The Washington herald., 1909-05-04
THE BELASCO.
Lulu GIaser as Mile. Mischief


There is new music IN town-destined 70
be played. sung. and whistled all over the
city-for Lulu Glaser has arrived with
I Mile Mischief" the latest Viennese. op-
eretta, adapted by Sydney Resented from
the book by Kraatz and Won Sterk, with
music by Carl NJ Ziehrer. At the Be
lasco Theeter last night a large audience
followed Miss Glaser through the mazes
of romp. to which the music OF one Of
/ the prettiest scores Of the season gave
Just the necessary. contrast Of dignity.
Mile. Mischief might. without the mu-
/ sic. be carried under the name OF a
straight farce comedy, and would prob
ably make something of a success under
that designation alone. With the music.
/ II is a delicious entertainment. The trou-
/ bic with most operettas. or r1usical come
/ dies. has been lack Of plot and a dearth
Of sustained interest. but IN Mile Mis-
chief we can find no such fault The
/ complications are fast and furious and
nobody really seems 10 know Just what IS
/ going to happen next The whole trouble
arises from the advent OF a girl into a
| Tegimental barracks. Not an original
/ treatment IN this particular case. Nile
Mischief Is only ROsette. an artists model
who wagers fifty thousand gulden that
she can pass twenty-four hours in the
I barracks without being discovered. She
| passes herself of as Freddy Meline, a
rich mans son. and a silly ass. who IN
his turn gets taken for girl masquered-
I ing as q man.
Plenty Of opportunity for comedy sitaa-
tions IN this plot occur. and the authors
have taken every advantage OF them,
and 4 Is 70 their credit 70 record that
the minimum OF suEgestiveness appears
| The brOadest episode Is where Rosette
reports 10 the barracks as the delinquent
! recruit, Freddy, and Is ordered By the
sergeant 20 strip and be scrubbed, as all
recruits are vigorously treated. owing 10
one OF the coionels theories that a hard
eEing process IS necessary for the true
soldier. Hot and cold baths alternately
administered. re his fad Rosette escapes
only through the confession OF the secret
OF her sex 10 the handsome young Heu-
tenant IN command. but involves various
other characters IN her explanation. '
and gets them ali into no end OF trouble
The music OF Mile. Mischief belongs
20 the pure Viennese school. as exempli-
/ fed by The Waltz Dream and The
Merry Widow Two enhancing waltz
movements predominate the score. the
Sweetheart song Of Miss Glaser and
My own Vienna, both OF which were
lenc0red many times. One solo, which Is
/ perhaps the most notable piece Of music
+ IN the operetta. is lie Occur de Ninou. o.
sung by Gertrude Darrell, who repeated
again and again IN response 20 the ap-
I plaUse Her voice Is one Of the best
sopranos ever heard on the light opera
stage and her excellent work came as 4
! complete surprise The Army Corps"
chorus Tor male voices is a vigorous and
snappy ensemble. and IN fact every mu-
Z sical number scored heavily last night
I Offering proof that really good music IS
an always welcome relief from the hastily
I thrown together melodies that food the
stage
Lulu Glaser IS delightful IS Rosette
T She frollcked and danced and seemed
70 50 thoroughly enjoy herself !n the
( part that her mood was infectious, and
I the audience was with her from the
start She has developed from a singing
{ s0ubrette into comedienne OF marked
ability. every gesture, every grimace.
[ each aside. and all the thousand and one
I
I the acting Of a comedy role being az her
command In her boys clothes she look
+ ed and acted Just Ike the hobbIedehoy
that she was supposed 70 represent, and
I in the rightful garb OF her sex was as
stately and sported as many diamonds
as q genuine queen Of comic opera" a
designation which viii never be hers so
I long as she continues 10 be that rara avis
"a genuine comedienne-
( The company IS q notable one stand
/ ing out clear and distinct. however. Is
Roy AtWell as Freddy MeIine Mr.
Z Atwell plays the silly ass with a new
/ twist. and w2s never once tedious or
: boring. He kept the audience laughing
all the tine he was on the stage. and AZ
the same time preserved a remarkable
/ resemblance 10 a real individual. some
thing which the usual stage fool is not
! ". 2. Carleton, as the intriguing leu
/ tenant; William Roseil. as Andre Claire.
an artist: Alex. Clark. as the father OF
7 Freddy Meline. Robert Broderick. as the
/ general: Frank Harrington. as the
+ sergeant, we're all good Harrington and
/ Resell created lots OF amusement IN the
{ scrubbing scene. for Claire has 20 sub
/ stitute for the mIschievOus ROsette and
I submits TO the hot and cold bath treat
ment. the sounds OF which torture are
distinctly audible, though not visible. Ida
StanhOpe and Josie IntTopOdi completed
I the well-balanced cast. and the chorus
/ is composed Of unusually young and
( pretty girls. The costumes are fresh and
artistic and the stage settings beautiful
Mile Mischief is an unusually good
musical play. and one that VIII attract
( theateTgOers Of varying tastes. It is full
OF novelty and interest, and thoroughly
I enjoyable entertainment
WILLIAM OSBORN.