The San Francisco call., 1908-03-31
BY walter Anthony

Victor Herbert was in an early and
hence lively period when he wrote the
music for The Niceroy." il was heard
again last night at the Princess the
ater after the lapse OF many years
some say as many as seven, and that
is a long time on the stage. Yet the
music sounded fresh and good and with
the aid OF the really elaborate setting
which the Princess management has
given 20 the production will endure
the competition of counter attractions
and hold the Princess patrons loyal Tor
two weeks
Helen Bertram resppeared. resplen-
dent in green tights and cooked hat. as
Tivolini, the scrumptuous bandit. she
created the role when she was with
the Bostonians about IL years ago. We
should be careful about dates Years
have been kind to her. perhaps too
kind. for her former plumpness has
rounded into something more than that
Time has undeniably added to her
girth. But no matter She can sun
sing. and that is what comic opera
.,rima donna is for. though honesty
coinpels The assertion that some OF the
erarJkle that made her voice like Ca
mile d 'Arville's is missed. and the run
4hrosted freedom OF her top tones mas
given way to the visible operation OF
efort II is slight. 10 be sure, but evil
dent. However. Sne was " dA my
coined and encored in all but her open
inc solo. She has the comic opera
xsit and swaggers through her part
with the effrontery Of a bandit or pi-
rate. in an impossible set OF curious
circumstances
Rut the music Of ~The viceroy" is
the thing. It is said that people no
longer care for good light opera ana
that only musical comedy viii GO Per-
hans. but it will be pity to miss the
good music that Herbert gave to Harry
r Smiths book in this particular piece
For instance, there is an ensemble al
fhe close of the first act which is fine
music and to which Harry James
bsndsmen give cracking presentation
II begins in recitatives moves through
q swinging waltz TO the motive melody,
wen Get You at Last, Tivolini,
which is sung superbly by Cunningham
and is backed by the full chorus,
trained TO the instant. The curtain
fell on a fine impression
Harold Crane gets one chance in the
first act with an ungrateful solo, haro
TO sing and not worth while. He did
the best he could with ii last night
but found il difficult to carry his barry
tone into tenor attitudes. His duet In
the second act with Miss Edwards is
better. if YOU forget they are standing
around singing after he has escaped
from lail and the jailor only just
around the corner.
Cunningham scores a big hit about
sll kinds of girls; Zoe Barnett, though
she has no solo opportunities, makes
the most of her role of Tivolinfs sweet
heart; Miss Edwards. as the viceroy 5
daughter. is good. and Field, who plays
the part of the viceroy, shows a genius
for makeup and the promise of still
better things as leading comedian,
He was q little too anxious last night
Ben Lodge is genuinely funny as the
sergeant of militia. and Oscar APPEL
receives his share of laughs in slut
tering mock heroic character.
But the principal pleasure of an
evening at the Princess this week Will
be derived from the splendid ensembles
ouartets, cuintets and in short from the
music Of the comic opera. 1t would be
unfair to forget the stage settings
The audience was moved to applause
when the curtain rose on the third act
which was particularly well set, show
ing the interior of a pirates cave full
OF outlaws in picture hats, minus the
p1umes, and Immaculate costumes.
VAN NESS
Al the Van Ness theater last might
Wilton Lsckaye began the second and
hnal week of his engagement at thai
playhouse in his production of "Ths
Bondman." Hall Caine, in arranging
his story for the stage has been abls
10 supply the well known star witt
a vehicle in which he will appear 70,
some time TO come, as it has achieved
. memorable success. Thursday even.
ing the Elks will attend the theatel
en- masse in honor of their brothe,
member. Wilton Lackaye
Mcintyre and Heath will make thei-
appearance in the musical coined,
The Ham Tree" next Monday night