The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-02-12
Edith Thayer In "The FREELY

Edith Thayer, as Nina, sang, flirted
and danced her way into the hearts Of
two capacity audiences at the Grand
yesterday, in the Hammerstein sue
cess, "The Firefly." Miss Thayer's
acting was superb and her singing
found ready response with her aud
fence. "Gianninna Mia" which she
sings in the prologue, had all the sweet
ness and spontaneous fire OF the folk
music sung in the streets Of Naples
and Florence. And in her Tommy At
kins song, the coquettish little mas
querader displayed talents which are
foreign to those cultivated by Italian
street singers. Those two songs pos
sibly best served to show the versa
tility OF the little star.
In her Italian girls costume, Miss
Thayer was lovable. In her borrow
ed clothing as she masQuerades as q
hoy. she was irresistible, and it was
/ little wonder that the rich aunt be-
Imoaned the fact that the men had all
gone crazy about the little masqu-
raider.
The music by Rudolf Friml, was a
big part of the production. The music
in itself made every song an encore.
and sent the audience away whistling
Tor humming Sympathy" and When
la Maid Comes Knocking at Your
Heart" F'riml's music ia tuneful and
has the. right sort of swing to it.
Especially the waltz songs.
Paul yeron, as Herr Franz, the low
liable old German music teacher, in
search OF boys for his choir. was
next to Miss Thayer in popularity, and
he we'll deserved the applause his
songs elected His Joy at having
1 found so wonderful a little singer, his
4 Happiness over the birthday gifts for
J. This little boy" only to be turned to
sorrow, when he learned of the de-
lception, and then his big-heartedness
in taking the little girl as his daugh-
1 ter, when she was about to be held
q for thief, all combined to make this
i good old soul wonderfully popular.
| His singing was excellent, and 1.-THE
/ Beautiful Ship From Toyland," was
j his best, both as a musical gem and
for his acting.
And then there was Maxfeld Moree,
as jenkins who, "Deah me- was al.
. ways SO upset. For acting, Moree
deserved the palm. difficult char
acter, the queer English secretary
, who was bothered with heart and
various other queer maladies, Moree
played it we'll AS a dancer there wa.
nothing slow about him. either.
The stormy love affair of Jack
Travers, the part played by Burton
Lenihan, and Geraldine vandare, play
ed by Thelma Fair, furnish the sem
blance of plot for the Firefifly. Mr.
Lehman was at his best in the song
"A Woman's Smile" His acting was
Of the highest type, and he carried q
difficult part through to happy end
ing, when he claimed his little Fire.
fly Girl Miss Fair was at her best
in the sympathy Song" Her dane
ing with Charles H. Bowers, who
took the part of Jacks uncle, was i'm
mense.
Charles H. Bowers as the uncle, EFT
ia Hager as Sybil Vondare, and Alice
Gaillard as Mrs. Oglesby vondare, all
gave a good account Of themselves
Irene Samsel as Suzette, Geraldine's
maid, and Bert Wheeler as "Pietro,'
Jacks valet, were exceptionally good
in the character parts and did some
clever dancing.
The thread of plot running through
the play is delightful The love af
fair of Jack and Geraldine is stretched
to the breaking point. When Jack
shows interest in the little Italian
street singer, 1.-THE Firef1y Girl his
fiancee, is still further piqued. Their
Suzette and Pietro contrive to borrow
boys clothing for Nina. the Ffrefl,
girl, and Herr Franz, hearing heI
sing, Immediately decides to take hel
for his choir, and she goes to Bermuda
Here the plot Is complicated still
more by Jacks uncle falling in love
with Geraldine. He writes propose
and asks Jacks consent to deliver
Thinking 1t is for the aunt. Jacl
acquiesces. The note is not delivered
and three years pass. The little
Nina is the operate star Of the con
tinent and Herr Franz her impressario
Just for whim Nina puts on hel
pages jacket at the party at Vandare
home. The note falls out of it. TIL,
uncle and Geraldine are united by the
happy Jack, who now Is free to take
his Firefiy Girl.
THE Firefy" is a tuneful, vel
sung, well acted play. It is one of tn,
best musical comedies that Keokul
has seen.
Fine Feathers.
Ten years ago play like Fin,
Feathers which H. H. Frazee will