The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-12-03


welcome accorded the Irish Players at
Maxine Elliotts Theater during their sec
ond week in the metropolis has thrown
a rather crowded midseason theatrical
programme to the background. Nothing
could restrain the impetuous audiences.
On the opening night, nineteen bartenders
and one sorrel-tOpped truck driver. dis
guised as defenders of Erin's honor,
bombarded the stage with ripe hen fruit
and Hibernian epithets.
This novel welcome was due to the
stage instructions OF one OF the Dublin
Irishmen to his daughter, whom he
recommended to the care OF n poor but
honest artist Of the shovel in THE Play
boy of the Western World"
The display of patriotism and rotten
eggs continued to color the nightly per-
formances of Erin's Thespians, despite
the efforts of the Shuberts and the police.
1t is rather paradoxical that this band
OF mediocre actors should create such
a Juror here, when Ireland, their native
land, viewed their most genre produc-
lions with normal pulse. The American
shamrock seems to bristle with as many
thorns as a jack rose.
Aside from the unusual welcome Of
New York Irishmen to their brothers
from across the sea, the week has been
remarkable for the number of successes
that have been staged. The Collier
family is with us again; so, also, is Will
lam H. Crane, and Little Boy Blue" a
new comic opera, looks as though it
would prove a drawing card for some
weeks to come.
'Take My Advice"
Willie Collier appears in a triple role
al the Fulton this week-star, playwright,
and family head, and. what's more, he
gets away with it. The new piece is
called Take My Advice" the scene is
laid on a lemon ranch, with William as
chief lemoner, and his wife and son and
sister helping in the roundup.
There isn't much plot. Collier doesn't
need any. He has proved such a good
provider that all his relatives share in
the glory.
Through the tears of laughter it is
dimly seen that an uncle or some one has
shuffied Off leaving a million or so, I'M
der a condition that his nephew marries
the daughter of a friend. Willie, sr., is
the goat, but every time he hits the
sphere of petticoats, he loses his power
of expression, with cachinating effect.
At last the chief herder of the lemon
crop swipes the profits, and Willie brings
order out of chaos. finds his tongue, and
comes under the wire winner for matri-
It's just Collierism, and well worth the
price of admission.
"LittIe Boy Blue"
Another CONNECTION Of the genus light
opera has made its appearance on the
metropolitan boards. The late arrival is
Little Boy Blue" a potpourri of gauzy
plot, chorus ditto, and tunefuI tunes,
which is playing at the Lyric. Little
Boy Blue" is an adoption from fur
rim tongue by Messrs. Thomas and
PauIton Unlike most operas from
abroad, If seems to have suffered little
from nal de mere in transit, though the
sea air may have warped the plot bit
The piece is we'll mounted in Broad
ways most charming region Of the
lobster palace. In fact, the galaxy of
beauty seems rather out of place in the
Bal Tabarin, where the scene OF the first
act is laid There is a soprano barmaid,
a French marquis, Scottish earl, and
several other impecunious and pretty
members of the weaker sex to mix mat
tiers up and give ample opportunity for
a display of songs and lingerie.
The action sweeps from the Bal
Tabarfn to a Scottish castle, where
the barmaid blossoms out In a man
nish disguise that don't disguise, and
several shooting coats are shown that
account for the scarcity OF pleas
ants on the braes. Here there Is
a good deal OF talk about a mole on the
boy-barmaid's back, fine exhibit OF
Scottish hosiery and show girls, and the
marquis marries the barmaid and the
earPs ward the poverty-stricken captain,
with true comic opera effect
Little Boy Blue" holds a budget Of
melody that will probably last well to-
ward the summer bands, but the comedy
can stand pruning knife in spots. and
there are places where tuning fork,
judiciously handled would not be amiss.
"The Senator Keeps House."
william H. Cranes new comedy, sThe
Senator Keeps House." by Martha Nor
ton, now PLAYING at the Garrick. b =