The Washington herald., 1911-12-05
AT7 IIfIIIE' 'Z[5Iii1I ]ZE[5 1IzlK1[IgI1I22S
THE COLUMBIA.
Eddie Foy, in cover the River"

Eddie FOy, in cover the River
Did it require the joint and re-en-
forced shrewdness of one Charles Dill
lingham and one F. Ziegfeld. Jr., to pro-
ject a new bundle of FOy and FoylSmS
across the footlights in this turbulent and
tremulous theatrical season OF lSll-l2?
Judging from the quintessence OF TOM
fOoIery disclosed at the Columbia The
ater last evening in over the River
we can only hope that every union of
theatrical producers is as Rsuccessful as
this one The idea should be contagious.
Casting aside the mOurnful memories
Of the late lamented Up and Down
Broadway" Eddie Foy has actually bios
somed forth again in his pure and pris-
tine drolleries. His new piece Is built
around him by the fine Italian hand of
George V. Hobart and II. y. Du Souchet.
Admirers of William Collier in a certain
uproarious farce of decade ago, en-
titled The Man from Mexico" will cast
deductive eye upon the latter name.
OF course, the ColIieresque and Foyesque
versions of the main role are as far apart
as the poles, but the latter has succeeded
with that atmosphere of utter gro
t sUuerie which invariably envelops the
tOrtuous convolutions of that absolutely
unique mouth of his-SuCCeeded in giving
the part a new garniture of comedy
which need not blush for shame in the
presence Of the original.
Over the River" is a farce set to mu-
sic. conventional in all elements but its
comedy To relate the plot would be
tharkless task The real underCurrent
of significance in all criticism of the
piece is that Eddie FOy is once more pro-
vided with a splendid opportunity for his
effulgent tomfOolery, an opportunity
which he never misses for an instant.
Compared to musical comedy, musical
farce is tart and bizarre. with the stock
romantic guSh of the former given
cruel kick out of the window.
Surrounding Foy is an excellent cast,
with the veteran comedian William
Sellery, enacting the role Of Timothy
Cook. and the suave and ingratiating
Melville Stewart playing Hudson Rivers
with his accustomed ease. Sellery is up
roarioUsly funny, and works opposite
FOy to excellent advantage. Miss Maud
Lambert. who will be remembered for
her eTervesrcut rendering of Rings On
Her Fingers" in The Midnight Sons"
again proved herself a real rival of
Blanche Ring in the role of Myra Parke-
Her two songs. Bees Amt to Blame"
and BE My Irish Senorita,' fairly glow
ed with vitality as she interpreted them,
and were the only musical numbers IN
the piece of any consequence. The score
indeed. credited to John l.. Golden
whoever lie isis of a negative and color
less character with the exception of the
TWO songs above mentioned.
There is a wealth of pretty girls in the
cast and chorus, among them Miss Gene
We've Reed in the role of Sarah Parke
and Miss EIoiSe Reed as Flo Rivers. Miss
Jennctta Methven contributed a pleasing
specially by vaultng way up to the &C
above high c. i'm a glacial soprano. The
Berlin Madcaps and the marvellous Mil
lers. both well and favorably known in
former successes, won more than their
share of applause in The Raggety Man
and The Lock-step TwO-step Glide"
over the River is real musical sue
cess assuredly, and Eddie Foy is himself
again. There are elements in which the
new piece is open to criticism, but its
potentialties is not one
of them. A. NJ. J.