Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-20
DOSE OF HAPPINESS
HANDED OUT BY
"IRENE' THURSDAY EVE

1IShS SduS a. last W <RNeSsSe>'
when on Thursday night at the Au-
gusta Opera house this sweet story OF
young girls heart desires, universal
mother-Iove and other ioves was told,
Augusta has been going to New York
and to Boston and there has been see
ing Irene" and bringing back to the
stay-at-homes the vivid impressions
of this wholesome, smile-some." sigh
some musical comedy. Some hearts
should be lighter and some foresights
should be brighter today after seeing
this show of Thursday evening.
The audience was not as large as
some have been in the Opera house,
but they were appreciative and that
makes up for lot. The story of
Irene" is "a pretty one. The girls
and the boys and the others who took
part were perfectly natural. The mu-
wonderful creations. The settings
were delightful. And the orchestra
was fine enough to fill the bill.
Conjure up dark, sleek-haired
lass. Irish through and through, with
great big eyes and bigger sense of
humor, who could dance. sing, talk
and act That was Catherine Null
queen in the title role. And of differ
ent style but altogether fetching
were Beatrice O'Connor and Nine Penn,
who dancedi together. sang together.
talked and walked together and
thought together. They were de-
licious bundles of mirth in their char
acteristic dances. Busby Berkeley in
the part of Madame Lucy was a
scream. He was polished to his fin
ger tips and his manners were ex-
crutiatingly funny. He with the two
above girls did some clever dancing,
the like of which has not been seen
here before.
Annie Hart was a stout lady, much
Irish and altogether true to life TAX
ing that part of Mrs. O'Dare. mother of
Irene. Booth Howard was the young
man Donald Marshall who fell in love
with Irene. and he did some fine
dancing, especially with Irene. Gar
ret Carroll carried the part of ]. F.
Bowden. man of much wealth, who
wanted to buy social position. He
played up fine the personality of the
difficult role.
The story was that Madame Lucy
was fine dressmaker but unrecog-
nized. His friend Robert Harrison.
the part being taken by Austin
Clarke, wanted to help him out So
with the cooperation of Marshall,
they made arrangements with Irene
and her two friends, to wear the
dresses which Lucy made and thereby
establish his reputation.
One of the most interesting scenes
was that taken outside the tenement
Where the three girls lived, showing
the fire escape running from one
story to the other. 1t was startling
when the curtain rolled up, showing
the tenement. There sat Mother
O'Dare in one window. just as true to
life as could be demanded. 1t was
thrilling, gripping scene. when it
was discovered that the girls were
not in the room with Jane, where
they said they were going to stay all
night. Mother O'Dare conferred with
Mother Cheston and then got into ac-
ton. She appeared next at the Long
Island home of Donald Marshall. ella /
in the gorgeous dress which Irene
had bought. 1t brought down the
house. When Mr.. Bowden who was
buying everything with money found
out Irene was shop girl he was
througi: with her. But Donald loved
her and her mother could not sway
him. so it ended alright, as all good
musical comedies.
Carroll displayed fine voice or
range and power. One of the fine
numbers was his song with Irene. ITO
Love You" OF course, my Alice
Blue Gown" was a favored one and
although it has already been heard
much. still it sounded just as nice as
ever Perhaps it sounded better be-
cause Miss Mulaueen sang it. Her
first singing of it was when she an
peared from the shop. True there
was hinge hole in her stocking with
a shocking run and true her little old
suit was awfuliy ragged looking and
so was her hair. But despite this
handicap she was sweet and win
some. Her voice was strong and
clear
1t was fine show and one that
every Ierson who witnessed it Thurs
daV night. does not regret the time.
money and effort expended.