The Washington times., 1913-10-16
Fun of Honest-to-Goodness Type Is
Marie Dressler's, Says Julia Murdock
Gay Coincidence Causes Many
. Laughs At B. F. Keith's
Theater This Week.

THAT old saying-woman has no
sense OF humor. is being knock
| ed into a cooked hat this week
up on Fifteenth street. Marie
Dressler is doing it. Any one who visits
E. F. Keith's Theater and watches the
gay condolences offering will certainly
leave the theater with at least one pet
illusion smashed, provided he believes
what our pessimistic friend has said.
| Lewis Carol did not have Marie
| Dressler in mind perhaps, when he coin
ed the word "gallumphant," but it suits
Miss Dressler as the wall paper suits
the walls for which it was never origi-
, nally intended. You think of the words
gallop and triumphant. and you say
them with just little leaning toward
gallop and there you are-gallumphant
| Marie Dressler comes gallumphing upon
the stage with an expression possessing
all the-coyness of a startled deer, yet
! with the body and gesticulations of
rowing elephant. She flashes before you
in all the splendor of a costume the
main features Of which combine all the
idiosyncracies of the latest fashion. Her
lamp shade skirt of passionate red chif-
fOn bangles courtesying and bowling
from her hips. Her lower limbs are
covered with pantaloons of marvellous
eastern cut, and all are decorated to
the limit On her head is a hat sur
mounted with a feather which strays
out upon the floor with the violence of
her gyrations, and a marvellous method
of keeping 1t on her head allows for
any number of presentations. She can
wear 1t at any angle, and she spins 1t
about at will while she sings "A Great
Big Girl Like Me"
Her feet. in tiny golden slippers skin
about joyously, every move comic
symphony of motion, and before the
audience has had time to recover from
the elegance and wonder of her costume,
it is convulsed with her smiling conf
dence, her country girl terror and her
business like assaults upon their risibili-
ties She has found the secret of max
ing people forget everything but herself,
and she takes advantage of her power,
bringing the giggles or the full born
laughs to the surface, only to check
them by some sudden turn which leaves |
one more convulsed than ever.
Then she Is back on the stage again !
TO recite a poem-by request. Faces be- |
come series as she tells of the lone |
someness of the little children in
Heaven, and when she says Il Want |
Nv Mamma Here" in childish tones, !
there is not the ghost Of smile left
in the house. There is real apprecia-
ton and sympathy in the applause, but
lust to pave the way for her neXt-l
can't call it an effort; it is a Sift-she |
bumps into wings, scowls at them.
mumbles what you are sure are curses |
at the defenseless canvas, breaks into
a smile bows her thanks, flashes an
other condescending grin at the audi
ence. and then leaves the audience
convulsed with laughter. 1t has been
snatched back from seriousness, and is
eagerly begging for more fun.
And she gives it, too, for her heart
is as big as her body. No element OF
humor in the cabaret girls condensation
of grand opera. which is one OF Miss
Dressler's offerings. IS omitted. Strain
ing at notes. working her arms ana
body with fatal assurance. she screa ms
ont ..Traviata," and is hustled off on a
rich red couch. She catches the spirit
oe the ridiculous woman who can never
believe that she is being laughed at,
and comes on again to perform