Gaby Deslys (1881-1920)

"The Little Parisienne"
By Joseph W. Herbert and Harold Atteridge.
Produced at the Walker Theatre, Winnipeg - 22nd January, 1914.

Winsome, Beautiful and Superbly Dressed - Charms as Well as Startles Audience

Much as Mademoiselle Deslys has been press-agented, gaudy and incredible as were the rumors that preceded her to Winnipeg, it must be admitted that she more than fulfills every anticipation; she outvies imagination. It would take columns to describe the marvellous confections to which she, like a veritable bird of paradise, flitted about the stage of the Walker Theatre last night, and with wonderfully piquant personality, entranced the masculine mind, while she threw the feminine part of the audience into green spasms. A vivid green cloak over a pink decolletee gown, surmounted with two feet of pink ostrich plumes; a great shiny dazzle of gold; a leopard skin cloak, topped by pyramids of black feathers; a combination of scarlet and black, daintily ornamented with medallions of blue and green, with cap to match; beautiful sables and chinchilla, and hats a yard in diameter, a flimsy white creation, with just a simple band of lilac; tiaras of gold, ropes of pearls, clusters of diamonds — such are some of the impressions made on the mere man.

The style of these wondrous dresses was oven more outre than was their variety and brilliance of color. And above them all sparkled the vivacious magnetism of the little comedienne's personality. Gaby Deslys is winsome and and graceful as a lily. She succeeds absolutely in her two aims — to charm her audience and to startle them. With Harry Pilcer she executes a numiber of weird, sensuous dances of a character to make the persecuted tango appear, in comparison, a sanctimonious model of propriety. Mr. Pilcer is a pretty youth, something of the spoiled darling, with a shock of chestnut hair, and the smile of one who finds life worth while. Gaby Deslys speaks and sings in broken English, she says "zat" for that, "nussing" for nothing, "somesing" for something. Flirtation with her is a perfected art, and osculation a constant habit. The kissing is as much a feature of "The Little Parisienne" as is the dancing. Everyone kisses. Never was so much kissing done on the Walker stage in one evening.

The plot of the little musical comedy is as simple as it is Frenchy. A middle-aged marquis has a young and pretty wife, who falls in love with a flirtatious viscount, who is a friend of the husband. The wife has been a variety actress and still retains a love for the stage and her dancing partner, Hugh. Tiring of her restlessness, the husband evolves a plan to divorce her. The wife runs away to the viscount, who loves her as his friends wife, but doesn't want her as a permanent attachment. After many impossible and ludicrous scenes in each of which Miss Deslys appears in a new and marvellous costume, the marquis and his wife are re-united and all ends in the usual musical-comedy saturnalia of gaiety.

Those who saw Mizzi Hajou when she was here some years back will get an idea of Gaby Deslys when it is said that of all the prima donnas who have appeared at the Walker, these two most resemble each other. But Mizzi Hajou lacked Gaby Deslys' extraordinary wardrobe. "The Little Parisienne" will be given twice today and twice tomorrow.

Manitoba Free Press, 23rd January, 1914