Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-23
A M u S E M E N 7 S i.
Columbia.

The annual engagement of FRITZ Scheff
has come TO be regarded as an event unto
itself. The Prima Donna is piece so
obviously constructed for her purposes
that the title role and the individual star
may be regarded merged. One of the
very few singers IN the lighter forms OF
entertainment known unde.' the general
designation of musical comedy qualified
to render mus;c of pretentious charac-
ter. she is fitted by the obiging and ca
pable Victor Heroert with melodies rs
gracefully designed to spay her skill
as her costumes are to show her chic
lines. Miss Scheff is disposed 10 rely
upon voice and raiment in the present
production. and her reliance is not mis-
placed. The audience last night expert
enced no apparent resentment If she was
d sposed to let the lines of witty purport
which fell TO her share take care OF
themselves. and If some of the situations
moved her to no visible emot onality. HeI
songs delivered With exquisite ancurac!
Of eNecut on, were suffi .ient to claim un-
stinted applause. and her temperance
as a drum. SoIoiSt showed "A genial conde-
lieu Of temperament. Besides in d scussins
temperament it should be remembered
that the ''Prima Donna is !; mus cal
play: uot a drama. Ii has a succession
OF songs and comedy scenes which alter
nate in just proportion with d decara-
ton Of love and near-insult by IA sol
der to E;s superior officer>to supply ro-
mantle ballast.
1t is said by students of such matters
that when = millinery creation looks pc
culiarly Pari*ian the chances are that il
was made in New York. The same thing
is true of musical plays. somber dis
sertation on church. state and family
comes from the French capital in au-
thent'c >olemnity. while scenes of the
gay cafes and glimpses of reckless thirst
that habitaly celebrate the green hour
are turned cut in regular supply by the
authors whose work bears strictly
Donna. with words by Henry Blossom
and music BY Victor Herbert. proclaims
itself on the bills made in America" al
though its chief merit depends on the
success with which that fact is dis
Guised. 1t is one of the most convincing
pictures of gay life that has been pre-
sented-a bubbling AMI exhilaratinG sue
cesscn Of holiday scenes in show places
in which every individual of the restless
tlron- seems bent on contributing TO the
hilarious hubbub.
Mr. Hsrber;'s music is as usual finely
expressive of each passing mood that the
text suggests. The broader comedy rs
well taken care of by James r.. Sullivan,
who impersonates IAN eccentric German
musician whose whimsical humor fin,s Il
climax Of expression in song in which
he declares his desire to be married to
the music of the band \ mae chorus
does excellent service in serious numbers
and an octet of mixed voices uneXpect-
eddy halts the action with selections
which won hearty approval.
THE Prima Donna is but a vehicle for
Miss Scheff. The numbers provided for
her are calculated 10 delight the ear both
as compositions and performances.
Miss Scheff's costumes are chic and
charming and the stare settings elabo-
rately beautiful The audience was not
only large. but was one of exceptional
personal distinction.