Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-08-19
MERRY WIDOW
BEST OFFERING
YET SEEN HERE
Visnness Opsrsita Delighted
Large Audience at Majestic
Donald Brian Scores.
FINE MUSIC AND COMEDY

Coming, as it did, in the midst of
the vacation season, when many thea
tire goers are away, and being a play
that held full sway on Broadway all
last winter when many from this vi
cinity saw it, the audience at the Ma
jestic theatre last night when The
Merry Widow was produced was not
as large as 1t might have been. There
was good crowd, however, and they
saw what is admitted to be the best
musical production that has come to
this city since the Majestic theatre
was opened last fall.
The cast, with but few changes is
the same that produced the play In
New York. Donald Brian, as Prince
Danilo, was here and that is enough
to prove the excellence of the cast.
There have been several changes in
the role of the widow since the play
was first given, but it is doubtful If
any Of them surpassed Miss Ruby
Dale who took the part last night
She possesses q charming voice, her
solo In the second act being decided
feature of the play. She Is one Of the
most graceful actresses on the stage,
her dancing being no less a feature
than her singing.
The famous waltz scene was car
ried out to perfection and the couple
was recalled again and again.
Oscar Figman, as Popoff, the Mar
sovian ambassador; Natalie, his wife,
who was decidedly pretty, and John
Thomas as Nish, messenger of
the embassy, all reserve special men
tion, and the Maxim girls were as
attractive as ever, Miss Minto max
ing decided hit.
The scenery was magnificent. Moth
ing like 1t has ever been seen here
before and 1t has never been sur
passed on any of the metropolitan
stages.
This is known as Henry Savage's
Boston company. It will be In AS
bury Park for the next three nights.
going then to Red Bank, after which
1t will go to Boston for eighteen
weeks. The company is without q
doubt one of the best that has ever
produced the Merry Widow.
The story of the play need not be
told as the EVENING NEWS ran 1t
in serial form a few weeks ago and
1t was read by nearly everyone. The
play coming last night, so soon after
reading the story, made 1t all the
more interesting.
Donald Brian was carried on the
shoulders Of the audience from the
stage of the Garden theatre in New
York Monday afternoon, at the ter
mtnation of the semi-public dress re-
hearsal of Henry w. Savage's Bos-
ton Merry Widow" company. It
was the biggest tribute ever paid to
young actor by his fellow players.
Mr.. Brian, who, for the past
eleven months has been playing the
role Of Prince Danilo in "The Merry
Widow" at the New Amsterdam the
atre, New York, recently was trans
ferred to the company which opens
next Tuesday at the fremont thea
tre, in Boston.
Before starting the organization
on a short preliminary tour, en-
Dracing Asbury Park, Perth Amboy
and Red Bank, Mr.. Savage gave his
usual repitition generate at the Gar
den theatre, to which admission was
obtained by card only.
Invitations were distributed
am ong the members of the New
York, Boston and Southern Merry
Widow" companies who brought
their friends to the affair. Mr.. Brian,
who scored an enormous hit as
Danilo, is popular among his fellow
players and when the curtain fell
upon the stirring finale of the sec
ond act, a delegation from the
Lambs Club, led by Bob" Graham
and Lou Gottschalk, jumped from
one of the boxes to the stage,
grabbed the young actor, raised him
on their shoulders, lifted him over
the footlights and triumphantly
marched. through the aisles OF the
theatre while the orchestra played
merry Mr.. Brian's entrance song and
the entire audience with the com
pany on the stage, cheered to the
limit Of their lungs.