The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-02-09
Like a Breath of Sweet Spring,
Irish Singer Breezes Into
Newark Theatre.
Good, Clean Comedy, No Prob
lens, Excellent Music-What
More Do You Want?

q PRING is almost here. disagreeable
sulky groundhogs to the contrary
Doesn't our merry. tuneful Oleott
always arrive just as old winter is pre-
pairing to take up his bel and walk?
He arrived at the Newark Theatre last
night, with a capable company ard the
same cheerful smile, and Immediately
we felt spring in our hearts and knew
that soon il would be outside. too.
Sure. lad, it's the same red wig. with
the lock over the forehead that de-
lighted We so long ages or one very
much like it. There's the saUcy hat.
with the feather. and the knee brooches
and soft tie; hui most af all there's the
jolly swagger. the saHcy tilt of the head
and the voice that must have come
straight from the good little people that
guard the destinies Of the right sort Of
Irish folk. Go 10 see him. lad. and he'll
sing To you songs of the Emerald Isle
thatli make your heart ache with long
ing 10 go back. Sure. he's the same old
Chauncey. entirely.
Chauncey Olcott holds a place all his
" in the affections Of the public.
Theatrical crazes come and go, but
where he acts You may be sure to see a
play Of the good. o~id-fashioaed sort.
with a sentiment that IS worth while
because It is wholesome and sweet;
where the hero IS a hero by right of
honesty and honor; where the villain is
a villain for lack Of these things. and
where the heroine IS sweet and win
some. and ever. ever Sc much in lows
with the hero. who in turn stands al
ways between her and the Vaccinations
Of the villain; where the comedy Is
labelled comedy plain 20 the eye. and
in direct accord with the risibilities of
the audience: where everything comes
right in the last act, and al live happy
ever afterward.
In his plays there are no problems Of
the kind in which the modern play
wright loves to revel. Subtlety Is an
unknown quantity. The blase shrlg
their shoulders at Olcott. He gives
them no sensations. But do You think
he minds2 Not a bit. Long ago he
mapped out his destiny, and since then
he has made not one step away from
his path. Long live his Wholesome lit
tie irish plays.
Ragged Robin his present vehicls.
written by Rida Johnson Young ana
Rita O1cott, is as pretty a play as he
has ever presented. All through the
scenic effects are most effective. Rag
ged Robin (Olcott) drinks from a magic
we'll, and falls in love with the girl
who drinks Immediately after him, all
through the Vaccinations of the fairy
folk who want to make him happy. and
think this can be done by taking from
his heart the love of wandering, and
filling 1t with love for home ties.
Unfortunately the girl is promised to
another, though she falls In love with
Robin as in duty bound, and on the
night of her wedding he goes away, to
find her three years later, a widow, in
dire poverty, from which he rescues
her and her family. IT develops thai
all the time he has been a nobleman in
disguise, also distress, through the
villainy of his fother brother, whom she
married.
Through the tale are woven many
little stories of the good little peo-
ple,' the banshees int the ~leprahaun.
making a charming whole. Olcott is in
excellent form, and his songs are gems.
Among them are 1.-THE Eyes That
Come from Ireland "Sweet Girl of Ny
Dreams eff You'll Remember Me"
1.-The Laugh with a Tear in It" and 81
Used to Believe in the Fairies"
His support is up to the standard.
his love scenes would be lit
tie more thrilling if his leading woman,
Alma Belwin, would only express a lit
tie interest. Lillian Claire made a good
impression as Sheelah Grattan, the
sulky little sister of Margaret, the
heroine.
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.