Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-13
NATIONAL-"The O'Brien Girl I.

George NJ. Cohan's Comedians in
THE O'Brien Girl" which Baitimore
found dainty and delightful, swooped
down upon large audience at the
National Theater last evening and in
short order, had everybody in the
house-and there were a great many
there, including professionals from
the show Of last week-laughing, ad-
miring and applauding during the
remainder of the evening.
THE O'Brien Girl" is one of the
very best entertainments of It's kind
that has ever come to Washington.
1t is real musical comedy. clean,
wholesome, beautiful, and. unless
you are constantly on your guard. is
apt to fool you. The first advice.
therefore. is to keep your seat not
only until the show is absolutely over
and the last curtain has descended.
but also at the close. apparently, of
the first act. because the curtains
descends only for a minute to rise
again upon one Of the most realistic
and beautiful stage pictures that you
have ever seen.
musical comedy. The O'Brien Girl"
is a whirl of action in blended grace
and beauty. with frequent tnterpo-
lations of comedy that make you
laugh aloud. There seems to have
been a deliberate intention to push
Of girls into the individuality Of the
show by garbing them entirely diff
the first act. because the curtain
heretofore familiar in musical comedy
and revues. The effect is at once
novel and most attractive. Mr..
Cohan's choruses are kept busy all
the time. and this one bobs in and
out upon the slightest provocation.
each time in unique and highly
pleasing change of attire. There is
no attempt to conceal the feminine
charm, but rather to accentuate 1t,
and the result contributes in no small
degree to the splendid success of the
entertainment. Then. too. Mr.. Conan
has matched his pretty girls with
young, good-looking fellows who
know how to wear evening dress and
do many other things required of
them that give pleasure to the au-
dience.
One of the big surprises Of 1.-The
O'Brien Girl Is Marion Saki. a d.
minutive but graceful and delightful
bit of perpetual motion. who. before
the week Is over. is going to start
discussion as to whether the famous
Ann Pennington has q very dangerous
rival. Last nights audience seemed
to decide the question without debate.
Helen Mann. as the O'Brien Girl.
also Is an exquisite feature Of the
show. Young. beautiful. graceful and
altogether charming. she lends a lus-
ter to her role which lifts 1t into the
serene. There is SO much of feminine
Heauty in her surroundings that this
fact Is impressive.
The opening tableau, as the curtain
rises on the first act. with the
o'Brien Girl reclining on a chaise
lounge. admiring an Indian statuette.
while just beyond an Indian guide,
in dramatic pose, gazes fxedly at her.
with the mountains and the valley
below in the distance. prepares the
audience for something much out of
the ordinary that is to follow. More
than once the tableau effect is intro
duced. and each time with telling re-
suits.
Tie story concerns young stenog-
rapher who decides to spend a little
Inheritance of $500 in a brief vaca-
ton in the Adirondacks. with all the
luxury that can be found there. She
finds. to her surprise. as fellow guests
at her hotel. her two employers, the
wife and the former wife Of one Of
them and Mrs Hope. an artist. whose
nrotege she becomes for the time.
The threads Of a double romance
among the young folks the meeting
Of the wife and the former wife and
go to make the plot OF the play. ANDY
the details are better left untold.
Kay Carleton. as Mrs Hope, is
charming, and sings the big song of
the production. Learn to Smile"
which is staged with lighting effects
that make 1t novel and unusually
beautiful. Joseph Allen, as the hus-
band and ex-husband. with Frank
Otto, provides the comedy. which is
always amusing and entertaining,
while Edna Whistler. as the current
wife, lends a comedy role that is
quite enjoyable. Others of the cast
who are much in the play are, not
overlooking the inimitable Miss Saki.
Oscar Figman. as the husbands part
ner; Wesley Totten, as an impress
sive-looking Indian guide, and Joe
Medallion, a young and very likable
hero for the little O'Brien Girl
Joseph Breen contributes remarkable
eccentric dancing and James Santry
and Helen Norton a whirlwind bit Of
eccentricity that divided the ap-
plause with Mr.. Breen.
Julian Mitchell has created a stage
masterpiece in the staging of the
show: Lou Hirsch is entitled to credit
for the music, pretty and lively, and
Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, for
the book and lyrics. An augmented
orchestra, strong in brass, helped to
put the Conan pep into the music
and was masterfully handled by a
conductor whose name does not ap-