El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-10
Elsie Janis viii Not Go to
Europe at Once-Sarah
Bernhardt Coming.
~ Emorr y. Calvert.l

New York, y. Y, Aug. ia long
time ago, about the time that the high
cost of living first became manifest
through a raise in the price Of theater
seats from one clamsheu to two. some
peripatetic person invented the mis-
taken identity plot.
The invention, in time, became one
of the most valued properties Of the
drama Whiskered playwrights, and
those of the feminine gender, who, Of
course, wore no whiskers, flooded the
world with plays whose action reYolYed
about this highly entertaining concep-
ton.
So common, in fact, has the practice
of mistaken identity become that many
prominent citizens cheated out OF
what they conceive to be the theatri-
cal birthright by some upstart dramat-
list who carelessly left that feature out
of his play, are recorded as demanding
their money back and have even threat
ened suit If it were not forthcoming.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that
the old favorite has again turned up
on Broadway. Neither is il surprising
that said play, comprising. as II does,
a plot that hangs on mistaken identity
with all the interdeterminatiO of
bull pup engaged in disputing a bone
with a friend, should be greeted as
success success that is all the more
welcome because of the Introduction
of the good, oldfashione6, motion pic
ture chase so popular in the movies.
The play in this instance is The Girl
from Montmartre' -Monmartre, II
might be mentioned. being a spot in
Paris where the inhabitants wear
cheaters when they happen to awaken
before p. m on account of the de-
fective vision induced by night life
and other things.
In the first act of this interesting
farce, DR.. PetypOn Orchard Carle) ar
rives from a tour of the beer gardens
Of this benighted section of Paree
and peacefully goes to sleep under
couch, which IS a very gentlemanly
and perspicacious act considering a
large and constantly shifting cargo OF
alcohol, which, apparently, interferes
tent that he might have tipped over
the parlor lamp had he attempted to
penetrate further inSo the environs of
his domicile.
The doctor. however. is accompanied
by other baggage than his alcoholic
illumination. He has Miss Hattie WILL
Jams with him in the guise Of one
Praline, whose devilish dexterity as a
dancer has won her a high place in
the hearts of the cheater wearing den
liens of Monmartre.
This in itself is an interesting sit
uation, and the effect is heightened
when the muddled medico, from his
resting place beneath the couch. grace
his bedroom. where Mrs. Petypon
peacefully sleeps with the impression
that her beloved mate is slipping pills
to the sick and otherwise COMFORTING
himself with the grace and dignity of
a regular physician.
At this point the audience at the
Criterion, with the usual keen intellt-
gence of audiences, nightly unbuttons
its ears, creeps to the edge of its
chair chews its gum with increasing
speed and forgets to breathe. But it
is disappointed.
Instead of flat-ironIng Mile. Pra-
line after the fashion of flesh and
blood, Mrs. DR.. Petypon mistakes
the identity Of her visitor and brands
her as a spirit This is the first Of
fence in the identity mIstaking line,
but not the last for the identity of
Praline is confused with more or less
success for two acts and a half. the
whole affair winding up with the
usual wedding bells and final straight
ening of the tangle.
"Hanky Panky," a musical melange |
bearing the brand of approval Of |
erudite Boston and smoky Chicago, |
also opened on Broadway this week,