The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-12-30

Messing a performance of 1.-THE Fire
fly" at the Grand Opera house, awoke
to the fact that new and pleasing
element had entered the amusement
world through the combined efforts OF
Otto Hauerbach and Rudolf Friml.
Otto wrote the book and lyrics of ..'The
FREELY" and Rudolf was responsible
for the music. With dainty Edith
Thayer in the title role. cast of ex-
ceptional ability provided and cos
tunes and scenery of the highest
grade. "The FREELY" was SO greatly
appreciated as to be subject Of COM
mandatory comment for months after.
Then in year and two days Ito be
exact. on February fourteen. 1879
Hauerbach and Friml offered High
Jinks." musical cocktail that proved
e Z al::;iost as compelling as the FREELY
But since the time OF The FREELY
and, High links" our musicman and
his partner librettist have not been
idle. AS result OF their continued
they evolved another out
of the ordinary entertainment and
christened it 'Katinka." "Katinka"'
came to the Grand last night with the
result that 1t surpassed all the pre-
yious efforts OF the composers, who
have won the title of the Gilbert and
Sullivan of American musical comedy.
II Is agreeable to record there Is
indication that now are the golden
days OF polite entertainment and that
there is evidence that whatever Is Of
fensive on the stage will soon be rele
gated to it's limbo. The work OF Hauer-
backward Friml is an Influence for
the lessening demand for suggestive
ness, and for that reason and also be-
cause they are capable OF furnishing
and do furnish opera comique OF q
high class. their efforts are worthy
of support by theatergoers.
Russia, Turkey and Austria. now at
war, were, few short years ago, alive
with laughter. gayety and song, and 1t
is in the peaceful period that the
comic and romantic events of aka
tinka" are supposed to take place. At
that time it was possible for little
Katinka and her lover. Ivan and their
American friend Hopper to journey
from Yalta, Russia, to Stamboul, Tuf-
key. and thence to Vienna without ex-
citing, the suspicion OF playaoers and
making the author of the journey ex-
plain infinitely how they could get
through the various military lines.
Just now the journey could not be ac-
complished: but that it had been done
is what interests American audiences
and gives opportunity for the presen-
tation Of a bright and tuneful musical
play.
The story of "Katinka" opens in
Russia, where the heroine, who gives
her name to the piece, Is being forced
into an unwelcome marriage with the
elderly statesman. Boris. At the height
1r %,,j/ Kox9 ply 30 Yyo
learns that Boris already has one liy-
where in Turkey hiding from her hated
husband in harem With the aid of
an American friend, Hopper. Ivan
steals Katinka, and the three set out
in search of the first Mrs. Boris, Ka-
tinka passing herself of as Mrs. Hop
per- They go to Stamboul.
While they are engaged in their
search, Mrs. Hopper turns up, throw
ing confusion into the camp of the am
ateur detectives. Meanwhile, Mrs.
Boris No. 1. has journeyed on to VI
emma, and the searching party, with the
Indignantly Jealous Mrs. Hopper, fol-
low. In Vienna, Mrs. Boris is found,
Boris is unmasked, Ivan and Katinka
are free to wed. and Mr.. and Mrs Hop
per are reconcfled.
Russian female wedding guests,
Turkish houris. and fair frequenters OF
Viennese music halls add beauty and
gayety at frequent intervals to the
story. -
"Katinka" Is a mine OF pretty mel
odies 'Rickety Coo" stands out
prominently in the vocal numbers but
does not entirely overshadow ''Ka-
tinka," your Photo" "T Want to
Marry Male Quartet" and Il Want
All the World to Know" Arthur Ham
merstein, the producer of .Katinka"
has seen to 1t that the stage settings
are examples of the scene painters
art and also he has provided a wealth
OF gorgeous costumes for principals
and members of the chorus. Alice Ry-
an endowed the character Of Katinka
with joyous life and Phil Ryley, as
Thaddeus Hopper, the energetic AM
erfcan hero, got everything out of his
part that was in it and then added
some. The other members OF the cast
had more or less to do, and did it well