Evening star., 1911-05-30
Columbia.

Jessie Glendenning in a diaphanous
pink harem skirt: A. H. Van Buren in q
silk hat. buck dancing in the spotlight.
with q dozen comely chorus girls about
him; Everett Butterfield, so tough and so
funny that newcomers must have thought
he was brought up on a race track:
Frances Nelson biting OF repartee of the
Willie Collier kind with Stanley James.
and Nina Melville down in front leading
the orchestra These are just q few out
bursts of explanatory enthusiasm to pre-
cede a peep at "Forty-five Minutes From
broadway" comedy with now and then
some music. which started of at the CO.
lumbia Theater last night.
No one doubts the versatility of the
Columbia Players in dramatic roles. but
every one held his breath to think of
them attempting songs. Yet all the pre-
mature heart failures were unnecessary.
The players are not opera singers yet
but four encores for every song were not
given for nothing.
1t is funny show: just the kind to
watch on q summer evening. That Sec
ond act is about the limit for mile-a-min-
ute fun Never mind about the intricacies
Of the plot. 1t has to do with hand
some chap (Mr. Van Buren. Of course)
who fell into a million dollars and who
nearly fell out again before he had a
chance to call on his bankers. The story
isn't important. This handsome chap had
private secretary in the show. Kid
Burns. the original Victor Moore part
and it's Kid Burns who makes the thing
go. This week Everett Butterfield takes
the star part. In fact, as the comedy is
written 1t is almost one-man show.
This Burns person Is delicious. funny.
trayed by Mr.. Butterfield II is screaming
ly laughable one minute. and then in the
next there is a fearful touch that makes
you love it. 1t has one song. its name
the title OF the comedy. and he surprised
his friends with 1t, too. Barring the
buck and wing element. there is an un-
dercurrent of real human interest In
the role of Kid Burns. Look for the
touches that mark the work of an artist
in Kid Burns this week.
Mr.. Van Buren, as a comedian clustered
in bunch of chorus girls Is just as
pleasing as he is making love in other
kinds Of plays. He and the chorus made
one of the prettiest pictures in the whole
show, right off the reel in the first act.
Miss Nelson has a part that is strange
to her. Imagine her singing a popular
song while chorus waves its skirts and
hats in the background. And yet she
pleased the audience-witness the en-
cores.
There were two surprises handed out
by Miss Glendenning. One was the pink,
diapEanous harem skirt, real pink trou-
sers. that should have a place on the
program. And an interpolated song
which she sang and which was one OF
the musical features of the little comedy.
Miss Carrie Thatcher has a lively part
and makes q fine presentation of It,
One scarcely expected to see Miss Emf
lie Melville dance q cake-walk. But she
did. She and Mr.. Butterfield ratified of
q little performance OF the kind as II
they were having the time OF their lives
Miss Melville was one Of the screams Of
the show. Frederick sForrester and
George w. Barber do not sing. They
are. however. in evidence all through the
show and very fine impression they
make. Stanley James has a larger part
in this production than usual. and he Is
well received.
complete without telling about Miss Nina
Melville, who came right down in the
orchestra and conducted 1t throughout
the show. 1t seemed as IL she had been
leading orchestras all her life What q
hit she made!