El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-21
Ell Pasoan Is Author of 1.-The Lure
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White Slave Play Is Suppressed

actor was not heartily welcomed. And
all because of pradpapa!'
EEMadam President"
I have Just made a discovery about
naughty plays. 1t is this. They must
be humorous. That is, if you don't
want the police to get them. If you
must write a risque drama, first change
it to a cOmedy-a farce, if your idea is
particularly bold. Wherever there is
a sob, cut it out and put in joke;
play for laughs" not tears, avoid Sc
robustness as you would a pest and then
finally get a Frenchman to write the
thing for you.
While the police suppressed 1.-THE
Lure" in Madam President we have
a naughty play which the police will
amusing. Madam President" which
opened at the Garrick Monday night
is a brilliant piece of work 1t was
adapted from the French of Maurice
Hennequin and Pierre Weber, by Jose
G. Levy. It discovers a new angle to
the eternal triangle feat more diff
cult than finding the fourth dimen-
sion There is our old friend, the up
right judge, his homely wife and a
lovely actress. And the ingenuity and
skill displayed by the playwrights in
creating droll complications. new and
vivid situations and unexpected turns,
is little short of marvellous. Oh, the
value that lies in a fresh and original
point of view Whoever has it is a
worth more than a cabinet position.
Complications Plentiful.
The complications arrive early IN
Madam President" The president of
the tribunal of Gray is alone in his
house. His homely wife is away Wis
ting. A theatrical troupe has been
driven out of town and one of the
actresses, having no where else to go
seeks refuge in the house of the presi-
dent and establishes herself in the
Wife's apartments. Then in comes the
minister of justice, from Paris. Well.
the president had to introduce the
actress to the austere minister, and as
he was looking for a Partisan appoint
ment from the latter he had to make
everything look right The only way
to do that was to introduce the pretty
intruder as his wife. Instantly the
actress and the minister fall in love
or the Paris equivalent of it. The first
act ends with real dash of paprika-
Risque? Yes-and what must it have
been in Parisi But it was clever and
II was drol. No austerity of moral
temperament could have kept one from
laughing Quite shocking, but really
very funny.
than ever, did the best work I have
ever seen her do as madam president.
''Aida'' in English.
Grand opera in English and at pop
ular prices. was the double experiment
which was launched at the Century the
alter Monday night. A large and very
fashionably attired audience turned out
10 see the initial performance which
was Nerdis masterpiece, Aida"
The preparations for the presentation
of this opera in English had been very
thorough. Tutors had been employed
for the foreign singers and the result
was that the enunciation was re-
markedly clea-.
Morgan Kingston the Rhadames. dis
closed a tenor voice of fine, even quail
ity, good power and splendid POSSIBLE
tiles HE has the making of a fine
arust-hiS paths leads to the heights
Elizabeth Amsden, as Aida, was not
only beautiful, but she sang with bril-
liant artistry. That a great future
awaits her there can be no doubt
The Anneris of Kathleen Howard was
admirable in every detail She inveted
the characted of the Kings daughter
with nobility, command and authority.
Her tones were at all times, rich. full
and true She was one of the large
successes of the evening.
Alfred Kaufman was an impressive
high priest and sang his role with
power. Louis Kresler, a. the EthiOp
ian, AmOnaSro, acted with fine dra-
matte effect and sang splendidly. The
chorus was very good and the mount
ing Of the opera was done in good
taste.
WHO'S Who.
One of the disappOintments of the
week was the new William Collier
farce who's Who" High expectations !
were not only aroused by the name of !
the star. acknowledged to be the best
the name of the author, Richard Hard |
ing Davis. who a few years ago pro- /
vided Collier with his greatest vehicle, |
The Dictator
But alas. What a disappointment, !
The lay which opened Thursday night !
at the Criterion, proved TO be one of i
the flimsiest thing ever seen on Broad
way. the plot was inconsequential, the