Evening journal., 1919-01-21
EYERlB. .DYC CAYFIND
JOY in "NAYTIME'
;B autifuI Play With Music
Delights Audience at
Playhouse
LOVE STORY RUNS
THROUGH III ALL
THE pLAyHOUsE-Lee and J. ]. Shu

Z THE pLAtHOJStr-Lee ana J. j. ohu-
bert present "Nlaytlme" a play with
music. in four acts.
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
John Wayne g.. &C.. Herbert wilson
+. Colonel Van Zandt o.. George Harcourt
Ottillie .. ... .Dorothie Bit1loW
Richard Wayne John Charles Thomas
Matilda Van zandt ... .. Isabel Vernon
Alice Tremaine ... 80. Jenette MetnNen
Matthew Van Zandt ..John 7. Murray
Claude Van Zandt .... Russell Lennon
Maria .. 49,. ... ... marion DIXON
Rudolfo .. 90. Howard Marsh
Madame Delphine %. Grace Studiiord
Hsnnaford 90. ........... Larry MACK
Stuyvesant ... ........ ..DaNe heshlcA
Doorman 90. -. .......Glenn huhhel
Angelica 81. 80 s.ssss. Nelile niaiiin
2 T. Barnum .. 80 .s.Ezra y. Walch
Estrella Amo-lta 90. ...Anita Gallardo
Lizzie 49,. ... 81. o. ...llllle callhsei
Little Dick Wayne &C.. .Clarice snyder
John Rutherford q. Herbert Salinger
Mr.. Hicks 81. ........ Alfred Hemming
Ermlntrude D'Albe-t
Betty Kirkbride
winlfred 81. Albans
Marguerite Van Keyes
a1orssnsa Hazel Miller
Apprentices. young ladies', gypsies'
1ohn Charles Thomas, baritone ana
prlncipsl actor In "Maytime', whlch
was given It's n-st Wilmington per
sormapce at the Playhouse last night,
has & voice Of rare beauty and power
OF quality seldom heard outside the
ranks Of grand opera stars. II Is
voice Of velvety richness, used win
mastery technique. and with a wide
range. In one song IN the play the
baritone several times struck the note
A Cat. Mr.. Thomas was appreciatlvely
received by an audience who realized
they were listening to a master OF song
eWill you Remember, sweetheart was
his most encOred number
"Maytime" Is distinctly not a musical
comedy. but a play with numerous SOLO
and ensemble songs Of a quality iar
above the average. There is a welcome
omission Of the ragtlme element in
both the music and the acting There
were several songs that especially tooR
Che fancy Of the audience. sweetheart
VIII You Remember2" the GYPSY
Song" the funny slump Jim Crow apd
"paradise."
The "Sveetheart" song was really
The theme Of The play, It's haunting
melody appearing In each act, sung by
the principals, by a childish voice of
stage. or delicately touched by the Or
chestra as accompaniment TO the action
of the play.
The play itself was loves old, sweet
song. begun IN the Maytime Of 1870,
seemingly come 10 an untoward end In
the second act In 1855. revived by white
haired lovers IN 1880. and swelling out
Ia iubllant triumph, when youns
,eihearts take up the theme in the
wentleth century.
Dorolhie Bgalow. as Ottille, and Mr.
Thomss. as Richard. impersonated the
sweethearts Of the old and new gener-
atlons. The early romance ends In mis-
understanding and marriage to other
unloved partners, but IS re-lived In the
persons Of the grandchildren Miss
Bigelow. whose grandfather was an
ambassador to France, Is well fitted by
her colonial descent TO play the part
of an heiress In the New York OF
Knickerbocker times She was gra-
cIous and beautiful in the hooped
flounces and ringlets Of 1910 and In the
mauve embroideries Of 1900. Mr.. Thom-
as was also q personable lover.
The scenery and costuming Of the
play were elaborate. and Of a beauty
. that gave the effect Of an artists paint
: ings. The change in dress and furniture
? in each period was highly interesting.
In the frst two acts. old mahogany.
: formal gardens, and maldens In yards
and yards OF hooped satin and lace in
/. .6fioato colors. with beieathered poke
I, bonnets. lourished. The men and maids
Thought the polka most wicked, new
( dance
+ The third act was the horrible per-
iod Of bustles and horse-hair furniture,
Z The fourth act was up-to-date and gilt
: 4erlng.
In the third act, our old friend Bar
(. mum Is given q part. and Introduces a
: Spanish dance who is a feature Of his
: great "American museum" Anita Cal
iardo. as the senorita, dressed chiefly
!. in a frineed black Spanish shawl. gave
: dance that put it all over the polka
as startling terpsichorean perform
. ance.
One Of the most delicious features OF
the whole play was the comedy acting
OF John T. Murray as Matthew Van