The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-27


Pretty. lifting music OF the sort that
fingers In the mind next morning. and
gaiety without strsnuosity, are the
outstanding features OF The Little
Cafe" presented In the Detroit opera
house. Monday evening. The piece is
founded ON the French farce. lie
Petit Cafe by Tristan Bernard. with
book and lyrics by c. NJ. s. Mcclellan,
and music by Ivan Caryll.
The Little Cafe might be said to
be "stariess' musical comedy. Good
parts are many, but there Is no focus
ing OF attention on q single character.
Neither Is there any one musical mum
Der which stands out as above the 9TH
ers In merit. But the total effect is
pleasing. without being noisy. and the
piece 10 staged In a manner which
creates an atmosphere OF gay aban-
don without boisterousness. Much OF
the music Is reminiscent OF The
Chocolate Soldier" which Is tribute
In itself.
The plot concerns the fortunes OF
Albert. waiter at "The Little Cafe. /"
who suddenly finds himself a million
aire. To avoid paying q forfeit OF
300. 900 francs to his employer. he re-
mains at his tables during the day
and spends his nights in an effort TO
dissipate his newly-acquired fortune
with the greatest dispatch possible.
appearing first as psuedo count and
later as the genuine article.
Among the many good song num-
bers are I'm q Hunting Jaguar." sung
by Texas Guinan. who scores hit In
her part a. an untamed Hungarian
beauty with q knife In her stocking;
"You Little Cafe Good Day." an en-
semble number: Serve the Caviar"
by John 4. Young. as Albert. and
This Gay Paree," by Alma Francis
and chorus.
John 4. Young. as Albert: Edna @.
Munsey. az Gaby Gaufrett, queen OF
the cafes. and Alma Francis, as
Yvonne. Albert's sweetheart. are the
principals. and all do excellent work.
The minor parts are well taken.
those OF Adolphe, glass wash
or In the cafe, played by Harry Depp,
and Prince Max OF Calmania, by Colin
Campbell
"The Little Cafe" which will re.
main In the Detroit throughout the
week. viii be followed Monday even
Ing. Nov. 2. by Maude Adams. In the
J. NJ. Barrie play, The Legend OF
Lenora."
oARRick--"Ths Midnight Girl"
Too frequently for the pleasure Of
the public. good material in the way
Of comedy and singable music Is
placed In the lands OF mediocre peo-
pie. but In the case of The Mid
night Girl" now In the Garrick the
ater, the reverSe isathe case and SUI
perior ability II wasted upon a poor
excuse for q musical comedy.
George MacFtTlane, with q particu-
larly good baritone voice whose vocal
work was q feature OF the revival of
several Gilbert and Sullivan operas
q couple Of seasons ago. and Mar
garet Romaine, whose voice Is like
wise exceptionally good. and William
who immortalized himself In
the annals OF the stage with the song.
II Want What I Want When I Want
II" In -Mdlls. Modists." lead the sing
tTB AhC 0Ai0ht8At ohAs aha tAOeS
that follow down to the very last
chorus girl and man have more than
the usual claim to vocal worthinesA
Teddy Webb, George A. Schiller
and Denman Maley have shown them
selves more than ordinarily good
In other vehicles, so the
fact that they are able to create go
few laughs In The Midnight Girl
can truly be laid at the door OF the
librettists. There is too much OF the
alleged humor and coarse suggestive
ness that used TO be considered a
adjunct to a cheap bur-
lesque show, but which has long since
been discarded by the purveyors Of
the aforementioned class OF entertain
ment, In "The Midnight Girl" The
success of many of the recent mu-
steal productions have proven that
clear fun, sweet and wholesome
story and decorous actions have a dis
tinct appeal to the theatergoing pub
lie and that commences and vulgar
Ity, fortunately, have had their day
and are no longer to be tolerated on
the modern stage.
Mr.. MacFarlane and Miss Romaine
have many opportunities to delight
the audience with their singing. For