The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-11

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NJ waltz written OF late years
wv humming in my head I waited
in the lobby of the st. Francis
for the merry widow herself. That is
10 say, I waited for Miss Mabel WILDER.
who has been doing her best for nearly
. week to captivate the town.
Whether as widow or just Miss Will
Der. she is very beautiful and graceful
She appears not yet to know that she
has become a star in comic opera and
she talks quite unafectedly about her
work. She did not even once refer TO
il as art" and that self-repression
was grateful to behold.
Luckily for me I need not tell you
how she appeared or describe her very
unusual beauty. We managed. you see,
TO get some pictures on this page, and
50 description is not needed.
She led the way to the parlor, seated
herself opposite me and proceeded to
talk Merry Widow" and music and
players and the fire and many other
entertaining things.
1T was while she was playing the role
Melba in THE Songbirds" in New
York that Miss WILDER first saw The
Merry Widow" Then Ethel jackson
was singing the role. Savage, it seems
did not care for a star organization.
He figured on the music of the play
and the interest that attaches TO the
story and its setting. Nevertheless
Savage has succeeded in making stars
of his principal players. For instance
Ethel Jackson.
she was so graceful and fine" said
Miss WILDER. But then she went
away and was married. so her career
as a widow was closed, as many an
other woman's widowhood has ensed
in matrimony. Then Rosemary GIosz
undertook the role. with what success
you know. Lima AbarbaneI was tho
lady who introduced Chicago TO the
beauties Of the Lehar score, and Incl
dentslly had the capable assistance o.
George Dameral
There was task 10 stagger Z
player" said Miss WILDER. With sucf
sample Of prince as Donald Brian
twas in New York. for Mr.. Dameral Il
assume the role and get away with it
was little short Of marvel
Miss WILDER told me that there had
been II widows in all, but so far onl,
three princes. Meekins, Dameral anS
Brian. The il widows who have helped
Lehar TO gather uncounted American
dollars are likely TO be reinforced b!
more, as there seems little possibiIit.
that The. Merry Widow" viii tax,
of her hat and climb on a shelf 70
many seasons TO come.
tlIT is not alone the music, nor We
the words; neither is it the settin,
that Savage gives the play tina
makes its success wherever ii is heard
It is a combination" she went on
Back of the fascinating waltz Their
IS an authentic love story. Not a conf
opera love affair. but a real affection
which attracts sympathetic interest.
I love you so. And I need you.
have everything else but love in m
life. Money in unlimited measure
youth, beauty and hundred admirers
But I have not love, unless you Civ
it to me-"
That is the theme of the walt;
That is the motive which Lehar has pu
into waltz rhythm. It is an old, oil
theme. isn't it? But it still is dsncin
around the world Lehar caught tn
spirit of the episode and the melod
IS written. 1t viii last
"As Sonia I am to try in this walt
10 entice the words which he has swor
never to say love you. We bot
hum the pretty melody. The theme
as direct and diatopie as the word
which it suggests. There is nothin
forced nor overladen. 1t is all tun