The Washington times., 1904-10-18
Young Star SurpaSSeS Her
self in Opera Founded on
When Knighthood Was
in Flower.
Robert EdeSOn Scores EeaV-
lily in "RanSOn'S Folly.
Helena Frederick at
Chase S-OJher Bills.

When Knighthood Was In Flower
has found IT'S proper setting ar last. 1t
may be seen, adaINed 10 froIicking
music ana laughing dialogue on the
stage OF the Columbia Theater this
week in brighter colors than ever Il
has worn before and the rOmpingi
hoydenish, tempestu0us Princess Mary
Tudor who seemed a caricature in a
book and a strain upon the resources
O1 the stage, became dancing witty,
anucIul and singing reality.
Mr. Majors novel touched many
hearts. IL was read and re-Tead as
wonderfully sweet Iove-sEory, % and its
eXTavagance and melodrama We're con-
d0ned for the sake of the old, old story
in a particularly brave setting. The
making of the story into play was
III course Inevitable Washington vial
remember Paul Kester's drama well IL
viii also recall Miss MarlOWe.s lnIec-
tious, bright, TarIal1sh lmpersona ton
or The princess. as nightly pleasing
and moderately reasohaD4e- "
But eEUaFag anCes which obtruoe ia
story and play. may vel be merits
in opera c0miQue There, the atmos-
phere permits Villagers 10 waltz
through church doors ana soldiers 70
storm the BED chamber or princess
ana there the notwithstanding audi
ence-sJFumTned ana Iatlgued D4 tAg
HE OF new iron age-paus lls Ieet
and laughs whether at a king slngiils
ditJies 10 a visiting ambassador, OF
queen picking up her skirts ana dancing
like a barmald.
Good Book and Bright Music.
Iu5wig Enelander and Harry 3. Smith
now join the company of Charles Major
and Paul Kester. mir Smith has cen
tered the chief events OF Mary Tudor
courtship of Charles Brandon on three
scenes. and provided AN eveT-changing
background for the Jermagaut princess
There are pleasing colloquies between
the characters OF the court blum King
Hal walks about i'm the life. the mis-
Chegious sister of the king and her hand
some ioVer WOO and win, and beautiful
ladies OF the court, arrayed beyond the
dreams of solomon walk IA and out
sing cE0Tuses. or DbedieuLlE turn their
hacks as the eEiseacles OF comic cpeFA
In one scene the eye looks across a
typical English river. In another II
rests upOu the Gothic detail OF a
tne ola castle. In ans, another ~, y
open Umbers OF a medieval inn ana
crew OF buccaneers, registering as they
have registered ever since the nTsC comic
oHera was written. Whatever II sees IS
gay vita color, rich IN design, and most
unusually artistic
The music is neither new enough 70
taE theaaudlenee with originality, nor old
enough 70 - uresuElle- III . character
lsfic of composer and scuOol=lighL,
swinging. fluent, hued with melody and
as fun OF Tefralus as a pattern of wall
pa per 4 chorus aU the opening Of the
second act. stitch Stitch Stilch''-II is
princess maids Of honor-is one OF the
happlest compositions OF the work, and
its quality is reflected in its title.
Liss Chaser at Her Best.
The qualities Of scene. plot. and
music are. however. merely settings for
The madce. who overrides them and
rules over them butheIy. no other char
acrer Miss CHASER has ever undertaken
suited her hair SO well No other imper-
souauon Miss CHASER has ever presented
was hale so successful. Here afd there
there are touches Of Sixth avenue slang.
Now and then The QuiD or wink or
Erimace recall THE Merry Monarch"
But the comedy IS on the whole all
within the character-aud it IS lrreslsJi-
ole. The whole catalogue of tempeTa-
{ menL is reflected lu herr its items OF
mischief. temper. generosity and Willful-
. ness face sud follow one another ike
Zines lu @ poem or sunshine and showers
Ia april. III Is all laugEable
Hiss CHASER. indeed. has never seemed
so wen eguiDpel-her beauty $ marked
her spirit youthful and volatile. and her
voice never thai or diva has now inn
. proved until IL meets an the demands OF
night opera with range and sweetness TO
spare. But her greatest gift is also the
Fare5r among actresses-she has the
touch Of comedy.
An Extremely Good Company.
Muca interest attaches 10 the support
ms company Dir. Pruet q Washing
t0niaH and a faVorite with his neigh
bors, appears 10 great advantage as the
king His capacity as an actor grows
with every season. He has uufortu-
nalelys an Insignificant singing role. The
Charles Brandon is BeFtram Wells.
and the baritone solo assigned 10 The
role lu The second act gives particular
pleasure Mary COWeu was most charm
Ing ana lovely as Jane Seymour. How
ara Chambers divided the musical hon
ors or Ele last act with the star bV
singing a typical buccaueer song. The
others In the company contribute TO a
performance Of pleasing eVeuuess.
Those who lack the faculty of merry
making who think music thing Of Sc
riDus sentiment only and cannot enjoy
either play or opera unless the windows
rattle with the roar OF mock heroics OF
the rumble OF twenty drums. win not
enjoy This star lu tuis opera. Indeed
they VIII NOT attend. and they are u0t
wanted without the help or such Kill
JOYS the Columbia viii be crowded until
tle close Of this engagement, and
pass+r5-by viii hlar as a running aC-
compartment ~ every performance. the
hearLiesL laughter and the most spCula-
neouH applause