The Washington herald., 1908-05-17
NEW YORK THEATERS

NEW 1OKk / 1EAl EkS.
Special Correspondence The Washington Herald
New York. May 16-It's all IN that
sensuous. dangerous. seductive waltz
strain, forming the accompaniment Of
the kiss which the tenor bestows upon
the lips Of the prima donna, that raises
the mischief in the audience OF course,
no kiss has ever been seen in public IN
which the two principals work overtime
quite like these. to create the necessary
Illusion Of rapture. but It is the waltz
strain that forms the yeast that starts
the ferment in the audience. It Is called
The Love Waltz" 8 one-act operetta on
the yiennese model, which is now run
ming at the Fifth Avenue Theater, as a
feature In the hlgh-class vaudeville bnl
offered there twice a day. including Sun
day.
When the handsome tenor in his bril-
liant Pandour uniform giues his lips to
the lips of the princess, after playful
paEtomime that forms the prelude. and
they glide across the stage. hither and
yon. like two shadows merged into one,
ing in consequence with the rhythm of
their heart throbs and sustaining their
long osculatory conjunction till they
vanish behind the scenes. there is always
an emotional disturbance in front Of the
house.
Some women treat It as a joke and have
mild form of Mysteries OF suppressed
laughter, and there and there loud de-
risive shrek breaks out among the fem
mime contingent But some take it seri-
ously. and after gazing a while. hold
their hands before their eyes to shut out
the spectacle. Whether they looked
through their fingers 1 was unable to
make out, for I was far back among the
standees. But all over the house, while
this new love waltz is in process or evo-
luton on the stage. the effect is electrical
and the spell works like q bromo seltzer
1t discounts Anna Helds notable
achievements in tEls direction and Is a
wonder-worker as a sensational novelty
The waltz Is as delicate as the dalntiest
piece OF lace. and as elusive as q cob
web-a trickling stream Of seraphic music
With an ecstatic sob somewhere IN the
middle. that vlbrates through your soul
Ike the plaintive sigh OF a Ioye-lorn.
maiden. 1t Is The Merry Widow" and
The Waltz Dream" reduced to an act
and as brilliantly presented by a company
OF about twenty people. most attractively
costumed, and on the whole quite well
played and sung. The atmosphere is prae-
tieal!y the same as the Two more pre-
tentious works, and the plot Is similar 10
the plot Of the Strauss opera.
A prince is ordered 10 marry the prin-
cess OF a foreign court. whom he has
never seen. he has met q charming girl
IN Brussels some time before and loves
her. Il was the princess under an incog-
nlto. The prince exchanges roles with one
or bis officers in order 10 inspect his in
tended bride without being known. and
the princess likewise parades under an
other name. The two meet ana recognize
each other from their Brussels days. and
II is then that the love waltz is intro
duced. When they meet again IL Is 10 20
to the altar neither knowing that the
other Is the right one. until they are
about TO take each others hands and now
behold themselves In their rightful char
actefs as the prince and princess. The
little operelta forms a distinct innovation
IN vaudeville. and It's hearty reception
argues favOrably for the success Of the
series OF de Koven musical pieces which
are 10 be introduced next season.
The fact that THE Merry Widow" re-
ceiDts in New York we're more than half
million dollars. proves that Col Saw
age made no mistake when he acquired
the rights of George Edwardes, the Lon
don manager. under the peculiar oircun-
stances that marked the transaction.
Edwardes is the father OF musical com
edy in the British capital, and was look
ing around for some novelty TO tempt the
jaded appetite OF his clientele when he
heard that Vienna had gone completely
music-mad over new comic opera.
He crossed the Channel and went TO
the Austrian capital. heard "The Merry
Widow" and sought Franz Lehar. the
composer. behind the scenes. I.ehar want
ed Sleo0o cash and $40 week Of nomi-
nal salary as conductor during the run Of
the opera in England and America Ed
wardes asked twenty-four hours TO take
the proposition under advisement. He
went back to his hotel and began to fig
ure. He didn't object to the weekly sti-
pend, but he hesltated about the s10,005
Now. usually he who aesifates Is lost:
but in this case Il won. For when Ed
wsrdes went into the breakfast-room OF
his hotel the next day he spied familiar
face at one Of the tables.
Hello, ; colonel!' said the London I'm
presario. What are you doing In VI
enna?"
I'm after the American rights for The
Merry Widow. said Col Savage. Ed
wardes smiled complacently
I believe I'm ahead OF you" he said.
4 have the rights for both countries. and
it's going to cost me something hand
some. But I'll tell you what III do. I'll
sell you the American rights for Sl2, ,0e0
and $40 a night royalty"
Savage merely thrust his hand into an
Inner pocket. took out his check book.
and in FIVE minutes the transaction was
closed, Everybody was happy. Edwardes
went back to London with the score Of
The Merry Widow" and s2,000 In his
pocket Col Savage hastened 10 the
United States with the American rights.