The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-29
GEORGE CONAN HITS
SPOKANE RIGHT
COMEDIAN AND COMPANY WIN
APPLAUSE IN INLAND EN-
PRE- CAPITAL.

In vi.w IF the fact that George NJ
Cohan il coming to the Harnois the
i ater tonight and that he IL coming
from Spokane, the criticism of ''The
Yankee Prince. printed in the Spokes-
1 man-Rev.eW Is Ut interest:
Let MS now consider the case Of
George NJ Cohan. not Of Providence.
Rhode Island This young man has
made fortune IN his theatrical ven
lures. his method being not only giving
the public what 1t wants hut making
IL want what he has To sell He II
the apostle If Americanism. the high
priest Of nip-hip hnrrah and the Raose-
Welt Of ragtime. He has an abundant
supply Of typically American COM
modify. nerve. and his greatness lies
In his inability 10 take himself or any
one else seriously. another American
trait which would save from oblivion
less capable person than this same
Mr.. Conan.
Before the Yankee Prince was
many minutes old those present didn't
care If they stayed all night. and when
the encarea were cut short ii was
because the PLAYERS were tired. and
not because the hearers wanted to
get home
The Center.
90 course. MIR. Conan was the center
Of attraction. although he did not by
any means ronopnlize that halloWed
spot the center of the stare. When
he dances. Mr.. cohan avoids the cen
ter of the stage. inseaa. he uses the
whole stage. Nobody ever danced
quite az he does, and probably no
member Of the company works 50 hard.
He l. not a vocalist. and nothing to
hrag abant as a comedian. chiefly be-
caus" he writes all the brightest lines
To give to some one else He wrote the
piece. and does most of the foatwork
and with that he is content.
Elder cohans in Show.
Two others Of the cuhan family are
in the show-the elder members They
both We're heartily welcomed last night
and At the final curtain The elder Mr..
Conan danced n few lively steps 10
show he i not 50 old. after MI. The
place af Miss Josephine Is taken by
Lila Rhodes. wisp Of girl who
dances like puff Of thistieaown an.
works nearly ~ hard ~ the star.
Arriving at the comedy department
OF The Yankee Prince" we are con
frontad by Tom Lewis. who makes
everyone laugh but himself. The
axiom that fat men are always funny
does not account for all of Tom Lee"
ability To tickle the funny bone His |
Wild. .xnanse Of smiIeless countenanee
helps, but his real laugh producing
ability springs from his possessing the /
true clo~nlng spirit, with which far !
ness doesn't count.
Largest of the Season.
Mr.. cnhan has brought the largest I
thar musical comedy or /
has offered here this sea-
son. And nearly half Of his chorus Is Z
which IL Il relief espeeial- +
~ as IL results in "A snappy, dashing /
drill that Is one of the best
things in the show. Another pretty
effect II In the I'm To Marry Noble 4
man" song, which shows coronets and I
pocketbooks Illuminated on dark
stage.
Most of the songs have reached here
ahead of the show itself hut all were /
given hearty encares last night. "Sil-
lains In the Play" I'm Awfnily Strong
for You" Money" and There's Moth !
ing New Beneath the SUN were the I
best
People. as a rule, either like George
A. cnhan very much indeed ar have
no use for him at all The latter wer,
In the minority last night, and prob +
ably will he still fewer tonight and &
tomorrow night, which will he the ex-
tent IL AIR. sohan.s engagement