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SENIOR GETS CHANCE IN "TOPSY AND EVA"

Success Then Means Permanent Position With Company -- Duncan Sisters Praise His Work Highly

M. L. Brown '25, hero of this year's Hasty Pudding show "Laugh It Off" will break into professional musical comedy next Saturday when he will appear as the leading man of "Topsy and Eva" at the Colonial Theatre, it was learned last night.

First Approached Last Friday

Brown, who attracted much attention by his work in the Pudding show, was first approached by the management of "Topsy and Eva" last Friday. The acting of the man who played the part of George Shelby in this musical comedy, which has been playing before full houses for several weeks in Boston, had proved unsatisfactory, and someone prominently connected with the theatre apparently suggested Brown. He has rehearsed the part once or twice since then and if he pleases the management at the Saturday matinee and evening performances he will be taken into the company at a salary which is reported to be close to $200 a week.

Show Will Go To London

The Duncan sisters are enthusiastic in their praise of Brown, so that a permanent place at the top of the musical comedy ladder, without the usual intervening steps, awaits only a word from those in control of "Topsy and Eva". The show will play about 15 weeks in the United States and will go to London next fall.

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Brown, who has been a leading soloist in the University Glee Club, had planned to go into operatic work, but the chance which has been offered to him to get into musical comedy at the top instead of at the bottom, has temporarily, at least, interfered with these plans.

Has Extraordinary Voice

Brown's part in "Laugh It Off" was chiefly featured by his songs. P. M. Hollister '13 said in a review of the production written for the CRIMSON that the show possessed "a hero with an extraordinarily fine voice: M. L. Brown '27, a graduate of the Cathedral Choir School." Eddie Cantor, speaking of the show said, "The music is great and several of the songs may be hits. It is the best non-professional production I have ever seen."

His part in "Topsy and Eva" consists chiefly in the singing of songs and he is considered by those close to the professional stage as far above the average of the usual musical comedy star, male or female.

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