Anna Held (1872-1918)

"The Parisian Model"
Musical by Harry B. Smith and Max Hoffman.
Produced at the Broadway Theatre, New York (USA) - 27th November, 1906.
Reveiwed in the New York Times - 28th November, 1906.

ANNA HELD IN A NEW SHOW - A Bewildering Glitter and Some Melody in "The Parisian Model."

"The Parisian Model," produced with Anna Held as the star, at the Broadway Theatre last night, is a pungent show, with a great amount of feminine spice attractively attired. In fact, clothes and scenery constituted a large part of the performance, which is not said in detraction of several clever "numbers" and two or three songs, which doubtless will become contagious.

The opening scene is laid in a dressmaking establishment, and Miss Held would put a chameleon to shame by the variety of colours she displays while wearing specimens of what seemed last night to be an absolutely unlimited wardrobe. She changed her gown no less than eight times for the different verses of a single song.

Anna, the model, comes into a fortune of l,000,000f. through the decease of an old lady who has taken a special fancy to her. Julien, her artist lover, suspects that she has come by so much money in some less commendable manner, and acquires the habit of repeatedly leaving her forever.

In return for his trouble, the model does her virtuous best to shock him, in spite of the distress she feels. Though the third section of the musical comedy was just getting well under way at 11:15 last night, it was obvious that the piece was doomed to close with a duet and reconciliation.

The piece had evidently been written with a determination to be "French," of the variety supposed to be most as - and several of the dances and songs were ceptable to the Gallic palate.

Perhaps the most commendable performance was given by Gertrude Hoffmann, who, in the second act, introduced a remarkable dance and gave some exceedingly bright imitations. She was called out half a dozen times after a capital piece of mimicry depicting Miss Held as she sings the kissing song. Anna Held herself has not changed her method of appealing to the audience, but she was seen at her best in in the kind of skill for which she is noted. "A Lesson in Kissing" was well rendered, and she held her audience as of old with the manoeuvres of her eyes in a lyric entitled "I Can't Make My Eyes Behave". It was not considered below the dignity of the producers to introduce into this song, references to Boni and the Caruso incident.

Charles Bigelow, as the comedian in love with the model, equally oppressed with a surplus of money and a burlesque wife, was laughable in his way and wore almost as many costumes as Miss Held, appearing as a Spaniard, a gendarme, a German burlesque soldier, an applicant for the position of chambermaid, and various other things. He was truly funny when he "rang the bells" in vaudeville fashion by shaking the medals on the breast of Hercule, a formidable and romantic giant from the Paris Olympia. This Hercule, F. Stanton Heck, was enamored of Violette of the Opera Comique, played by Truly Shattuck. Henry Leoni, as the artist, also proved, himself a competent singer and actor.

"The Parisian Model" is an extravagant and entertaining production of its species, not without good lyrics and pleasing music. It will probably enjoy the favor of the public, which is particularly interested in such displays.