The Washington herald., 1909-04-18
NEW YORK THEATERS
The Beauty Spot Starts OFF Well in Cotham-Many
Changes of Bill Along Broadway.

OndngcS OF Dill
New York, April 1.-THE play market
output has never been more lively in
New York than this week. There were
just seven changes Of bill at leading thea
tiers Monday. and new Offering on
Saturday This marks the Easter re-
action. Before the season wanes there
win be more changes and more prOduc-
tions. Apparently some producers are
trying 20 recover ground lost earlier IN
the year and to recoup themselves for
the losses Of a disastrous season.
The Beauty Spot" by Reginald de
Koven. Iibretto by Joseph Herbert. sue
ceeded Bertha Galland al the Herald
Square Saturday night. and starts of
with rosy prospects of supplying the all
summer attraction at that playhouse,
where Three Twins" scored so hotly and
endured so lastingly a year ago. 1t is
one Of those colorful summer attractions
which counteract the fatigue of the dog
days with views Of nghtly-claC maidens
and glimpses Of realistic surfs and
stretching beaches
De Koven has written some graceful
and rapidly flowing melodies for the work.
besides providing a strong cast TO assist
De Angels and Marguerite Clark. who
daintily innpersonates the daughter in love
with the artist, and the operetta starts
of with strong prospects OF realizing It's
mission as a provider of light comedy
for the dullness Of the approaching
season.
On Monday afternoon Weber's Theater
was the scene OF the first performance Of
The Climax" a quartet drama by Ed
ward Locke. which scored with the critics
and is likely 70 hold the boards for some
tine to come. II has many of the dell
cate touches Of human nature and home
" humor OF The Music Master" and re-
sembles that familiar playlet in atmos-
phere as well as in interest. Only four
people are concerned in the plot. and the
scene. which does not change during the
three acts. is laid in the apartment Of an
old italian singing teacher. Luigi Col
fanIL With him are living his son
Pietro. talented young musician and n
very distant relative. Adelina Won Hagen
The events take place in New York. and
Albert Burns plays the old musician. and
a newcomer, Leona Watson, plays Ade-
Ina Pietro is desperately in love with
AoeHna, and IS always composing songs
and madrigalS 10 her But Adelina. who
has come to New York from Azalia
ohio, disguised with the narrow circles
OF her home environments and ambitious
10 become great prima donna of which
she has more than reasonable prospects.
IS devoted 10 her art and laughs at Pfetro
ana mends his socks and looks after his
father's poor little household 70 work Tor
her lessons. The fourth participant in
the plot IS a young physician. who loved
Adelina . Azalia and has followed her
70 New York 70 be near his idol Neither
does A0elina love Raymond well enough
&c give no her love OF the stage and be-
come settled woman with home. Il IS
al In her glorious voice, the color and
romance OF the future. fame. fortune
and the devotion of princes And Just
then she loses her voice and knows not
how it transpired and is hurled into the
lowest depths Of despair.
Her future gone. she accepts gladly
the prO6ered opportunity Of becoming
Raymond's wife. and even Azalia expands
IN dignity % a degree Of possible tolera-
ton. in her ClOuded vision OF the time
70 come. But in the act of going to the
church az Raymond's side, already In
her wedding dress. she attempts TO sing
PietrO's Song Of the Soul" and behold,
her voice bursts forth in all its pristine
glory Of tone and golden melody. What
has happened? She has neglected the
spray which Raymond prescribed for
treatment Of a slight operation on her
throat. and now the truth comes out
81 n-.- i Tr a.
suspended the function OF her voice I'm
order 20 make her give up the stage and
become his wife. There IS talk OF
thought suggestion" in the problem, but
most Of us preferred 10 ascribe Adelina's
loss Of voice TO the spray. She dismisses
her selfish lover, but the piece ends in
an Interrogation point. We are left to
the charitable conjecture that she may
some day recall him and forget 70 what
extent his zeal carried him. The pro-
ductiOn was as remarkable for the tender.
sympathetic acting Of Miss Watson as
for the inherent interest Of the story
She has a sweet, cultivated soprano.
and as THE Song Of the Soul" plays a
prominent part in the drama the role
has TO be impersonated by an actress who
can sing well enough 10 carry out the
Illusion Of possessing unusual vocal pow
ers. Both in the acting and the singing
she was most happy, and her artistic
future seems assured. Bruning was adj
mirable as Golfanti and William Levers
played Raymond we'll with Effingham a
Pinto an efficient Pietro.
Paul Armstrong appears 10 have bet
ter luck at the side OF Rex Beach as
collaboration than he had with THE
Renegade" and blue Grass" earlier in
the season There has probably been no
play on Broadway this season that made
the audience laugh so continually as GO
ing Some" which he and Rex Beach
have written and which was offered at
the Belasco Theater Monday evening. It
was tried out last season, but since that
time many new touches have been put
into the action and several Of the charac-
ters have been elaborated and developed,
and the Shuberts have staged It in the
best form of the art. Lawrence Wheat
was happily chosen for the part OF the
Yale champion; Walter Jones made a de-
cided hit as his masseur and valet, who
assumes TO be his trainer and Herbert
COthren divided honors with both as a
jolly fat lollypOp Of a glee club tenor
singer. who Is Speeds rival for the affec-
tons of Helen Blake and is the means Of
arOusing the cowboys suspicious and thus
making the Yale mans path an even
harder one to travel. The piece went
with a rush over the boards and seems
destined for a good long run.
Nearly every one Of the late plays Is
above the average in interest, and "a
Happy Marriage" by Clyde Fitch, was
well received AT the Garricl,- az was ..,rha