The Washington times., 1909-12-21
Plot, Music, and Acting
Combine to Make Enter
tainment Enjoyable.
MISS ELGIE BOWEN
FINDS HIGH FAVOR
Charles ]. Ross, Miss Florence
Reid, and Other Favorites
Welcomed.

a more appropriate offering for
Christmas week than ''The Love Cure,
which a Washington audience saw for
tho first time last night At the Ma
tionsl, could hardly be found and big
house gave it the hearty reception 1t
deserved.
Full Of music, catchy, yet rather
above the accepted standards for must
cal productions. and with a well-de-
fined plot carrying a love story to a
satisfactory ending, the good work done
by principals and cast was all that Was
needed TO make it a success. Tonsy
turvy Is a term that may be well ap-
piled TO the libretto supplied by Oliver
HEREFORD. Possibly the best example OF
this is found I'm the delightful olsen
EaCernent scene in the second act When
Alfred Blake, enamOUred OF the priind
donna, ''woos'' his heiress fiancee' plead
ing with her impassionately to learn n
hate him.
The story is builded about the love
Of vornr Blake for Nellie Vaughn.
,,riroa donna OF the Novelty Theater'
and the fascinating stage atmosphere
nermeates &. One is given glimpse
Of the tbeater from the stage eltrtnce'
tben behind the scenes and dfeSs re-
hcarsal. all OF which is mysterious an"
fascinating to the uuinitiated-
Story Of Opera.
As the name implies the story tells OF
the efforts Of an actress, true 10 her
,,,,oroise 70 the boys father. to disillu-
sion him and Kill his love Tor her- 10
do this she uses all her art, pretending
~ Get intoxicated. and finally, finding
everything else fails, throwing nerseh
int rl,e arms OF the leading man. Tor
sui. declaring he is the man she loves.
E,ven this fails and ell enus happily save
for moor TorelH who. himself IN love
,,-itb her. does not realize that she is
only nlavfng a part, and has orleL
r,ornent of happiness when she declares
herI love for him. There Is nothing new
b abouf the plot. it having been seen
hefore I'm vaudeville and comic opera
hl,t ii is admirably handled ana LneIt
ste many clever lines ana il ls sllllost
e1tougb an itself 70 carry the proouClloli
without the aid Of the music. -,
To Miss Flgie Bowen, the pIllia uOl-
"a ali nraise is due. Petite and grace
ful. and with pleasing VOC, sue e 5,-sf
acceptably a trying role just AT Lt ~.
her reception was not particularly va lL
and not until she sang w men Eyes Ar ~
BRIGHT" with Craig Campbell uiu Sile
house begin 70 1uiiy dppicSi'1S III
ToreIli. Charles J. Ross, an old
fa,rorife. made a favorable HnpIesslVI.
Much of the real work, as mere - 1 eiI1s
= little of il fer "a musical sf9W' iallS
vnon him and ne is called upon lot
aticl< transitions from the serious &c
the humorous His impersohSL ar, 90, On
gJarrl Lauder was one OF inc vs. Di'
OF the production.
Florence Reid Scores
Florence Reid. so well remembered DC
tho CAPITAL for her work IN 'Ihe Gay
rlussars.'' scored a fresh success as IN,
little heiress. af6anced to one man. gu,
in 1--we with another. only one song 4eA
No. lot much to the regret OF those
who heard her before. Her CHICKS
quaint little oddly, brought repeated
encores. and doubtless tn re were man!
80 ,,-o1IId liked TO have had her re-
snond with ooh You Bold, Bad Man,
tie song in which she made MT or
her earlier appearance TINS season ii
fact. there is a little petition gong IN
rounds to be presented TO her. askni
her 70 use IL as an encore, ana IL IS
possibility that before the week Is Owe
this catchy little song viii be hear'
again at the National. But even II sh
does not comply, all of the ingenlou
little m8uuerisms are there. and she D
lust as charming in her now role "a
she was in the old
As Alfred Blake, Craig tampbeu, ~
newly discovered tenor, is given severa
chances. and he made pleasing I'm
preston He has an excellent voice am
. good stage appearance.
Not the least important TO the sue
cess Of THE Love Cure were tn
chorus and the minor roles. Particu
Iarlv good were POrtia Belma an
EIanor St Clair. among the girls VIII
sang ana Cooked" and did their stunt
most accepta bly,.
With one exception no fault can b
found with the wholesome atInospher
of the production and that is the dTcs
rehearsal scene. Even then. despite TN
generous display OF lingerie. there
nothing objectionable. and little grOun
g. given for criticism
NJ TT. MCINTYRE.