Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-07
City Clubs Play -.
"Katcha- Koo" Pleases
Large Audience

Large Audience
BY far the most gorgeous produc-
ton ever put on in the city by local
talent was the brilliant Oriental
American fantastique, "katcha-
koo,'' produced Thursday evening at
the City Opera House by the Girls
City Club under the direction of Miss
Neva S. Burgess OF the Rogers Pro-
ducing Company Of New York
The first act especially, laid in the
Orient, was full Of color, both SIS to
costume and setting. The sketchy
plot was of sufficient interest to hold
the attention of the large audience
through the entire play. 1t was bit
OF a surprise when in the last act,
laid in New York, a far cry from the
Eastern setting of the first act, it
transpired that katcha -koo, the
East Indian fakir, who failed to be
moved by the prayers of the Indian
populace. to remove his Objectionable
self from in front Of the temple of
Buddha. was none other than the
long lost husband OF Madame Chat
tie-Gaddin of New York.
The principal characters were
from among the best talent IN the
city, ali of whom have had more or
less experience in local thea tricals,
and they all gave their best last eve
ming to make the play the genuine
success that it was. The principals
in the cast were Edward Baxter as
katcha koo; Frank D. Robinson as
the Maharajah of Hunga; Miss Neva
Burgess as Mrs. Chattic- Gaddin in
place of Miss Margaret Totman who
was Obliged to give up the part
Valencia DaViau and Marjorie Web
Ter as Madame Chattie Gaddins two
daughters; Richard Bull as Dick
Horton, a collector Of antiques; r.
wing Talberth as Harry Bradstonc.
collector Of adventures: Eva
O'Brien as Solejah, the widow of a
wizard; Airline Michaud as Crbanah,
the high priestess of the temple;
Mabel Terry as Patsy Kildare, the
Irish wife of the Mahara iah: Mil
dred knoWlton as La Belle Elysse,
his French wife; Nelma Goodwin as
Brazillitata, the Brazilian wife and
.Julictte Butler as Chin Chin Foo, the
Chinese wife.
The play opened with a scene in
front of the Temple of Buddah where
stood transfixed katcha -koo, q noto-
rious fakir of Hunga. with arms fold
ed and an expression of determination
on his face. Around him is gathered
big group Of young ladies' and four
priests and "a group of slaves in the
backgrounds~all chanting their prayer :
to Buddah to have this presuming
fahir removed. Solejah and Jrhanah
come in and announce that unless thu
fakir is made to move, their lives
will be taken. Att his juncture the
coming of the Maharajah is heraldcd
by the chorus of young ladies. The
Maharajah is in the costume of ali
Eastern potentate and he calls for his
four wives. who come in each dressed
in the costume Of her country Miss
Mabel Terry, the irish wife wore the
green of the colleen and carried e
green ostrich feather fan: Miss Mil
dred Knowlton, the French wife. was
all in white with rose District far.
Mrs. Velma Goodwin as the Tiriziliat
wife was in yellow with a black man
til'a and carried a yellow District fan:
and Miss Juliette Butler wore a Chi
ncse costume with a white ivory fan
All of the wives were plentifuilv sup
Piled with jewels and all wore bloom
ers as concession to the OrientaEat-
n1osphore in which they lived.
The Maraharaiah announces that he
is expecting the rich American widow
and her daughters and he wishes very
much to have katcho Hoo removed
The two American boys then appel"
disguised as magicians and the Maha-
rajah appeals to them. They make 4
bargain with Solcjah, the wife of. the
wizard, for a suit Of clothes which
they intend to put On Katcha Kood
and which they accomplish by man
force. This suit is tho last of lis
kind to b. had and each separate gar
ment retains the characteristics of its
owner. His further actions are dom
mated by the trousers of the french.
man, the shirt of the vagabond the
vest of an Italian and the coat of an
American and these garments lead him,
through some amusing complications
The garments make Katcha koo es-
pecially susceptible to the ladies and
equally fascinating to them. and when
the Maharajah's four beautiful wives
appear, Katcha-Koo falls victim to
their individual and collective charms
and they to his. and as the American
ladies enter. Katcha Koo and the four
wives go for a stroll in the garden.
Among the specialties at the end Of
the second act were song by Richard