Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-23
GAY MUSICIAN
AT AUDITORIUM
REAL COMIC OPERA PUT ON
WITH SUCCESS
JULIAN EDWARDS MUSICAL PLAY
HAS LOCAL PREMIERE
Miss Texas Guinan and Miss Lcttie
Kendall Are Prominent and
Popular in Cast of
Production

"The Gay Musician" a comic opera. in
two acts. by Julian Edwards, played at
Temple auditorium the evening Of Nov. e.
THE CAST
Eugene Dubois, an ambitious young
composer. er............... .Herry Benham
Samuel Lyons, manager of Novelty thea
ter, New York .............. Roger Gray
The Hon. Clarence Beresford Leo IL. white
Capt. George Fish, retired sea captain
...................... H. Pringle
A. COrker. retired wine merchant
....................W II. Ryan
Harry Woods. .............. Roy IOrrey
Walter Baker. Walter Clinton
John smith h.,.............., Harry CO0mbs
Tom Murray ,.'..... :. 'CharIes "urheS
Members of the Glee club.
Maude Granville, prma donna of the
Novelty theater .......... Texas Guinan
Marie Dubois, wife of Eugene -. :,
Matilda Yager, his mOther-in-law ......
Observation-Disclosures Margaret Crawford
Hilda Branson, soubrette of the Novelty
theater, New York ..... .Freda Kllngel
Kitty Connor, servant of Marie ........
................ .DOIlie Nardenier
Suzanne French maid to Maude. ....,
Della servant of Maude Marion Minor
Suzanne, French maid to Maud. Ethyl Cook
Dorothy y...........,.... Francesca lie Claire
Helen Knowles. ......... Geraldine Burton
Ole Weber. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. jean Hill
Lily Sherwood ................... Mabel Hill
members of the Glee club
Guests of Maude Granvlle-Franeesca lie
Claire. Grace Miller, Mabel Hill, Jean HILL
Louise Beautara. Geraldine Burton. Grace
Souther Emily Sheppard. General Public
Girls-Ethel Richardson. Marion Glen, Sue
MacDonough Ethyl Cook.
Seen and heard in Los Angeles last
night for the first time, THE Gay
Musician" was presented to a crowded
house by the same company which
played it for many consecutive months
last year at Wallack's theater in New
York and in Boston.
This musical comedy, said to be the
strongest of the Schubert offerings,
scintillates through two long acts
filed with sparkling dialogue, catchy
songs, clever dancing and comic
specialtles, and without one dull mo-
ment finishes under the wire to the
tune of wedding bells. so to speak.
Unlike many so-called musical come
dies, there is a well defined plot of
rapid action which holds the interest
of the auditor to the close.
Despite the title, Harry Benham as
Eugene Dubois, the ambitious young
composer whose woes. marital and
otherwise, form the thread on which
the incidents of the comedy are strung,
does not occupy the center of the
stage, for with all the charm of a
pleasing personality and an equally
pleasing tenor voice, that position is
wrested from him by charming Texas
Guinan, whose ability rs a comedian
is accontuated by wonderful vivacity
and "verve," and make her a most
winsome madcap. who rules associates
and audience alike. Miss Guinan is
not only pretty and clever, but she can
sing like a meadow lark and has dim
pies in her elbows. Mr.. Benham, pos
ing as a gay young Frenchman, fire.
quently forgets to be gay and oftener
fails to remember his accent.
Lotte Kendall an oldtime favorite
with lovers of comic opera in Los An
geles, received a warm welcome from
former friends and admirers, and
within a few minutes had included
everyone within hearing in the latter
class. Her singing is an attractive fea-
ture of the evening, and her presenta-
tion of the part of the deceived and
jealous wife most happy.
When Edwards wrote in the part of
Matilda Yager and cast Margaret
Crawford for that same he received
two Inspirations, for the resulting COM
bination is Puck and Judge and Life,
all rolled into one and discounted.
Matilda Yager as dressed and danced
and talked by Margaret Crawford is
joy long to be remembered.
Freda Klingel, who has the part of
"Hilda BranSOn,' Soubrette OF the
Novelty theater New York, where
Maude Granville, otherwise Texas
Guinan, is prima donna, dances more
than well and sings well enough to
have several opportunities all her own
at interpreting parts of the score with
pleasing result.
Captain George Fish and his sailor
boys do a hornpipe and song that are
the real thing, and Captain Fish gives
a sea flavor to his wooing of Matilda,
who was his girl sweetheart, a wooing
that with the assistance of others is
finally successful.
The part of Samuel Lyons, theatrical
manager, receives careful treatment at
the hands of Roger Gray, whose vocal
attempts brought him half a dozen or
more recalls, and who has the very un-
usual grace of distinct enunciation.
Leo White and w. f. Ryan have parts
of more or less consequence in which
they are successful.
All the principals dance we'll, and so
does the chorus, but the handsome
gowns of the leading woman and her
seconds are not duplicated by those of
the chorus, nor are pretty faces and
fine figures the rule. There are stunts"
that are mirth provoking and well
turned, while bright bits of humor
which fill their mission, catchy songs
and clever dancing-and then there Is
Texas Guinan. What more does one
ask for in musical comedy?
NJ. N. F. B.