The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-12
LAST THEATRICAL
SEASON BAD ONE
Few Productions Met With
Financial Success
OLD SHOW is REVIVED
The MikadO Is Being Played Before
Large Audiences in New York.
"Ugliest Actress in France"
Is In America
OLD SHOW Is REVIVED
BY EMORY p. CALVERT

New York, June 11.-(Special.) -During
the past season New York audiences have
seen many musical shows. Some died
within fortnight, others fingered on for
month or six weeks, and there were
still others that managed to continue their
existence during the greater part of the
season. Out of the mass of new produce
tons, however, but slim half a dozen
were met with financial success.
And now, at the close of the season,
musical show of ancient vntage-one that
amused Broadway audiences in the sos
and '90s-is revived, and achieves the sue
cess of the season. Truly. the quality of
the present day musical show must be
deterorating.
Gilbert and sullivans popular opera,
'"The Mikado," is the disintended pro-
duction, and the Shuberts and William
Brady are responsible for its production.
1t was nearly two weeks ago that the
show opened at the Casino theatre, and
despite the warm weather seats are at a
premium and the engagement of four
weeks will probably be heightened into
July.
One might suppose that the fact that.
the names of such stage notables as JEFF
ferson de Angels, Andrew Mack, FRITZ
Scheff and Christie Macdonald are listed
in the cast is responsible for the success.
This may in measure attract a large
number of people, but. after all. it is Sir
Arthur Sulivans tuneful melodies and
Gilbert's unerring shafts of satirical wit
that prove the real attraction.
The cast is advertised as an "al star
one, but despite this handicap, the per-
Torrance is one of the best that has
ever been presented. The great fault
with an "all star" cast is, that the play
ers cannot forget that they are stars
Just for one night. Each one has a ten
dency to monopolize the center of the
stage" and the result is demoralzing.
In the present instance, however, this
fault has been eliminated to a great ex
tent with most gratifying results.
FRITZ Scheff played the role of Yum
Yum, and makes a charming Japanese
maid. Her singing in the Three Little
Maids" two, and in tle "Sun Whose
Rays Are All Ablaze' is all that could be
desired.
1t is Christie Macdonald, however, who
must be credited with the real hit of the
performance and this despite the fact that
the quality of her voice is slightly inferior
of Miss Scheffs
She plays the role of Pitt Sing. and fur
nishes the most captivating acting In the
performance. She makes the best pos
sible use of her voice and her singing of
Hes Going to Mary Yum Yum" is adj
mirable.
Miss Christine Nelson completed the
trio of Little Maids and while she is
very charming to the eye, her work is not
nearly so effective IS 1t might be.
The other principal female role, that of
Katisha, is played by Josephine Jacoby,
and this charming lady gives very adj
mirable performance of rather incon-
spicuous role.
Among the male characters. jefferson
de Angels easily carried off the honors.
He PLAYED the role of Ko-Ko, the Lord
High Executioner, in his own unimitable
way. and does not omit any of the horse
play. AS his voice is of a superior quail
ity to that of the average comic opera
comedian he proved very valuable In some
of the trios and quartets.
william Danforth is an excellent Mil
sado' and sings the score with good effect.
The poorest work among the male men,
hers of the cast Is done by Andrew Mack.
who plays the role of Nonki-Poo. In this
part he is altogether out of the picture.
The music Is not fitted to his voice or vice
versa, and he essays the role of the En-
perors son with an unmistakable Irish
accent.
The role of Pooh-B Bah, with his many
offices and titles, Is played by William
Pruette whose work is rather below the
standard.
One of the most striking features of the
revival is its ensemble effects. The chorus
is exceptionally good, and is gorgeously
costumed. The kimonas worn by the prn-
cipas are exceedingly beautiful
The play is staged very beautifully and
this is a great asset to the success OF the
performance.
Revivals Of this character are refreshins