"Dear Little Denmark"
By Paul A. Rubens.
Produced at the Prince of Wales's Theatre on 1st September, 1909.
Mr. Huntley Wright, Miss lsabel Jay, Messrs. James Blakeley. C. Morton Horne, Bertram Wallis, John Clulow, A. W. Baskcomb, Fred W. Ring, Warwick Wellington, J. Dornan, lago Lewys, J. B. Fraser, Misses Gracie Leigh, Hazel Dawn, and Phyllis Monkman.
One of the brightest and best musical plays of the year! There are some who tell us that the musical play is dead. Where the whole production is nothing more than a series of music-hall ditties we are inclined to agree, but there can be no doubt as to the liking of the public for a really good story with a really good musical setting. "Dear Little Denmark" is sumptuously mounted, but not more so than it deserves. It is built round a quaint, fanciful story which allows ample scope for genuine fun. Satire plays no small part in Mr. Rubens' work. His phrases - if they are his, and not those of the performers - are neatly turned, and never fail to strike home. One of the numbers might well have been omitted. It was the only note that did not harmonise. The Duke called for his ballet dancers, and a nurmber of young ladies appeared before him, clad in the most beautiful smiles we have ever seen. A little piece of fluffy stuff certainly adorned each lady, but there was so little of it as to be hardly worth mentioning. Once again Mr. Huntley Wright, as Hans Hansen, the official clockwinder to the town of Falsternore, scored a success. The vivacity of Miss Gracie Leigh, combined with his grotesque humour, drew rounds of applause from the audience. Mr. James Blakeley, too, has lost none of his own peculiar style. The facial expression for which he made himself a name in the old days of the Clifford Essex Pierrots was as irresistible as ever. A gouty Duke with a bad-tempered wife is a part that suits Mr. Blakeley to the letter. For our charming friend Miss Isabel Jay we have no comment other than that she surrounded the part of Christine with the delightful atmosphere of Isabel Jay! Pretty songs, pretty settings, pretty music, pretty girls, pretty frocks, and pretty good business sums up our idea of "Dear Little Denmark."
Playgoer and Society Illustrated, Vol 1 No 2 - November 1909.
