The Washington times., 1915-02-16
NATIONAL.

Annette Kellerman~ In musicai
setting. '"The Model Maid" was so
frankly and completely the model maid,
annette Kellerman, in a musical setting,
that the audience which saw its first
metropolitan presentation at the Ma
tional Theater last evening was both
entertained and pleased.
While the author and composer of
''The Model Maid." have endeavored to
supply the usual combination of tenu-
ous story and jingling music that comes
under the usual description Of musi-
cal comedy, the general composition of
the model maid. who Is the star. so
completely overshadowed the work of
the constructors of the vehicle. that
she was easily the distinctive feature
OF the eVening-as she would be under
the same circumstances of almost any
evening and any ordinary authors or
composers work.
Ono Of the most difficult things in
tho world is to tear down q perfectly
good structure Of fame to the founda-
uon and to rear upon this founda-
ton structure that is Of any entirely Diff
ferent design. If any person deserves
to do this Annette Kellerman is that
person. This young woman who has
become known throughout the world as
q perfect woman. physically, and who
has earned real fame for, her aquatic
1eats, has seriously set to work to make
herself an actress. a dancer and a
singer.
That her work has not been without
result Is amply demonstrated by her
excellent dancing and her very pleas
ing stage presence.
Anna Co1dun1l in Tho hook md 1yrica
and Raymond Hubbell with his music.
have done no remarkable thing in sup
plying Miss Kellerman with the means
by which she is to become a conspicu-
with artists and models and pawn
brokers and rich patrons The first
ana third act settings are in a sculp-
tors studio-a sculptor who needs
money and has nothing but a statue
Of a Persian dancer he has just finish
IL put to sleep by Persian sleeping
potion and transported in dreams to
the Orient for very pretty and lively
second act.
The music is jingly in the extreme
the kind of music that starts the foot
muscles twitching and sends the crowd
out of the theater humming contented-
ly the three or four conspicuously
catchy compositions.
Miss Kellerman is tho model for the
= OS CAehA OouCcT 0ldluC anu SHe lONeS
the artist who does not love her until
he sees her in his dream in the Persian
garden. With little to do in the first
act, eshe bears most Of the burden OF
entertainment in the second, where she
ts called upon to supply amusement for
the ViIier and his harem. This gives
her opportunity for an Oriental dance
Of unusual grace and character. and
an exhibition Of her accomplishments
as diver.
Aiding Miss Kellerman in the work
Ing out of the authofess' ideas Is a
rather capable company. Gertrude
Vanderbilt. dainty and irresponsible.
presents an ingenue-musical comedy
type that deserves all the popularity
that will undoubtedly come to It. Miss
Vanderbilt is completely herself and
therefore entirely and delightfully."- enter
taIning.
Otis Harlan supplies most Of the
comedy in his usual satisfactory man.
ner-including his introduction to the
public as a diver which comes at the
close of the second act. John Park
Edith Decker and Edwin Wilson, or
whom fall most Of the musical burdens
give a good account Of themselves, ant
the remainder Of the company measures
up to the average standards.
GARDNER MACK.