The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-25
Work of Comedian Pleasant
Surprise of Much-Herald-
ed Production.
MUSIC IN CLASS
WITH "FLORODORA"
Numbers Well Sung, With the Ex-
ception of Widely Advertised
"Cupid's Telephone"

With the merriest kind of a Hello
People, Hello the Havana" company
waved n breezy welcome across tho
footlights at the Belasco last evening
and the audience returned the greeting
Just as warmly as decorum would per-
nit
The fact that the music was attribut-
ed 10 Leslie Stuart, composer Of "Fioro-
oore," held cat legitimate hope that
here at last might be found a long
looked for successor to that famous
operetta. Oft-pubiished pictures OF eight
gay maidnes giddily perched on a ban
lister with telephones TO their ears prom
ised a song that might out-Florodora
the original sextet.
The music was not the most meIn-
OrabIe thing about Havana And,
strange to say. the octet turned out
TO be the one disappointment Of the
show. Instead. there was an unlocked
for surprise.
James T. Powers is Havana"
Without him the performance would
be denatured. The music, the girls, the
scenery form only an addition de luxe
for the work OF that comedian And
further credit was bestowed on the gen.
tleman by those who chose to read the
chronology of the piece and found at the
very bottom the statement that the
lyrics were "AmeriCaniZed by Mr..
Powers"
Powers Holds Stage.
Something was expected from so ex-
perienced a comedian-but not so much
He bounded on the stage just in time to
save the first act from being. slightly
dull. His costume bill is not heavy He
appeaed in the CAB Of a bosn, which
is simplicity itself. and stuck consist
emily to 1t. 1t gaze him an excellent
chance for contortions of body and ludi-
croUs poses which are a part of his
fun-maktng. Few human beings can
convey so much with such a wholly IN
expressive countenance as Mr.. Powers,
and there is, perhaps. no comedian VINO
embodies ell the tricks of low comedy
with an entire absence Of coarseness-
Mr.. Powers was cast as Samuel Nix.
described on the program as a 'matri-
monial outlaw Seven wears before the
action Of the play he had inadvertently
married a Cuban belle and this fact IS
explained at length and with consider
able amusement In the first act. Then
the plot is slowed nicely away, as a
musical comedv plot should be- until
the third act. when with man-o-war
precision its tangles are unwound IN a
1tEy and a satisfied audience sent home
rejoicing.
Music and Fun.
The interim was filed with the fun
making Of Powers and a succession of
tuneful musical numbers. The disap-
pointment Of "Cupid's Telephone" the
much-advertised octet, lay in the fact
that no one Of the pretty girls pro-
viSed for that number could sing one
teeny, weeny bit. The ranks of this
chorus had been somewhat depleted, 50
the story runs. by milliOnaires, thought
less for the publics enjoyment, who had
married FIVE Of the original eight song
birds. II minated millionaires have
any appreciation of music Il Is unlikely
that the present aggregation will be
such successful home-makers.
The song itself might have been eX
cellent IL well interpreted. The rest
Of the music was equally pleasing and
had better luck in the Interpretation.
There are occasional reminders OF the
authors earlier work and the score
seems to be as meritoriOUs. Whether
It will live as long in popular esteem
will depend largely on public taste.
Good English CaricatuTe.
Why it is invariably necessary to
carica ture the English in musical COM
edy is a dark secret. But since such
a role was necessary no happier selec-
ton to play IT could have been made
than Dave Andrada. George O'DeH,
Danold Archer, and Arthur Demers
were well cast.
First aid to the star in mirth making
was Hattie Arnold, Of Aborn opera
memory. Geraldine Malone houted her
name in the face with a series Of clever
Spanish and French dances.
Miss Helen Darling's songs were
sung in good voice and were all we'll
received. To her was assigned I'll
a Cuban Girl and What Shall do
With the Rest2" No male principal OF
the company developed any marked
vocal ability but a male chorus was
distinct musical feature.
"How Did the Bird Know That"
One topical song. OF no musical merit
and probably interpolated by Mr.. Pow
ers. provided as much fun as anything
on the program. The finale of each Of
the three acts was marked by especial
- fine orchestration-
Neither costumes nor scenery are sha b.
by, as might be expected after a pro-
longed Gotham run. The presence Of
the hobble skirt is prima facie evil
dence that Havana" is strictly a Ia
mode. In plain English, It IS corklng
good show. J. II. HILDEBRAND.