Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-24
ADJUSTMENTS
HEAR DE WITT NEWING SING
IN "MA NI'ZI;I.IIcv At lIJOIJ


1T takes courage to do this" said
Dc witt Newing last night. just before
fhc began to sing" something about
little. old Ford that ratified rig hit
| along. 1t did take courage. hut Mr.
NcwinE is not the only valorous mem
Der OF the Graycc Scott Company. as
matter OF fact. every one Of
the popular players who form that
organization deserves honorable men-
uon, at least, for the conspicuous gal
iahtry IN talking part In the spirited
action OF "Mam'zcllr" Bcouus. why?
becauSo nearly every one of them is
required to ,do precisely what he or
she. cannot do; and To do that bravely
cntities one TO assume AS the hcraldic
.notto or his theatrical coat of arms
me cowboys immortal cpitaph-"Iic
aohc MS darncdcSt.' which in many
cases; Is more to be desired than the
i"urci crown of lofty achievement
or story. Nam zclle" is sufficiently
":Sii'utc TO warrant it's description as
roaring farce, except for the fact
.,'"' tue phrase usually conuo,cs more
IMAM little vulGarity: whereas the
foolish little play is so clean and whole
some In It's foolcry that it is hard TO
realize that 1t ever was IL French farce
inc hrst act-"frst part" had nearly
been written. for 81 IL n sort or wbi,n
race minstrel shows rather slowly
explanatory; but immediately after
mat introduction the show really he.
gins And when II has once begun.
ihcre Is no stopping II: like Mr. New
1nEs unsung Ford. 1t rattles right
along.
And as it rattles. it chuckles. II gig
giles. II laughs and then II howls with
uncontrolled and uncomfortable mcr-
rlment There Isn't a grain OF sense
IN IL anywhere: sc there were. It would
be spoiled By just so much. Mr. New
Ing knows he can't sing: Mr. Warner
knows IA I1all
actress. not mczzo- soprano solois,,
ana the whole company Is composed
or Legitimate" actors. not vaudeville
artists accustomed 10 working from
the audience Yet. without mock mod
"sty AMI IN spirits so high and good
hundred that their mirthfulncss is
wholly infectious, they all attempt
everything that ls not in their line.
That isn't quite true, for MFR. Ridd.l
is provided with a character part which
ne makes. with his unfailing skill his
own: little Miss Chesmond is given on
portunity TO present an exceedingly at
tractivc Oriental dance. which she man
ages to make altogether decent though
Asiatic, and the two little Mountcastlc
children do n song and dance that they
might have rehearsed for ycars.
NJ. Maybe is peevish lad In a box:
Mr.. Curtis Is an cxcitable Frcnchman
who simply will jump on the stage
and Interrupt the show Mr.. Newing
80 rp ppSiEeptiOu IN the DOOF or inc
house that Actor-Ifonsr- Manager Nc
Nivcn has to come skating down the
aisle and have hinr thrown out by a
husky copper. and some unnamed ac-
tress seated in the orchestra laughs
and screams In a TT OF such wonder
FULLY simulated hysterla that Constance
Golfers cry In oliver Twist" recalls
itself us an artificial outburst
Miss Scott is Mam'zelle. with n WOODY
French accent, but she ~ so pretty in
her little dancing dress that II wouldn't
matter In the least II she spoke Eng
lish with a Magyar dialect. And that
sammy Lynch is an ideal treasurer for
the purpose Of satisfying the typical
woman who wants to buy seat some
where between and ID rows. on the
left side near the aisle.
The whole thing Is as funny as II II
wero regular play. You'll forget the
silly asides and confidential mono
logues, and just laugh.
And pleasc-please-go and hear Mr.
Ncwng sing that song.
Douglas Gordon.