The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-19
MAGNATES OF THE THEATRICAL WORLD WATCH "KATY DID"
Party of Distinguished Producers Playwrights and Composers at JacksOn's Theatre

Among those who watched the per- formance of Katy Did" at Jackson's theatre last evening were several tfe- atrical men, producers. composers and playwrights. making perhaps the most important group of theatrical men who ever sat at performance in Bridge port.
 Prominent among the special guests of the evening was Joseph M. Gaites, producer of half a dozen successful musical comedies, and the sponsor for Katy Did" in the production of which he has invested about $40,0O0.
 It was MT. Gaites' first visit to Bridgeport and he expressed himself as greatly pleased with the reception accorded by the Park City to Katy Did' and other productions of his.
 T regard Bridgeport as a first class show town," said Mir. Ga tes last night sons theatre. He waxed enthusiastic and while in that mood, promised Manager Fitzpatrick that Bridgeport shall be one of the very first towns to see the original Three Twins company when it leaves Chicago, and ''The Girl of My Dreams" a new mu- sical comedy which is creating a fu- rore in the West.
 Another interested spectator was Karl Hoschna. the composer, who wrote the music for Katy Did," Madame Sherry, Bright Eyes," and a number of other successes. MT. Hoschna was accompanied by his wife and by Victor Herbert Americas most celebrated composer of musical come dies and considered one of the most gifted composers of the decade.
 Another party at the theatre includ- ed Maurice Uri, partner of Joseph M. Gaites and Messrs. Benjamin Stevens, Elmer Osgood and William Smythe, who hold respectively the positions of general booking agent, general man. ager and general stage manager for the great Klaw & Erlanger syndicate.
 Still another party included W. c. Duncan, author of Katy Did" ac- companied by Mrs. Duncan and by Frank Smithson, who collaborated on the lyrics of the production. Paul Will stach, author of several successful musical comedies also viewed the performance and Joseph W.tmark, partner in the Witmark music pub fishing house, was an interested spec tator.
 Charles Dillingham;, a producer who ranks in the class with Joseph M. Gaites, was present and expressed his appreciation of Katy Did'
 Manager Henry B. Harris unfortu- nately found himself unable to be present to greet the distinguished
  CT William Harris, succeeded in find ing time to get to Bridgeport and en- joy the play.
 ''Katy Did" will play in New Haven, Boston and Chicago, and then will go to New York for an extended run.
 As for the play itself, the producers will doubtless find opportunity to ging- CT up the plot and lines considerably before it's metropolitan run.
 Katy Did' reduced to it's songs, dances and special features, is a great success, but the moments inter songs and the exhibition of the spe- cial features are most dec! dedly dull and the plot between numbers has drag of a calibre that would do credit to an automobile brake. This with all due respect to Louis Simon, pr~Slction Is given little opportunity to now his real abil ties.
 The songs are great. They are tuneful, we'll staged, replete with nov cities. and thoroughly enjoyable. The dancing is splendid: Everything is poor version of My Friend from In- dia." The authors have operated" on the fun in this comedy with the same spirit that surgeon exhibits in digging refractory vermiform ap- pendix.
 GnSSTeu III tu0 liICS, then Katy Did, will become one of the seasons successes.
 The great hit of the show. aside from the song numbers, is the dancing of La Petite Adelaide" ass 'sted by John J. Hughes. This team is su- perb La Petite Adelaide's dancing is as graceful and dainty as Genee's or Pavlowa's. She is star of the first magnitude.
 Last night was 'Shriner's Night at the theatre. Red fezzes and confetti were present in great abundance.