New-York tribune., 1911-12-08
THE DRAMA
G2orue EdWardes's Musical Play
"Peuuy" at the Casino.

There ere signs by which II is possible
IN recognize the London origin OF Peggy.
| ono sign is that II is quieter than the usual
American musical show; another that II
&c fuIl OF pantomime. and another that its
limos fairly bulge with advertising. Peggy
was not interesting as a comparison be-
tween London musical productions and
those that originate here.
There was reason to hope from the names
connected with this London Gaiety Theatre
success" that IT would please over here.
| ,rbare Is George Edwardes TO stand spon-
sor for II, George Grossmith, jr., TO claim
| authorship Of the book, and Leslie Stuart
10 confess 10 the composing OF the music
the Leslie Stuart whose "Florodora" was
responsible for the inevitable sextette
which no musical comedy has been without
for the last eight or ten years Then there
was Ned Wayburn to stage the production.
and Mr. Wayburn is we'll thought Of in
musical comedy circles "a producer
Perhaps too many alternatives result in
a negative in theatrical grammar. At all
events Peggy Is a very negative little at
fair.
The scenes of the play-there are two Of
them-are laid. first, In the lobby of Lon
don hotel and after that before the Casino
on the beach at Trouville. Not that there
was any very serious attempt made seen
icsIly to represent the celebrated French
resort. And the French" who-ln Peggy
-resorted there. The plot was not har-
assing, as It often is in these musical pieces.
II was merely something about bliths little
Peggy. who Is the manicure girl of tho
New Hotel. London. OF course the chorus
and several principals arc in love with her
She is engaged TO the comedian, which
seems in this case very unromsntic, be-
cause he is a low comedian, but finally mar
rles the dashng young hero, captain In
the British army. There are two rich uncles
of the low comedian both Of them medium
low. too. and there are tansles of plot, IN
the breathing spaces of which people come
in and sing about things that are not es-
sental to the evenings business, and dance
dances and do dialogues and all that which
tease the attention away from the happy
ending between Peggy and the captain,
which comes along psrd the very end Of
everything
The music was really inconsiderable. al
times almost inconsiderate. There was
one song with some novel, distinctly way
burnish effects" sung on the beach at
Trouville. which would have been very
passable If II had been we'll sung. Its
catchword was Ladies, Beware The
dancing OF Maurice and Madeleine d'Har-
willie was extremely graceful but that was
one Of the side issues that prowled in
when the plot was not looking.
Renee Kelly, as Peggy. had so slight
part that there was nothing for her to do.
She did that very pleasingly Tom Dingle
did some amazing loose-jointed dancing.
Farren Soutar. who played the hero, had
his heart in his work and kept up his
spirits, but there was no opportunity
given him to show what he could do either
as an actor OF singer. There were some
interesting costumes, especially i'm the
Trouyille bathing scene. But on the whole
Peggy" has no backbone and the hopes OF
her survival are OF the faintest