New-York tribune., 1905-01-17
'THE DUCHESS OF DANTzIo."
George Edwardes Presents 1t at Daly's to an
Appreciative Audience.

'-The Duchess of Dantzic,'' chaperoned by Mr..
George Edwardes Of London. made her first ap
pearance before NewY Workers last evening at Days
Theatre. where. by the way, she is likely to remain
some time If the temper of succeeding audiences at
all resembles that of those who made the acquaIn-
tance Of her grace last night. The piece, with
rather more regard for accuracy than usually char
acterizes the compounders Of mixtures of words
and music, is described as a romantic light opera
When it appears that 1t attempts TO set the story
Of Nine. Sans Gene to music its romance viii be
admitted. Nor is it heavy in any sense; but it is
scarcely opera For all that it furnishes excellent
entertainment, whose ingredients include rather
better than respectable music by Ivan CaryIl few
pleasant lyrics by Henry Hamilton, who also
ranged with sardou to allow him to arrange" the
book; much pleasant fooling by various players;
good singing, not by any means unmxed with bad.
and some acting that within the limits of the piece
is really excellent.
Unless all signs fail in a dry theatrical season.
THE Duchess of Dantzic," or. II one may be al
lowed TO give It a subtitle, "a Long Leap from
the Laundry should OF the successes
of the year. It is the fourth attempt made in this
city the present season to set to music story
already successful the stage. when Knight
hood Was in Flower" she Stoops to Conquer
and THE School for Scandal" are the other three.
This tendency opens up avenue Of escape for
brain-bereft hbrettists that Is likely to be
crowded. If it leads to results as good as 'The
Duchess OF Dantzlc" there will be small reason 10
complain
OF course, there was Napoleon. The judcious
feared for him in advance but their fears were
groundless. As acted by Mr.. Hotbrook Blinn he
impressive Little Corporal" and an au-
thortative Emperor-in short character sketch
wei conceived and deity executed. And he didn't
have to sing!
With Mr.. Blinn the honors Of an evening more
than usually full Of them were shared by Miss
Evie Greene. who was the "Sans-Gene'' of the
piece. Miss Greene has pleasant and powerful
singing voice which she uses with considerable
skill but her singing overshsdowed by her
acting. AS the washerwoman who rose to nobil-
ity she gave impersonation that was consistent
and convincing, and was well endowed with the
kindly humor and variable temper with which
countless audiences have come to identity the
part. though the lbrettist did make her
say TT but yes-tu-day."
Courtice Pounds. whose work is familiar to
American playgoers was consistently amusing as
the court miliner. who moulded the taste and
fashioned the waist of the Empress Josephine"
and was smitten in what he fortunately pleased
to call his petite Marie" Nor should 4 word of
praise be denied little Miss Adrienne Augarde
whose daintness made strong appeal. nor to Mr..
Lawrence Rea an American, by the way. whose
singing and acting of unusual manliness and
sincerity.
The piece was tastefuIly mounted throughout
the stage management competent and the chorus
good to look upon
Mr.. Caryll conducted his music and he and
AIr Edwardes were both called after the second
act. the manager making little speech Of thanks.
Her Grace the Duchess is likely to establish her
residence IN this Republic
Miss Greene made her debut the stage
dancer in comic opera at the age OF fourteen.
She got the understudy Of the priEna donna at
the age Of fifteen. She played In all the leading
musical comedies and comic operas in the prov
lnces Of England and was provincial star at
the age of seventeen. playing such parts the
title roles OF THE Gay Parisienne.' THE New
Barmaid" and BILLY" It is only five years since
Miss Greene made her first bow to the London
public IN the romantic opera, "L'Amour Nouille."
Her rsxt role in London Dolores in ''Floro-
DORA" which opera was written expressly for
Miss Greene. After this success. she made
contract with George Edwardes and has been
der his management ever since. playing such parts
the title role in 'Kittie Grey and Nan in The
Country Girl" in which role she great
favorite with the London public playing it with
a Devonshire accent When Miss Greene goes
back to London it will be TO play in q romantic
opera at Dalys Theatre. much after the
style as '"The Duchess Of Dantzic."