Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-22
POLI'S
FRED FEATHER"

DekOven. Klein and Cooks TO.
 mantle opera Red Feather" which
 combines spectacle and brilliant
 music with witty dialogue and snap
 py lyrics, will be at Poli's tonight
 For Red Feather" Reginald De
 Koven composed music that in every
 way is on par with his delightful
 Robin Hood" and some recognized
 musical critics are of the opinion that
 in the later composition. Mir DeKoven
 aimed at even higher effect than he
 aspired to in the piece which first
 showed his genius. Appreciating the | public taste or variety in Its musical
 dishes. the composer has proven his
 versatality by mixing frothy bits of
 song between those of superior musical worth. Charles Klein, who, since writing the book of Red
 Feather has furnished the two dramatic sensations of the past dec ade. "The Music Master" and "The
 Lion and the Mousse" conceived a
 romantic story and so combined in
 cident. dialogue and action that a
 most happy book resulted. Hidden
 in nook of Central Europe is sup
 posed to rest principality of the
 Anthony Hope type. This is popu-
 lated with people of Latin blood
 and of revolutionary inclinations
 To build his plot MT Klein establishes
 a ruler distasteful to the inhabitants of the land. Romancia. as the myth ical country Is called. is governed by a crown prince, whose downfall is sought by his subjects. One Captain Travors, at the head of the royal guards, aspires to the throne, con sidering himself the rightful heir. Incidentally he loves the Countess Hilda Von Draga, one of the ladies of the court. He has unfolded the plans of the conspiracy to his sweet
 heart and she, learning that the
 cause suffers through the lack of
 funds, takes to the highway in the
 guise of Red Feather and exacts toll
 from all travellers, even defying the
 soldiers of the Kingdom. So bold
 does this masquerader become that
 the crown prince summons his guard
 and demands that Captain Travors
 capture Red Feather within twenty
 four hours. Failing in this the cap-
 tain resents an insult from the Crown
 prince by striking the latter, who al-
 so loves the countess Won Draga.
 The crown prince seeing the oppor-
 tunity of ridding the field of the most dangerous rival gives the captain the choice of producing Red Feather within the hour or paying the death
 penalty for his failure. So difficult Is the capture of the notorious free rider considered to be that there appears to be no choice for Trav0rs.
 He naturally would not expose his sweetheart, but the countess knowing of her lover's peril snows herself as Red Feather and surrenders to the crown prince. But to gain the happy ending. at this opportune moment the party favoring Travor gain ascendan- cy over the crown princes forces and all ends we'll. For the locale of the two acts the author. chose, for the first public square and for the sec ond the ballroom of the royal palace. That the Ziegfeld Opera company in mounting the opera spared no ex- pense in the endeavor to make 1t the most sumptuous ever devised for the operatic stage, is shown by the fact that the production cost $72.- 900, and has received unstinted praise in all parts of the country. For the present tour Manager Joseph M. Gaites has retained many of the creative company, and in the prima donna dole has placed Miss Cheridah Simpson. whose marked success in the principal feminine roles of King Dodo." "The Sultan of Sulu." Woodland" and "The Prince of ril- sen" has established ner as a prime favorite of light musical stage. Miss Simpson has voice of rare calibre and power, a sweetly pretty face, is splendidly formed and possesses great talent as an actress. In writ ing the libretto Mir Klein did not me- glect to provide plenty of comedy, the kind that depends upon bright and witty lines and amusing situa- tions for its success instead of variety that bids for favor through exagger- ated makeup and buffoonery. In the | list of principals will be found sev- eral we'll known funmakers who are eminently fitted to interpret the | comedy. Care has been exercised in | the selection of the chorus men and | women and every assurance is given | that the vocal effects of the ensemble | singers will prove highly agreeable feature. They are divided into groups | of international girls, millincrs. royal guards. diplomats. conspirators. | court ladies. dancers. waitresses and fownspeople and are all arrayed In sxquitely designed and gorgeously | executed costumes. In addition to other commendable attributes for the production is an augmented or ,hestra. which will serve to bring put more forcibly the beauties of the DeKoven score. Prices are 25, 50, IS, 3l and $150. Tel 10s4.
 "A MIDNIGHT ESCAPE"
 The most sensational mclodrama "A Midnight Escape" which will he he offering at Poli's tomorrow af- f.