New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-30
STAGE K|DD|ES HAVE FUN
Get Presents from Christmas
Tree After Doing Stunts.
AUDIENCE ENTHUSIASTIC
Criterion Theatre Filled with
Admirers of Little Ones Who
Entertain on Boards.

a regular Christmas party. with a tree
and presents and a Santa Claus TO give
them away. made last night a gala event
for some $50 children of the stage at the
Criterion Theatre. The occasion was the
annual festival begun In 1877 by the late
Aunt" Louisa Eldridge. TONY" Pastor
and Mrs. L. l.. Fernandez. and revived
last year when William Harris. Kate
Douglas Wiggin Mrs. Anna " Morrison
and Mrs. Anna Taliaferro Aoeu reorgan-
lied the fund and gave the first entertain
meut
Pit, boxes and balconies were filed and
standing room was at a premium when
the curtain rose on last nights perform
ance. and after short Introductory
speech by Mrs Harris the children began
three-hour programme of songs. dances,
instrumental music. character sketches
and two selections with tiny pony ballets
from THE Lady of the Slipper and THE
Rose Maid" In the last mentioned the
/ Princess. Sir John. miniature chorus and
eight baby dancers made hit. and Agnes
Mccarthy did her clever imitation of Miss
| Elsie Janis. assisted by seven other young.
sters
Marie Satler. Dorothy Spedeck. Mary
Hall. Lillian Kushkin. Mildred Lawrence
and Ethel Brown were the petites dan
seuses Of the evening. George Rabin
played violin solo. and Jesse Splitter,
| "thc Little Man with the Big Voice"
sang and did a dance as well. Baby
! pianists. baby prima donnas with glitter
ing headdresses. an elaborate scene from
King John" Rotations and banjo and
cornet solos kept the bis audience on the
OUT vive.
The enthusiasm overfowed when Ken
Meth Casey a youngster whose clever
ness as a singer. dancer impersonator
and violin and cornet soloist made him
easily the star Of the performance, fin
| ished his act, and Burton James. the mas
ter Of ceremonies. had a difficult time
| trying TO make his final announcement
! At the close of the performance Miss
| Bijou Fernandez the president OF the fes-
| tival fund. made a short speech of thanks,
! introduced Mrs. Anna V. Morrison. the
| secretary, and then announced supper
/ for the children IN the concert room OF
4 the New York Theatre. next door. While
the half-hundred small actors and act
/ resses with their friends, were busy the
curtain was lowered and the Christmas
/ tree set up on the stage. When the chill
dron returned the curtain was raised, e%-
hibitinr the tree in ali its glory. and Mr..
Harris, I'm the role Of Santa Claus. gave
away the presents.
Kate Douglas Wiggin was unable TO oe
present at the performance last night and
sent telegram Of regret. which Miss
| Fernando read The affair was under the
auspices Of Mr.. Harris Miss Fernandez
and Mrs. Morrison. and they were assist
ed by a reception committee. Those who
composed the committee were the Misses
Ruth Lift. Grace Filkins. Catherine
Countiss, Ada Patterson. Florence Nash.
Kenyon Bishop. Margaret Green, Leone
Ross. Mabel Norton Georgia O'Ramey,
Maudc Knowlton. Helen Ware, Mary
James. Kate Jepson. Belle Daube and Mrs
Arial Barney Charles Frohman gave the
theatre for the performance, Messrs. Klaw
& Frlanger lent the concert hall for the
supper and the selections from The Lady
of the Slipper" and The Rose Maid
we're by the courtesy Of Charles billing
ham and Werba & Luescher respectively.