The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-06-08
AGAIN ALL
TO THE GOOD; NOT
So THE COMEDIAN
Musical Comedy by the
Aborn Company Pleases in
Olympic Park.
FUNNY UNDERTAKEN
is TOO OBVIOUS
With a Few Alterations Play
Should Make a Hit in
New York.
r N writing a successful musical com

r N writing a successful musical com
edy one Of the first and most Inn
portant rules is to first catch your
comedian. This elusive parsonage is as
rare as he is necessary. and when
caught and fitted into his harness will
carry a great deal on his shoulders,
sometimes the weight of the whole
show.
In the Olympic Park last night by
the Aborn Comic Opera Company, was
presented a brand new musical comedy,
by the authors of the highly success
full Three Twins"
Back Again" is it's catchy title, and
for dainty music and prettily worded
songs it far excels much of the hodge
podge that has been declared good by
those who ought to know better. 1t
contains much good comedy that misses
fire to a marked extent because of a
certain flatness in the delivery of
some of the principals. Probably this
was due last night to lack of rehearsals-
There is not a doubt but what the
piece can be whipped into excellent
shape before it opens in New York.
It's lines are bright, and many of Its
Jokes are new. The leading tenor is
six-foot-one, and handsome; the SOU
brettes are as winsome as their roles
require; the show girls are as stately
and the ponies as giddy as could be de-
sired; the scenery is adequate, though
not remarkable, and, as has been said
before, both words and music of the
man. songs could not be improved
upon. Given a first rate comedian, and
you see before you one of those Broad
way successes hat go down in the
history of the Rialto. But, as has also
been said, first catch your comedian.
Another important rule in writing
musical comedy is to create your plot.
then bury it. Messrs. Owen Davis and
OTTO A. Hauerbach. writers of Back
Again." have fulfilled their duty in this
particular right up to the tipper-top-
most pinnacle. lowering in the back
ground, a sort of shadow round the
performers, is the plot of this lively
little show. You know it's there, safe
and sound, and why bother Sbout 1t?
It's bound to come to light before the
fina ensemble anyway.
If you do not believe Back Again Is
worth while, go and see it. There will
be three matinees beside the evening
performances, Wednesday, Saturday
and Sunday afternoons.
Ned Nye, who interprets the role of
Holloway Limbs. undertaken, solemnly
tries to fulfill his duty as a comedian.
His songs are we'll sung. and his eccen-
trio dances furnish all sorts of sur
prises In the art of upsetttng the laws
that govern balance. At other times he
botrays a too-evident desire to mako
people laugh. He makes his jokes so
laboriously clear that folks feel no sat
isfaction at having discovered the point
themselves. George Shields plays Gen~
eral Storm, and plays him well. His
voice Is effective, both when he talks
and sings. Jack Hemway is played
conscientiously by Henry Coote, and
Bert Holland, his friend, by Robert Pit
KIN, who is inclined to overwork the
loud laugh of the gay young cut-up.
Gertrude Des Roche and Constance
Farmer are attractive, graceful, sweet
and a few more pretty adjectives.
They sing we'll. and look better. The
gay widow is satisfactorily played by
Amelia Summerville, and Genevieve
Finlay appears to advantage as Eoola
Lu.
Among the particularly good songs
are you and Me-" mo One but YOU
Love Is a Race" II Wonder If You
Care" "Hoola Luz and "Henpecks.'
Each n is Of the order that an au-
dience likes to hum as 1t leaves. Karl
Hoschna knows rather we'll how to
please. This was made evident in the
score of the Three Twins Mr..
Hauerbach and Mr.. Davis have gone
themselves ne better, as it were, in
Back Again." Its bids for popularity
are based on a good foundation.
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.