The Washington herald., 1909-04-20

The Belasco Theater was in gala array
last night
The lobby was a mass Of lowers-rhodo-
oendrons. white lnacs, azaless, crimson,
Tamblers-an blended in riot Of color.
offering a fragrant welcome and a de-
Ightful foretaste OF the pleasure that
awaited the audience within the theater
The Washington Comedy Club, com
posed Of the beaux and bellies Of society.
who gave We Are in Society" and then
again The Prince OF Parcheesi." joined
hands this season with Mrs. A. c. Ba--
ney. and the result OF the combined ef-
forts was About Thebes." a modern nnu-
Eical comedy in ancient Egyptian setting.
the book for which was written by Mrs
Barney herself. and the music composed
by Prof. Harry Wheaton Howard. the
Eell-knoVn local musician
ScenicaIIy a Fine Production.
Scenically. About Thebes' is about the
best amateur production that Washing
ton has ever seen The first curtain dis
closed an oasis in the desert ~on the
road 10 Thebes" al daybreak Palms
waving and swayfng, and Bedouins en-
camped. greet the eye in semi-5arkness-
The droning Of a sensUous Oriental mel
Ddy begins. at first almost like the sigh
Ing Of the wind. and growing nscIs and
more ike the music OF the East The
sleepers awaken and sing their strange
scross the stage and III their vessels al
the we'll singing as only the Monday
Morning Music Club members can sing
4 magician performs a strange piece of
legerdemsin, and Gay gra5uslly breaks
over the desert The atmosDhe-s IS adj
nirsble. and genuine approval was voiced
IN the spontaneous applause that broke
from the big audience. Then the music
changes and q party of Cooks t0uriFts
arrive on the scene
West Invades the Scene.
Presto, the East vanishes and the bust
ling, nervous West invades the vicinity.
4 scientist arrives IN an airship An air
ship On the Egyptian DESERT The Cooks
people comprise q young widow. Mrs
BrosdwslI. an oIdmaid chaperon. one
Fstims Wells Miss Faith Lee. OF Chi
gago; Miss Dale and the Rev. Anthony
Smoot. Also mixes IN Capt Percival
Hospool. OF the Camel Corps, British
army, and q German baron. q perfect lady
killer in his heavy Teutonic way.
MeBiitz, the Cooks guide. has command
II the party. and the party takes com
nand OF the desert and. incidentally. the
whole Of Egypt including the Khedive.
who IS willing 70 bundle 2 whole haren
suIl Of wives into the Nile for the sake
Of a glance from the American widows
eyes The ruler OF Egypt carries OF the
widow TO view the tOmbs Of his ancestors
at Thebes, for she has promised 10 love
hin II he VIII give her the WrappinEs
rom two mummies. which. in spite OF the
advice Of his ministers. he agrees 70 90.
Mrs. Barney in Dances.
The audience is Their transferred IN
spirit 70 the great tom5s OF the Kings
Z Egypt a. Thebes- Here in the dim
light from the braziers burning incense.
5 danced the Dance OF the Awakening BY
10 less a person than Mrs. Barney her
self. who appeared under the nome de
heater OF Nine. Geraldine Clifford. The
lance is full Of that potent Oriental sug-
gestion so vividly done IL modern times.
out which gives Us q glimpse Of the man
Ter in which the ancients illustrated the
poetry Of motion and exploited the IN
lampered grace Of the body Egyptian
girls, waving palms Of victory. next ap-
oear and 60 through a graceful move
ueut, Illustrative Of the glory Of the
fynasty that lies entombed al Thebes
nto the brazieT more incense is thrown
md the fires burn brightly, green. then
ed. All the while the chanting of me
Continued On Page II, Column 3.