, a pretty and dainty young
woman with the best voice in the company,
and Countess Olga Won Hatzfeldt. The lat
tSi "a INC name Oh the singer, not the cnar-
acter, and by some sort of irony is playing
a soubrette role rather than that of q
member of rhe nobility. However, since
she is as pert and saucy as soubrettes
ought to be, there is no need to lament the
fact.
The most novel stage effects Of the com.
edy are the staging of the songs. eth Ions
Green" and 1.-The Ghost Of Ragtime." In
the first the chorus successfully and sue,
c~essfully represents a poker game, 2
roulette wheel and a steeplechase; the
spooks who shadow forth the wraiths o.
syncopated music prove to be attractively
substantial when the, stage is at length
lighted up Clifford won his greatest sue,
cess with the songs I'm Walked Bill ant
mot All but Nearly A duet by Clifford
and Miss Martin, you're All the World t.
Me-" proved exceedingly catchy and puck
cred up several hundred pairs of lips be
fore the number came to an end.