Public Performance of H. P. C. Play

The first public performance of "Diana's Debut," the Hasty Pudding Club play, will be given at the club theatre, 12 Holyoke street, this evening at 8.15 o'clock. Two more public performances will be given in Jordan Hall, Boston, tomorrow and Saturday evenings. Tickets for all performances are on sale at Amee's and at the Co-operative branch store for $2 each; and for the Jordan Hall performances, at Herrick's and the Touraine.

Criticism of First Performance.

In recent years the Pudding spring theatricals have depended for their success primarily on the music and dancing, the humor being left mainly to the inspiration of individual performers. This, in view of the Pudding's traditions, is unfortunate; but it is fair to say that the Pudding theatricals have as a rule contained quite as much comedy as the average modern comic opera. This year's performance would fall distinctly below even this level of humor were it not for G. P. Gardner's remarkable take-off of a noted dancer's "dance of the five senses." This travesty is so funny and so well done that it lends to the whole performance an appearance of being good comedy. Except for this dance the only features of the theatricals which can be called amusing are the now familiar figures of Mutt and Jeff, who, though they have nothing particularly funny to say, are admirably made up, and go through some amusing contortions. The greater part of the dialogue, consisting mostly of trite jokes on Boston dances, falls flat; and the total lack of plot spoils any chance for comedy situations.

The music, on the other hand, is exceedingly good. The songs of the second act all go well, especially the "Drunkard's Song" and the "Love Waltz," both of which, by the way, ought to have been better named. In the first act the stenographers' song and that by Alexander and the ushers have much spirit; and the former is accompanied by a lively and well-executed dance. The dance at the beginning of the second act is likewise well done, but contains rather too much posing: a ballet composed of such girls may be spirited, but can hardly be very artistic.

Of the individual actors none stand out except G. P. Gardner and W. S. Sea-mans--Mutt and Jeff--both of whom are exceedingly good. R. C. Foster puts a good deal of spirit into a rather tame part, and J. G. Blaine manages his two songs well. The girls are moderately charming: and the choruses are well trained, active, and effectively made up.

On the whole the performance compares very favorably with other recent Pudding theatricals, for the music is distinctly above the average, and the dull places, caused by the humorous dialogue, do not seriously interfere with the life and spirit of the rest of the show. And above all, the "dance of the five senses" is worth going very far to see, for it is a long time since any Harvard theatricals have contained so entirely funny a bit of farce.