Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-27

engagement with the admirer of the
ambassadors wife to spare the latter
a compromising situation. Danilo, adj
miring her adroit action, bids her
adieu and starts for MaXim's; but she
merely sings, HE loves me. I'm sure
of it," and we feel the duel is still on.
In the final scene of sybaritic carni-
val in the French restaurant one real
ICES how keen is the illusion of dramat-
ic verify which is built UP by the com
poser-an illusion far more real and
abiding than that Of many out and out
| plays. There is that garish and gauZy
| cross-section of the ariStocratic Paris
| ian underworld spread out before US in
Maxim s-the students, the dancers,
the Haunting woman of the town. But
we feel that it is only feeting and
temporary-it all but fails to rivet out
attention, for we know that the real
actors have yet to arrive. How quickly
and surely the music is hushed at the
entrance Of Sonia! How we forget the
old ambassador in his night of furtlve
gayety, as we hear once more the
strains of the Waltz Danilo is singing
singing of the love he dares not
speak. Sonia bows in tears, and his
smile of triumph vanishes. They sing
together. AS a last ruse, she tells MIN
that she must lose her fortune If she
weds. He speaks the words L love
u
No wonder all America is married to
the Merry Widow. In the hands of half
a dozen actresses the character has re-
NAMED one coherent creation-a classic
character which each has fitted with
few differences of method or imperson-
ton. Miss Cameron gave us an arch
and winning woman last night as her
version, but I fancy 1t differed little
from those of her rivals in previous
productions. The character is an I'M
perious one and enforces its own por-
trayal.
The same is true, in a measure, of
Mr.. Damerals Prince Danilo. Except
for the closing dance, in which 1t
seemed to me he did not make suf-
ficiently clear the progress Of his WOO
ing in it's most crucial moments, he
made the part notable as an acting
role. I cannot remember what his voice
is. 1 only recall what he did, and the
delicate way he blended passion and
anger and defiance and determined en-
durance in the dance in act II. Only
gradually did he grow sober in the
first scene of recognition, overcoming
the intoxication of wine even as he
mastered the intoxcation of love. In
form and manner he empodled the
character accurately.
Miss Van Bruno as Natalie acted
well. but sang at Am a Dutiful Wife"
as If the solo panied her voice as much
as the fidelity seemed to agonize that
ficlSle and Interesting character. She
acted her part excellently in the deft
and dexterous comedy of the fan.
other features of the production
which deserve mention are the excel
lent ensemble work of the male chorus
in the song, "In Marsovia," and that
wild. Joyous dance by the double octet
TT "a
a delicate thing, instinct with yearn-
ing and sounding clearly the haunting
minor refrain of the Waltz. The stag
ing and costumes are throughout
magnificent, particularly in their de-
tails. Several of the painted mus
taches, however, could bear a little
more art in their construction, In some
cases suggesting the aruessness OF
broad farce comedy rather than the
dignity of an operetta- OF the char
acter parts Mr. Figman and Mr..
Leary deserve credit for finished ac-
curacy and original touches In por-
traiture.
But after all, our hearts are with
the ''Wtdow" Miss Cameron's adept
impersonation remains craven on the
memory as the most distinct Of many
cameo-Iike characters, and the dreamy
strains of the famous waltz Will echo
in our ears long after she has passed
on to other triumphs and the Lehar
niece has taken an honored place
among the few recent contributions to
permanent operate. literature.
I learn on reliable authority that the
Relasco has practically given up hope
of regaining Miss Florence Reed,
thanks to the ironclad contract with
fine Shuberts which will compel her
presence in New York for many months
10 come. A telegram received here a
few days ago from Miss Reed is said
10 have made the matter as certain as
ANYTHING can be in the theatrical
world. / understand the choice is not