The Washington times., 1909-03-28
National Types in Two
Cases and Strange Blend
in Third.
But MISS SCHEFF
TURNS THE SCALE
Not Patriotism, But Drummer
Maid" Attracts Large Crowds
to Columbia.
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.

American humor in The Prima Don
ma" and German comedy converted into
French farce by an American play
wright in The Blue Mouse,
All were to laugh. The only problem
that confronted the theatergoer last
week was Where shan we laugh to-
night?''
1t was not wholly to pay their re
Spects To a native product of funmaking
That very large majority chose the
Columbia An opportunity to adiudge
popular taste in funmaking was lost be-
cause MISS FRITZ Schem threw the bal
Sllce 1ar IN favor of her new vehicle.
Many went to see Miss Scheff a few
went to see Miss Schen in a new comic
opera As yet. little attention has been
paid 10 The Prima Donna" as a latter
day product Of two capable collabora-
Tors who are responsible 9or such pro-
auctions as The Serenade. THE
fortune Teller and Mile Modiste"
Curlorsly enough, THE Prima DON
ma did not suffer from an effort TO
spread thin plot and a half portion
bert and Henry Blossom scorned TO
make capital out of their reputa ton
and set about producing comic opera
founded upon a substantial foundation
of music and plot. The result was too
much plot and a tOp-heavy score.
Henry Blossom leaned too far toward
Cnaries Z. B!aney, and there was too
much OF Conan and too little of Herbert
in The Prima Donna
This fault does not constitute an in
herent defect. A comic opera rarely
suffers because il is too full Of good
things 1t can be prUned easier than
thin offering can be bolstered- Like
The Beauty Spot" all The Prima
Donna needs is a careful readjust-
nent- The humor of the Blossom book
is that peculiar American type which
an EngliShman could never appreciate. |
1t is the offspring OF burleSque hinges
on the ludicrous, and finds expression
in exaggeratiOn of dress and facial con
tortion.
Contrast in "Jack Straw"
This comedy is the antithesis of that |
found in w. Somerset Maugham in |
Jack Straw" Here the laugh is pro- |
duced by unexpected situations. Mis- |
taken identity furnishes the basis for |
curious entanglements. The temptation |
to overstep the bounds OF proba biIity /
is obvious. Mr.. Vaughan failed to keep /
within the limit. The first act is gIar- |
ingly overdrawn. The second and third |
would not stand close analysis, but !
were toned down enough 10 save the |
play And those situations which were /
not grossly exaggerated were delicious
~ funny.
Incidentally this week OF light diet !
brought 20 light swo new stars in the |
field of comedians. One was James +. |
in The Pri1na Donna" The second was |
none other than John DToW.
The methods of Mr.. Sullivan recall |
Frank Daniels, but this latest recruit |
has a few resources all his own.
Mr.. Drew may not relish his newly |
found laurels. But he has seldom been /
taken more seriously than he has since |
he cast of the dignity of parlor actor |
and designed 10 be natural
Fun of Big If.
"The Blue Mouse" furnishes a third /
study in comedy OF very different /
of this Engel- Horst comedy is based |
on mistaken identity, but its treat
nsent is widely different from Jack |
Straw. The continental system, as /
interpreted by Clyde Fitch. consists /
largely in suggesting ridiculous com
plications that might arise and oc-
casionally bringing another laugh /
when they materialize.
This futurity brand of hunor de-
Neloped in a marked degree in French
comedies, is particularly in evidence
In the first act Of 'The Blue Mouse"
A partition separates two offices and
the audience IS expected to laugh a a
rapid fire volley- of big IFS. IF he
only knew that was not The Blue
Mouse, If her husband should come In i
now, suppose he would open that II
DOOR" you will hear your neighbors II
saying and that furnishes the key II
note OF this type OF entertainment
After the first act the partition II
eliminated The audience should by that II
time be trained TO think for itself H
Hlthout the aid of diagram and in the 1
thlrd act the long expected does happen II
at one fell swoop. There is nothing OF II
originality and little OF art required nor II
claimed for such production. As a II
laugh producer The Blue Mouse bids II
fair to live long and happily. and il can II
well afford 70 lose its reputation FOR n
the suggestive that attracted large II
first night audience Before the wee,< n
was half over the show was drawing II
large houses on its merit as a comedy. II
and those who came 10 be shocked re- II
Messrs. Shubert deserve commenda- II
tion for the capable cast supplied for II
the company seen here. From those II
who have seen the play in New Yo~K II
comes the verdict that the comedy yy.s
as well II not better done for Wash N
fEgton than Il was for Gotham. Natur- II
ally this was gratifying, but more than N
that 81 is likely TO make money for The II
producers.
Miss Ryan Scores.
Especially deserving OF the highest n
praise is Miss Elsa Ryan. who takes the Il
role OF the Blue Mouse" created by
Miss Barrison. II IS difficult 10 see how Il
this role could be played more salts
factorily- While the part affords no
real opportunity for acting The rdeIitv
OF Miss Ryan's portrayal OF this tvpe of
stage creature fostered by the demand
FOR "girly shows gives promise Of gen
uine ability
This week EdT Stevens. The Devil" 4
who escaped. will commemorate his re-
generation by doing a vaudeville turn al
Chase's while George ATliss who is
still in the tolls, viii celebrate the rath-
or doubtful honor OF being a better
'Devir' by doing the part that Mr.
Savage left undOne and as Mr.. Fiske II
would have III done Neither has escaurd
q roasting during their period Of incar-
ceration, but Washington is anxious to
see wherein the Arliss brand is superior
10 the Stevens couepnttop