The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-08
THE COLUMBIA.
"The American Idea. y

'Cohanesque" is a word coined by some
one in search Of an adjective TO describe
the speed and dash Of the musical COM
edies by that popular actor-author- COM
poser. George NJ. Conan. and Conan
esque" Is about the only word to de-
scribe 1.-The American Idea. which open
ed return engagement at the Columbia
last night
It has all the speed and ginger OF any
OF his other productions, with little
added. 1t has a number OF catchy songs
of the typical Cohan variety. lines that
fairly bristle with wit, good dancing
chorus. and, in short, all the things that
go to make up a good entertainment OF
this variety There is nothing serious in
the entire piece; 1t was written simply for
the purpose of amusement, and it GER
tainly accomplishes its purpose.
The plot OF the piece revolves itself
something after the order OF multi
colored merry go-round-aboUt the prin-
cipal theme, The American Idea" which
is to work hard all year to get enough
money TO spend the summer in Paris.
The characters are mostly Americans
abroad for the summer. and IT is a satire
on title-huuting Americans which is time
ly and apt without being too broad or
offending any one
No one who saw TrXie Friganza last
season as the dashing AIRS. Wallpaper
win need any urging 10 see her again.
for she is just as good this year as last
True. she has added a few pounds of flesh,
and she couldn't stand IL very well, either.
but she takes It good-naturedly and gets
quite a good deal Of fun out OF it-espe-
cially In her song. "They Always Follow
Me-" and the lnterpolated monolegue-
quite as good as any Of the others that
we have had lately Her singing and
dancing OF The American Ragtime" and
the buriesque love scenes with Raymond
Finlay-Steve Hustleford-were other bits
that added 10 the Joy and charm of the
performance
In the place Of George Beban, who was
seen here last year as the would-be
French count. Arthur Lipson interprets
the role this season, and while he leaves
something to be desired in some of the
scenes. when one remembers his prede-
cessor he is entirely acceptable when
ones memory isn't working.
But the real find or the piece was Ray
mond Finlay. as Steve HuStleford. who
deals in French counts and other scions
of nobility. His enunciation of the dry
humor OF the piece. taken together with
his singing and dancing in the songs that
fell 10 his share-''TOo Long from Long
Acre Square" and ''F-a-m-e''-were
highly enjoyable. The burdens OF the
performance fall on his shoulders and
those OF Miss FTiganIa-eIclusiVe OF the
work OF the chorus and the orchestra,
which, as in all Cohan pieces, do the ma
jority of the work
Mark and Tony Hart were the Irish and
German comedians OF the piece. and
their sons and daughters. respectively.
were Daniel Day and Richard Taber and
Myrtle Gilbert and Beatrice Whitford.
The Mysterious Man and the Mysterious
Girl. two typically '+Cohsnesque" char
aeters. were Hugh Mack and Iottie
Burke
More than passing word Of praise is
due to the excellent work of the chorus.
for they labored long and hard. and de-
served the applause they received in the
various ensemble numbers.