New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-24
1.-THE QUAKER GIRL" Is HERE
London Operetta Opens to Large
Audience st the Park.

successes arrived in New York last night,
when THE Quaker Girl'-mIsc by Licnc.
Monckton. book by James Tanner and
lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Green
bank-was presented by Henry 3. Harris
at the Park formerly tie Majestic Theatre.
This little operetta became OF such good
report during its London run that George
Edwardes. the Gaiety Theatre manager.
brought II over 10 Paris for n ten days
engagement az the Theatre du Chateiet.
and the Partisan critics. none TOO open 20
foreign artistic invasions, declared them
selves delighted.
What the American verdict will be re-
mains to be seen. but none o. those pres
ent last night viii gainsay that its music
IS light and graceful and its story rrettily
told At the rise 81 the curtain on the first
act sprneJime breath from Somerset
meadows loated across Broadway. taking
the audience into the heart of rural Ems
land. and Quaker lads and lsssies returned
the thee" and thou" in a manner SO
delightful that at least one person In the
audience breathed a fervent prayer that
some dav the English language might re-
turn 10 its second person singular.
From England the scene shifts 10 Paris
and nreality-a most English Paris. But
Paris seems a sine qua non for most hght
operas so the lihrettists must he forgiven.
The story is about a lass named Prudence
who chafes under Quaker discipline. she
meets Tony Chute. of the American En-
bassy in Paris. who ins'ructs her in tho
art Of love making.
Tony has arrived in the Quaker village
!. 41~,e- Ia
present at the captains secret marriage
with Maulde an eyiled BonaDartist prin-
cess. After the wedding bride and bride
groom. Prudence and Tony all 20 to Pars,
where Prudence finds rival in Diane. a
Partisan actress But in the erd wedding
bells ring hlthe'v. and Quaker girl and
American secretary 20 happily 20 the al;ar.
And the music that carries on this story
is eminenty characteristic, with one waltz
song. Come to the Ball" that bids fair
20 rival in popularity any Of the waltzes
that have arrived on these shores for the
last two or three wears.
Of the cast three persons shared the
hcnors Clifton Crawford as the American
attache. Percival Knight as jeremiah, aid
Miss Ina claire as Prudence. the Quaker
girl. and Of these first honors must 60 20
Miss Claire.
Deliciously graceful IN action and dane
ing. she won all hearts. and this despite
her small voice.
Nh Crawford was drollness itself. and
his song about Paul Revere, while it won {
be sung IN Sunday school, VIII surely he
sung on Broadway. He made, too, a grace
ful and humorous little speech after the
second act. Words Of praise also should
he said for the Phoebe Of May Vokes and
the Madame Blum OF Maisie GAY, while
Mr. knights jeremiah was a study that
ought 70 teach most so-called comedians
something Of the art of fun.
In short. Il the enthusiasm Of A first
night audience rs any criterion. 'Tr0
Quaker Girl" will he one or the hits Of the
year Certainly there is no rrottier music
now on Broadway. and equally certainly
both Mr. Crawford and Mr.. Knight showed
that there are at least two light opera
comedians who can draw a laugh without
a club.
Besides there arose last night new
little English star, who Will twinkle softly
among her more brilliant sisters. VIII
twinkle probably after some of them have
long since gone 20 rest.