Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-29
T HE EAT Err .
New National.

BY way OF variety a week of song was
inaugurated at the National last night.
Though numerous new productions nave
been made even thus early In the season.
1.-The Golden Butterfly is the first lyric
initiate to be presented. The audience
was large. in spite of the storm which
came up at the critical moment for the
atrical attendance, and it was quite evil
dent that under ordinary conditions there
would have been an audience whose size
would have been limited only by the ca
pacity of the theater. The work done by
Mr.. Dekoven in Washington, whatever
its disappointments may have been. has
assuredly brought some reward in the
local interest with which he Is regarded.
"A New Comic Opera; Book by Harry
r. Smith, Music by Reginald Dekoven.
1t was a promising line on the program
Even the big black type which the name
Of Miss Van Studdiford claimed as
natural prima donna right could not over
shadow the Importance OF the announce
ment that these two energetic creators
and adapters, so we'll known both Jointly
and severally had united their efforts
once again and were presenting new
comic opera. 1t would be too much to
venture an opinion as to whether they
robin Hood" Only the boys who whis
tie and the young women who play the
piano by ear and the hand organs and
the monographs can decide whether an
operetta is to be another Robin HOOD.
Even the producers of that work were
slow in recognizing the success they had.
But 1.-The Golden Butterfly" may fall
good way short of the mark its parentage
has fondy set for it and still be excellent
entertainment. 1t has consistent.
though not highly novel. story. comedy
lines with real laughs in them, to which
Louis Harrison does justice. and hero
part which reveals Hubert Wilke as
yout hful and melodious when he made
Every morn l send thee violets"
household quotation. And. best of all.
for the purposes of this particular work.
1t equips Miss Van Studdiford with
role that displays her at her best. as to
of the music which falls to her share
requires her to fully deserve her title of
prima donna. Her solo numbers were
rendered with grace and delicacy and
her voice stood forth above some splen-
did ensembles with fine supremacy. The
melodies are always agreeable and sup
ported with an ingenuity and variety of
harmony that must make the duties OF
Anton Heindl. the orchestra director.
pleasure rather than task. A capital
man-about-town song rendered by Louis
Casavant illustrates the talents Of IL
brettist and musician in a debOnair vein,
while in Mr.. Harrison's song of the man
who fell in love with a two-headed girl
the broadly comic is touched upon. Miss
Gene Luneska as the petulant soprano
has some good scenes and numbers and
renders them we'll.
The eye Is not neglected There are
costumes both OF the draw wing room and
Of the theater where The Golden But
terfy'' is supposed to be produced which
are marvels Of design and triumphs Of
execution. stageful Of people perform
the illustrative calisthenics devised by
the ingenious stage manager. and there
Is competent corps of dancers to grace
fully accentuate the rhythmic appeal.
Without being audacious as to costnming.
the piece accepts the rules OF display
usually laid down for musical perform
ances. The stage was positively embow-
cred with floral tributes for Miss Van
Studdiford who on being brought before
the curtain joined the audience in de-
mand for a speech by the composer.