Arizona republican., 1910-02-01
FINE PERFORMANCE Of
 \ FINE PRODUCTION
"The Alaskan" Will Be Repeated To-
 night at the Elks' Theater.

The gravel banks and sluice boxes of an Alaskan gold camp. with bald. majestic mountains. aesolate but grand, in the background-an unusual setting for a playwTights fancy when his thoughts turn to musical comedy!
 But those who saw The Alaskan" at the Elks' theater last night will agree that the possibilities Of such q scene are wonderful resources and when de- veloped by Joseph Blethen and Harry Girard. and presented by such 2 talent ed company of entertainers as William P. Cullen introduces to playgoers, the only amazement is that the frozen north has not been more liberally drawn upon bv those whose life work is 10 amuse the public.
 An analysis of The Alaskan" shows the following as the principal ingredi- ents of the show:
 A scene-Setting that is wild, wierd and captivating; the hardy manhood of the gold diggins and the true friendship of the leaders in such en- terprises when trouble comes, as it is almost sure to. Transplant to this environment a "cOlOSsar opera com pany. two or three fine comedians each with a trunkful of new jokes; a pro- lessor with a magic laughing powder; a pet polar bear; also pet eskimo girl: a merry widow: sugar plum of q mine owner of the female sex and just the right age. having fallen into the property through the death of a relative that grubstaked the mine dis
 E-.NN- 11w-a with her on her visit to the property, but keeps his identity concealed for a time; one or two little subsidiary love affairs: snow balling incident in which the audience participates; a real dog team. eight big totem poles human ized so they can dance and sing while carrying out the features of the en- vironment: and little of the totem pole legendary lore Add to this an aggregation of the finest looking Es kimo girls who ever sang and danced in chorus and one has the fundamental materials of the play, ex- cept the music. Of that it is only necessary to say that il is all right and of the lively rollicking sort, alter mating solo, duet, trio and chorus in rapid fire order. until one forgets to follow the changing costumes while listening to it. or vice versa, as his tastes control, in watching the kaleido- scopic changes of the cast. he forgets the music. IL is all good, some of it better and one of the ladies is named Good Better Best, but they are all good enough.
 Gus Weinburg as the professor is a hut ha ha tp divide the honor about equally with | Richard Carroll. and there are others | that show up to good advantage in | comedy parts also. Detmar Poppen as | Totem Pole Pete is not only a fine | singer but fine looking man. and his !, part is one that appeals.
 Miss Easton, who makes hit on her | initial trip to her mine, is clearly a | favOrite from her first appearance, and | the second act is laid in her bungalow | In Dawson. John R Phillips, as her | partner. Richard Atwater. plays a lead ing role and handles it admirably. There are others, too many of them in fact to all get a bouquet in one pass ing of the flower garden.
 The comedians find opportunity to and a nice line of local hits which al- ways takes with an audience. Running through the play is little love story Df course, with incidents that appeal 10 first one emotion and then another md finally-but then. who cares any thing about the plot of a musical It is only a vehicle at best, md such incongruities as a polar pear making love to girl, or two or .hree stranded play actors stealing all he gold out Of a million-dollar mine and carrying it away. are only inten- ional lapses and not intended as depletion of true life.
 The Alaskan will be repeated again onight at the Elks' theater. and iI is | -cartainty that -ail who saw last asst nights performance will be active boosters for a crowded house thi. ,Vening.