The Washington herald., 1910-03-01
LAST NIGHT AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSEs
THE NEW NATIONAL.
DLittIe Memo"

Little Memo"
Four clever comedians, a small army
Of pretty chorus girls. plenty of catchy
songs, bright costumes galore. and stage
settings that seem TO be the last word
in magnihcence of their kind combined
TO make Little Memo" at the National
last night. one OF the most enjoyable
and entertaining things OF its kind that
has visited here in some time.
There is nothing serious in the piece
at all-if one excerpts Mr.. Cawthorn's
grand opera selections on the accordion.
which caught the fancy Of the audi
ence, so that he had TO return several
times for bows and encores. That was
the only thing that did not SAVIOR Of
the broadcast comedy; but nothing de-
Perforated at any time into low comedy.
In almost every act there are special
things contributed by the trio OF lead
ing comedians-Joseph Cawthorn, Harry
Kelly. and Harry Clay Blaney-that set
the audience roaring with laughter at
their antics or other nonsense, Some Of
these were the stories Of the Motor
maniac, the Whinenpoof, and the Pan
insula; the burlesque north pole discovery
scene, IN which the two rival discoveries
fight a duel over the telephone, and the
drill OF the Tar Heel Zouaves.
1t Is doubtful IL the management could
have selected four better comedians for
the leading parts. Joseph Cawthorn still
uses some Of his old methods-the desic-
Gated dialect IN particular-and he re-
calls memories of a somewhat similar
part in the first production Of Mother
Goose many years ago. But, as al
ways, he is funny, and his twisted words
and more twisted facial expressions kept
the audience In an almost continual
laugh.
In the role of the dancing missionary
was Harry Kelly, and Harry Clay Blaney
deserted his usual gun-play melodramas
| long enough 10 play Flip. the person with
the mean disposition. who tries 10 pre-
vent Memo from reaching Sunderland.
This trio had a number Of comic songs.
given in a manner all their own. and
which was very effective Principal
among these we're rs My Face on
Straight" Read the Papers Every
Day." and There's Nothing the Matter
with Ne"
Those who remember Buster Brown
and the Inflated Little Jack Horner"
need no introduction TO Master Gebriel.
the little fellow who took the title role.
As IN the other things that he has ap-
/ pesred IN, this diminutiye comedian quite
captivated the house, especially with his
songs, ct Guess I Talk Too Much" and
Won't You Be Ny Playmate
| The supporting company is much too
numerous te mention many OF them. but
/ Queenie Vassar, w W. Black Maude
Campbell. and Aimee Ehrlich are deserv-
ing Of praise for the excellent things that
they did
But besides the clever work Of the prin-
Cipals. mention should also be made OF
the splend!dly trained chorus and the
really wonderful way in which the eleven
scenes are mounted and the costumes of
the chorus. for they easily excel any
thing that has been here for long time.
In the scenes at the end Of the three
acts, the first in st. Valentines Land, the
second the dream of the Fourth of July,
and the last In Sunderland, the cos
tunes and stage settings were really
dreams" and beautiful ones. too.
The authors keep the plot well hidden,
: and il does not obtrude itself too much.
The play is supposed to be a series of
place for a sleepy man; it is far too
bright. pretty. and entertaining 10 fall
asleep over.