The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-14

staged and presented successfully, without a defect in its entire roper toire, credit must be given the one who staged 1t and the characters who comprise the cast, for only through the earnest cooperation and executive ability of both, can such perform ances equal the genuine play. The Park theatre, filled to capacity last night on the first presentation of the Oriental-American fantastque, Kat 'Cha-Koo," claims well earned success, and the enthusiastic applause given literally was sure notice of fine ap .preciatlon from the audience of the talented cast and the able director.
 The play was given under the aus plces of the Bridgeport Art League for the benefit of the Anne Hathaway cottage. Success will be the reward of the members of the club in their efforts to present such an interesting musical comedy. The play was pro- duced and staged by Harry E. Nun sey, of the Rogers producing com pany.
 Kemp B. BatcheIor. as "Katcha- Koo," John Colgan, as the Mahara- jah, and Mrs. Richard Howell, as the Mrs. Chattie- -Gaddln. a rich American widow, share honors- Several fine NOCd1 SeleCl4OllS wore gwen DS pretty Miss Marcia Phillips and Mrs Hazel A. Thompson. The polo dance, 1n- troducing SusQuehanna Sue, by Mrs. Thompson, as Prudence" was excep- tionally well given. When I Went 7s to School with You" with T. w. Crossley and Miss Phillips and the Auld Lang Syne group was interest ing.
 Miss Emma Chase has gained a rep utation of the prettiest toe dancers in the city, but last night she literally captured the hearts of the audience when she came gracefully on the stage in a most aIluring cos tune and led an interesting group in the veil dance. Miss Chase is not only a graceful dancer, but under stands the spirit of the music and interprets every note with the move Inent of her body. In the veil dance with Miss Chase were Miss Gladys Borstleman, Eva F. Donning, Irene Conner, Sylvia Delbridge, Dorothy Lyon, Florence Davidson, Marion Hodge, Cora Anderson, Beatrice Bel den and Isabella Pillans.
 Miss Agnes Marsh in a dance en- titled "The Huntress" was equally good and received hearty applause.
 Probably the most charming fea- ture of the performance was the finale Liberty Aflame," which included a large group of American Iassies dressed in red. white and blue, Italian dancers. French girls, Belgian girls and Yanl1ee Dixies.
 The theme Of the play is as follows:
 Transfixed before the Maharajah's private Temple of Buddha, when the piece, opens, is a notorious fakir of Hunga, by the name of Katcha-Koo. He do iT~Ta6f11la ,1I East Indian fakirs---and Katcha- Koo's specially is standing for weeks perfectly imrnovaoe without taking food. He always selects some inap- propriate and objectionable spot so as to annoy and iritate his victim and the people generally. Now he has chosen the Maharajah of Hunga as his present victim and has placed himself directly in front of the great Buddha image. Supplications and of ferings of rich food or gems do not move him until he is ready to move Natives only supplicate or present of ferirgz, for they are afraid to make threats, they all dread the fakir's curses
 Even the powerful Naharajah him. self dare not lay hands on Katcha- Roo, though he has offered an i'm mense reward to anyone who can move the fakir. It remains for two ingenious Americans to negotiate. the job. From the widow of a wizard they secure a magical astral suit of clothes. the last of its kind. Each separate garment retains the charac- teristics of the origina1 owner. The trousers, Frenchman's, full of po- 1lteness and a desire to dance; the shirt, vagabonds, making one care Tree and happy; the vest, an Italians, full of love and arias; and the coat, an Americans. full of life and "go"
 This magical composite garment they succeeded in getting onto Kat cha-koo, whose career then begins. His subsequent actions are dominated by the trousers of the F'renchman the shirt of the vagajbond, the vest of the Italian, and the coat of the Amer jean. The many complications and situations that arise deYolving from this episode form the fascinating and Intensely interesting story of the play.
 Act ]. The Maharajah's Private Temple of Buddha, Rasputin, India
 Act IT. Mrs. Chatties-Gaddin's Els tate, near Riverside Drive, New York.
 Time---The Present.
 Principal characters taking part in- |, clude: Katcha-Koo, a Fakir, Kemp B. Batchelor; The Maharajah of Hunga, an East Indian Romeo, John Colgan; Solejah. Widow of a Wizard, Miss Dorothy L. Smith; Urbanah, High Priestess of the Temple, Miss Mary Downey; Boodypah, a Slave James Larkin; Chin Chin Foo, Chi nese Wife of Maharajah, Miss Helen M Hannibal; Brazzilitata, Brazilian Wife of Maharatah, Mrs. Harry Ster- ling; Patsy Kildare, Irish Wife of Maharatah, Miss Mary Britten La Belle Elysee, French Wife of Mahara- jah, Mrs. Lillian Cox Murray; Dick Horton, Collector of Antiques, T. w. Crossley; Harry Bradstone, a Collector of Adventures, Del Blackman; Mrs Chattie- -Gaddin, Rich American 3Sz5cws Mrs. Richard Howell; Dolly, her Daughter. Miss Marcia Phillips; Prudence, another Daughter, Mrs. Hazel A. Thompson; Slaves, M. s. Moves, R. L. Morris, Al. Berson. J. R. Mcintyre; Nolee. a Dancing Girl, Miss Erma Chase; Miss Pirouette, Miss Agnes Marsh; Uncle Sam, Frank H Riley Jr.; Liberty, Miss Ruth Walker; America.
 The general entertainment commit tee comprises the following Mrs Phillip L. Holzer, president of the Ar League.