Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-19

ORPHEUM

OlNI lLONl
1.-THE Girl from Nowhere" got some
where last night, and that somewhere
was right over the footlights of the
Orpheum Theatre and into the good
graces of a large audience. For as
produced by the Orpheum Musical
Comedy Stock Company, 1.-The Girl
from Nowhere" is about the brightest,
jolliest piece of musical farce that has
been seen in Newark in many a
month.
Many a production given by road
companies of high reputation easily
suffer in comparison with the GIN
gerry, snappy-please, Mr.. Printer, see
that the ~" gets on each of those
last two words (tTis is not an ar
ticle about food)-performance given
by the company that mas in its past
two weeks established itself in favor
at the Orpheum.
1.-THE Girl from Nowhere was first
produced in England, where it is still
popular success. Last night was
the first time it has been seen in New
ark and 1T scored heavily. The book
and music of the piece were written
by Anon w. Foote and the American
version Is a succession of witty dia-
logue and catchy music.
Strange to say, for a musical farce
it has plot that hangs together. In
fact, the plot is good enough for a
farce without music and is fully as
funny as that other English classic,
"Charley's Aunt" Arthur Humming-
tops wife is away from home on a
Tfcif "
Mrs. Gillibrand, is In charge of the
Hummingtop home and has the hus-
band mercilessly under her thumb.
He goes out for an evenings stroll
and meets Rose Columbia, the "Girl
from Nowhere" She gets hold of a
handkerchief bearing his name and
address.
The next day she calls at his home
just as Hummingtop has received a
letter telling him that his American
niece, Daisy Maitland, is soon to
reach his home for visit to meet his
wife. Hummingtop introduces 1.-THE
Girl from Nowhere" as his niece and
a few minutes later the real niece
shows up. Ralph Ormerod, a friend
of Hummingtop's, also injects him
self into affairs, and after the real
niece has been confused with the
Girl from Nowhere" Ormerod, really
a bachelor, is introduced to the
mother-in-la law as the father of 1.-THE
Girl"
At this stage the wife arrives on the
scene, and you can imagine the mix
ups that ensue. 1t would take too
much space here to attempt to tell
you of them. Anyway, it would be
a shame to do SO, for it would spoil
your interest in the show to know
how it all comes out. And you really
ought to see 1.-THE Girl from No
where" 1t is mighty we'll worth a
trip to the Orpheum this week.
The leading honors in the perform
ance go to Harry p. Gribbon as Ar
thur Hummingtop, Miss May Emory
as Mrs. Gillibrand and Miss Primrose
Semon as 1.-The Girl" and these three
are neck and neck for top position.
Mr.. Gribbon, who has already shown
that he is comedian above the aver
age, added new laurels last night as
the prosecuted husband whom cir
cumstances force to tell so many lies
that he gets all mixed up in them
and loses track of them himself. His
topical song in the last act, Gee,
Amt I Glad 1 Am Single" scored
heavily and kept him busy responding
to encores.
made a typically realistic nagging
mother in-law, and sang with splen-
did effect Tennessee Moon" and
'They Say They're Not Living To-
gether." Little Miss Semon, as 1.-THE
Girl" was fresh and piquant, and, as
usual, put a whole lot of dash and
vim into her work. Her song and
dance with Arthur Conrad in the Sec
ond act, "a Little Bit of Everything
was a clever piece of work.
Mr.. Conrad played the role of
Joshua Gillibrand, an English fCp,
and was especially good in his song,
Girls of All Nations" in which he
was assisted by the pony chorus. A
newcomer to the company last night
was Miss Ollie Rivers, pretty girl,
who knows how to act and sing. She
played Daisy Maitland, the American
girl, and was very good in her song,
II Want a Boy to Love Me-" in which
she was assisted by the male chorus.
Miss Georgia Campbell, the dainty
prima donna of the company, as in
the two preceding productions, did
not get a real chance to show her
ability, though the little acting she
had to do was performed in a most
acceptable manner. She had but one
song, sympathy" which was so well
spond to half a dozen or more encores
before the audience was content.
Taylor Williams, as an English butler,
and Miss Eleanor Mascotte, as a maid,
rounded out a cast of principals that
deserve the highest credit for their
work.
One of the funniest situations seen
In MANY weeks was the finale of the
second act, where the revelations OF
the plot cause all the women to faint
on the stage with Hummingtop trying
to aid them all at the same time. Mr..
Gribbons work in this scene was a
scream and earned the performers
several curtain calls.
1.-THE Girl from Nowhere" Is real
live musical farce and you will have
to go a long way before you will see
a. better one. 1t is we'll acted ana
sung, and the good, clean comedy
with which it abounds is sure cure
for the blues. The one mes, sure e, fire e tip
this week is to see Tine err from
Nowhere" I know you will enjoy It.
DUKE WELLINGTON.