The Washington herald., 1909-03-17
THE BELASCO.
aThe Benutx spot.y

night before packed house Seldom.
indeed, in Washington. does one see so
much spontaneous enthusiasm: so many
encores: such insistent applause. And
every bit Of it was earned: so that when
the curtain fell on brilliant finale there
was enough glery scattered around am
ply 70 divide among those responsible
for the success. Reginald de Koven has
surpassed himself in the tunefulness and
novelty of the music he has provided
Mr. Joe Herbert is displayed at his best
IN the cleverness Of the book" and the
staging OF the piece has been so adroit-
ly and artistically done that great praise
Is due, also, to Mr.. Frank Smithson.
And the playersi Surely there was
never a jolIier or more Woodworking
throng, from Jefferson de Angels. who
has part that just reeks with good
things. to his dainty and diminutive CO
principal. Miss Marguerite Clarke. one
Of the most charming graceful. and
pretty girls exploited in this class Of
show to-day.
But there are many others who helped,
chief among whom must be mentioned
Frank Doane. In a negro character part
that IS eKcruciatingly funny Then there
is George J. MacFarlane. as Jacques
Baccarel, who has a wonderfully sweet
and true voice; there Is W. II. Denny. as
Baron LecOcq; and Viola Gillette, tune
ful and vivacious. as Nichettem; and
pretty Billie Norton. as Pomare: and
Jean Newcomb. with her statuesque
beauty. as the Countess Nitksl1y and
host OF others. And last Of all. but
contributing Intensely 10 the success Of
this show, comes the beauty chorus
In this case not at all a misnomer, for
the fifty or more girls are all pretty, good
singers, clever dancers. and they have
been most lavishly costumed and gOwned.
so that the effect at all times is gor-
geous. Producers viii. indeed. have 10
take OF their hats 20 Comstock and Gest,
who are responsible for this production.
It's two acts are marvels Of scenic beauty.
and everything that lavish expenditure Of
money. combined with good taste, can
provide is 10 be found here. The result
Is riot Of color. brilliant lights. shim-
merlng silks, glittering jewels, many
colorec flowers, and sparkling eyes that
bubble over with merrlment, so that the
fun carries over the fooulghts Into the
farthest corner OF the theater. And that
spells Success"
The Beauty Spot IS not a comic
opera; not a musical comedy. Il Is
really musical play. IL has a well-de-
fined plot, which. while funny. is not
sheer no~sense: II has well-drawn char
acters. skiHfuliy C0ntrasted, and IL has a
wealth OF specialties set 10 rolIicking
music much Of which is destined 10
long life OF popularity
Il doesn't really matter about the plot
OF The Beauty Spot save 20 say that
its two acts are first at the Grand Hotel
al DinaTd. in the south OF France. show
ing the blue Mediterranean. and the sec I
ond showing tropical gardens adjoining
the hotel In the first act the c0mplica-
uons arise because Gen. Samovar. Of the
Russian Legation. played by Mr. de An
CELLS, has taken a second wife a lady
who has been posing for an artist IN
Paris, and who is afraid 20 death that a
picture viii come TO light. a picture for
which she posed. and which discloses a
mole on her knee. There are two pairs
Of lovers, unhappy until the last act, and
there Is the negro valet who Is passed OF
as a prince from BOrneO. and who has a
rafting good time. and while the com
plcations are getting untangled there Is
ample opportunity for the Interpolation
OF songs and dances and specialties. |
something in the manner OF the we'll
remembered and deservedIy popular Hoyt
comedies with music. There Is a funny
stunt IN the last act when the fatal
picture Is displayed but II is soon turned /
70 the wall and the artist changes Il so /
that when IL is turned around again il /
shows the general s'wife properly clothed 4
and nursing live mole on her knee. So
il is that the generals honor Is saved. .
and all the lovers are made happy.
Throughout the piece Mr.. de Koven's /
music is charming. The chorusAs are I
stirring and tuneful. with great melodi- /
Gus body 10 them.
Jefferson de Angels has been provided /
Tith several fine singing opportunities /
His first one is The Garden OF Girls" !
with bunch OF the prettiest girls on 4
the chorus. And then he sings "A I
Change Of Climate" with Marguerite I
Clarke and has a fine ensemble number /
later on in the first act. His best song
in the show. however. comes in the sec /
Ond act. II Is called ''The Cinemato- /
graph. and II gives him a fine oppor- /
tunity for that class Of comedy which he 4
does so we'll and which Is so infectious
when he does f. De Angels IS one Of 4
the few straight" comedians IN musical /
comedy. He never has 10 resort 10 th. /
old knockabout methods. but gets his \
effects very largely through his facial ex- \
preston and the unctuous quality Of his 4
voice. He has not had for years a bet /
ter part or one that gives him a finer
opportunity than the one he has now.
Miss Marguerite Clarke has also been 4
provided with q fine lot Of material. Her
chansonette in the first act. "GOo-Goo." \
was exceptionally good. and she bulks
largely in the trio with Macfarlane. De /
Ball, called ''ToUjours la Politesse." In /
the second act Miss Clarke does a very
pretty valse-"Pas Seul." And later has \
q charming duet with Macfarlane, an
a Hammock"
The piece throughout is full OF mighty
good and Unusual music. There are fine
ensemble songs. "A Song Of the Seal" a
beautiful duo "The BaHerina:" an un-
usual and dainty ditty called "Coo-e."
sung by Billie Norton. a fine quintet.
Boys VIII Be Boys" sung by Viola
Gillette and chorus. and a bully song.
We Give Him Time" sung by ". II I
Denny and the gendarmes. II there was
one particular song bit made during the
show II was made by George J. NIacfar-
lane. and his song, Creole Days" which
received no less than six encores. IS
sure 70 become widely known.
But 10 go on and mention all OF the
good things in The Beauty Spot" would
occupy too much space But in taking
account OF the fine staging or the piece
one must not overlook the fine effects in
the second act. especially the ballet
'Haute EcOle." in which the stage was
filed with gorgeous golden chariOts,
around which the entire chorus danced. (
There were also some wonderful dances
from an ensemble called THE Fete," q
Nautch dance. a character dance. and a \
cOCOanut dance. The whole winding up