Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-24
At THE PLAIHOUSES


The Little Duchess" ." a musical potpourf
by Reginal DeKoy en- and Harry B Smith.
with Anna Held tn the name part, pro-
duced under direction OF Mr. r. Zeigfeld
jr. The principal characters.
Gustave, bathing master and a hero:
............. ...-.. Joseph W. Herbert
Maurice de Champignon. fencing master
and duelist................E .Edouard Durand
A young American in love with the
Little Duchess ......... Frank Rusworth
Count Casabinca, an Italian gambler
with an infalhble system, Claire's
Baron Koffupsky of the Russian secret
service. a Jealous husband and fond
o. shootlns .'..'..'...'-..'.. AhoN Nl,,son
Herasss - IIis,te t.cfiIreiy ioBise Fsoycs
Annette, maid 20 che Little IuChess.......
...............-........... .Luella Drew
Georgette, maid tc Claire de Brion. -. /.
Phiiomene. Italian dancing girl............
........................La Pc ite Marguerite
Florine, a widow ........ .Maybelle Courtney
The Little Duchess. ..... Mile. Anna Held
Just to show Anna Held that we hadn't
forgotten her invitation so cordially ex4
tended at the time OF her last visit-"Won' {
you come and play wiz me''-we turned out
last night every time she came up, and once
Boyd theater, and had a right good tine.
Mile Held still makes good on the PROPOSE
tion, Il have such a way wiz me- and
doesn't overlook a chance. Her fielding
average is still LOO. and she made a hit
last night every time she came up, and once
or twice she batted out OF her turn, Just
because a run was needed. But Mile Held
didn't come TO Omaha alone no, indeed,
for she is accompanied by as fine a looking
lot of players as one would wish to see, and
their team work is superb, II not more The
Sadie girl" rush line has effaced all mem
ories Of pretty maiden" choruses and the
like, and the fencers don't need foils to
pierce hearts. And then four comic opera
comedians Of the first rank assist in the
fun making and the singing and add not a
little to the general enjoyment Of the
whole affair. On the bill of the play Man
ager Zeigfeld gives out a whole lot of in
formation as to the writer's of songs, de-
signers of costumes. painters OF scenery
and decorators in general, but withholds
one little item that might be as welcome as
any. He doesn't tell whose good eye Sc
lected the chorus.
DeKoven hasn't arisen to any especial
height in his music for The Little
Duchess" but he has gone far above the
average of the music we have been served
with lately In this alone the piece is a
treat. Harry B. Smith has given libretto
that is bright enough as such things co, and
to. It is in the ensemble work that the
piece wins. The care and coin expended on
its staging is we'll returned in the results,
for prettier stage pictures were never seen,
nor more artistic groupings. nor do any Of
its rivals move with the dash and efferyes-
cence Of life seen last night. Mile Held is
on the stage most Of the time. and works as
though she were striving to win a reputa-
tion OF enjoying fame already established
The climax Of the piece came last night at
the close Of the second act, when she sang
an inspiriting drinking song with chorus.
Nine curtain calls rewarded this very at
tractive bit, nor would the applause, which
ran from boxes to gallery, be silenced until
Mile Held had come to the foothghts and
briefly but enthusiastically expressed her
thanks. She may be proud Of that recep-
tion, for it was one seldom accorded a
comic opera star in Omaha.
Messrs. Herbert, Durand. Marian and
Wilson are fine quartet of comedians, and
Mr.. Rushworth sings with SID taste. using
his excellent tenor voice to the best pos
sible advantage. Franz Ebert, Of delightful
'Iiliputian' memories, is as diminutive
and droll as he was before he learned to
speak English. At date he has working
vocabulary of about ten words. Six OF
these he uses in his one speech. Louise
Royce has the feminine comedy part and
does II with excellent taste. The chorus is
tuneful as well Is comely, and the settings
Of the stage as well as the costumes are
alone a treat.
"The Little Duchess" was listened TO by
a splendid audience, which was unstinted in
it's expressions OF appreciation The piece
will be repeated at a matinee and an even
ing performance today.