The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-10
"DAS SUISSE KkDRL" EAHIT
BOOK BETTER THAN THE MUSIC,
AND ACTING BEST or ALL.

hut All o. Them Make . Success for the
Ferenczy Opera Co. I'm Irving Plsce
Mia Werber Is IN operate Mile
james and an Excellent Cast Bacs.s Her
Spring must be here--the Ferenczy Opera
Company is better weather prophet than
the ground swine. This capital organiza-
ton made its usual annual appearance at
the Irving Place Theatre last night. and
before a large audience enjoyed an over
whelming success. or that there can be
no doubt. The piece has been a great
favorite in Germany, where It has been
heard for several seasons. It is called
-Das suesse Madel.' and very sweet she
was In the person OF Mia Werber.
This tiny singer Is about as tall as Mile
James or Annie LAughlin. but heavier.
She recalled to old lrvingites the dashing
Garcia Engiander in her methods, though
her voice ha not the same volume. 1t is
a brilliant organ, often metallic and pinched
in its upper tones, but flexible, agreeable.
and barring a tendency to sharpening,
natural enough under the circumstances,
it proved to be telling enough in ensemble
fnales.
However. her voice Is not Miss werber's
only attraction. She IL a comtdiennc of
excellent caliber. and a bundle Of nerves
and magnetism. She has a plastic mask
and her high spirits. chic ways and bubbling
temperament made her success assured
from the moment abe appeared.
The company Is a capable one, strong In
comedians. Edmund Loewe achieved a
hit only second to Miss Werber In his topical
song -Berlinchen." In II he celebrated
the joys OF Berlin, and when he gavc an
encore verse clarifying little old New York.
tha0a enfht,sia al In Gerrna A mariana In
the audienoe-and the Americans. too
cheered him wildly. II was very lovely.
Ana internationally II meant nothingl
Rudolph Ander as q superannuated
FOR vaudeville Goddess V was one Of the the
evenings events. He u legitimate fun
maker. His song about different kinds
Of girls revealed what artistic diction un-
aided BY a singing voice could do-backed
Miss Kenny Wildner, who exploded like a
pack Of hrecrackers whenever any one
approached her. The tenor. Sisgmund
kunstadt, is young man OF pleasing APP
pearance and the possessor Of a pretty
lyric voice, which he employs with taste.
All the principals developed . surprising
command OF mead poee effects, rare In comic
opera companies.
An eccentric comedian, Carl Knaack,
with a funny make-up and Emil Abers as q
low comedy servant were both applauded.
The music-Ahi at last we reach the music.
Well. it is familiar The principal number
u The Sweet Girl vslse song which Is q
leading motive throughout. 1t has been
heard before. A duo in the second act
sounds like a once famous Waldteufel valse
and the gavotte Is our old friend OF Louis
NH. fame. There are many tunes in
three-four rhythm and several rousing
marches. The scoring Is commonplace,
effective, often noisy. The tenor airs are
pretty In sentiment and were sentimentally
delivered.
To be frank the book Is better than the
The story need not be reta lied now. The
second act IN the Tyrol with Tyrolean
costumes b the best. There are several
risky speeches, one altogether too broad
for q New York audience. The latest
thing In Berli.- wit Is present illusions
to SuderInann, to modern painting and to
Nietzsche-even Nietysche has been pressed
into comic opera service. Fancy an over
girl What In the name Of the Ibsen
soubrette is an sOver girl?
The chorus sang Justify. generally in
to tonnage. After all Il IL a matter Of taste
--as the man eaid when he married his cowi
But Mia Werber and 'Das Suesse n del
have come to stay. q,