The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
The Beauty Spot.

The chief faults TO be found in The
Beauty Spot are those which may be
easily corrected, being sins Of commits
SION. rather than those of omission. This
being the case. Il Is safe 20 predict sue
cess for THIS newest of our native musical
plays AS stated in these columns earlier
in the week. The Beauty Spot is not
a comic opera. but musical play, al
though the latter term has gotten to be
so elastic that II comprehends much Of
the recent output in this line But this
one deserves TO be called a musical play,
because. first Of all, it is a play. Joseph
Herbert has furnished a really clever
book for The Beauty SpOt'-one in
which the interest is not allowed to
languish for one instant. Unlike the aver
age show OF this kind. where plot is lost
in a maze OF special features, and where
every one can foresee the denouement any
how so dOesn't Save 20 bother about IT,,
Mr. Herberts book keeps one guessing
right 10 the finish. The story itself Is
not very intricate or imposing. but II
has the elements Of real farce. and once
or twice during the action reaches high
pitch. With little more working up
OF the fun, the book should be nearly
perfect for its purpose. because there
are other things in The Beauty Spot"
which claim the attention.
Reginald de Kovens music for this pro-
duction ranks very high in the efforts
Of this composer. Accustomed as we are
10 hearing the operatic scores from his
scholarly pen. we had yet. until the ad-
vent of '"The Beauty Spot" 10 hear him
as the composer Of the lighter vein Of
music which IS demanded by the musical
comedy. II is no mean feat OF versatility
for a composer to be the sole sponsor FOR
the melodies Of a musical comedy-in
these days when the songs are gathered
from every source and interpolated ad
libitum, making sort Of vaudeville hodge
podge OF the show. until authors and
composers called their productions re
views in sheer desperation. not know
ing whether they are fish. flesh. or fowl.
No such condition exists for The
Beauty Spot" The score is a distinct
musical entity. There is sufficient variety
and character in each number That
there seems 10 be too many numbers can
be quickly remedied. although It viii be
hard TO choose just which ones are 10 go.
IN a case OF the kind. when the least
catchy numbers are omitted. the more de-
serving ones attract more attention. as
the audience IS more apt 10 get tired OF
too many musical numbers than OF any
other feature. Really. Mr.. de KOven has
done we'll There is an Offenbachian
tinge 70 some Of his numbers. and II we
pursue the comparison still further and
call attention TO the Gilbertian flavor 10
some Of the lyrics. notably. He Loved
Her Tender it can be readily seen that
'The Beauty Spot IS a superior produc-
ton.
OF course. some Of the principals must
go Recasting should begin at once
Most OF the feminine voices are made
quate 20 the score. and one or two OF
the men cannot act, even though allow
ance be mad for the newness Of the
piece. One cannot help wondering why
Joe Herbert does not play the leading
comedy role himself It Is so palpably a
Herbert part.
But mostly THE Beauty Spot" is a
20. Il is g0rgeously mounted and has the
requisite Broadway flavor. Like all
spring musical comedies. it is looking foT
d summer run In New York, and it de
serves one.