The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-08
THE NEW NATIONAL.


"Geneev and "The silver Star"
Mile. Adeline Genee was heartily vel
coined last night at the New National
Theater. when she appeared in Klaw &
changers magnificent production OF The
Silver STAR Genee has visited Wash
ington only once before. but she be-
longs to that class of artists that make
an instant eHentele-she Is so far above
the average in her particular field In
deed. there is nobody. not even Sacchetto.
who can approach her in the exposition of
! the formal dance.
Primarily, Genee is a ballet dancer.
She belongs not to the new and undraped
school of classical dancers and poseurs,
but keeps alive The graceful and cultured
art that has pleased more than one
generation OF theater and opera goers.
There is no question of her pre-eminenee
among the dancers of the present day.
and she is lkabIe because there is a
spontaneity. verve in all that she does,
that has no flavor of the sensational or
] NtAo AtdAiBD1 NJ R&EN@&S& RtSt1hO -
imaginable than her 'springtime" ballet.
in a costume suggestive OF the crocus and
the daffodil, blending of sweet and deli
cate spring oolors. In this she was a
nymph, sprite OF the woods - she
touched with fer magic wand her at
tendant dancers, who imbibed of the
grace and daintiness OF their leader.
The first appearance OF the danseuse is
in the midst OF q Christmas tree. when.
as the Christmas fairy she deseends 10
take. part in the holiday revels. and exc
cutes the fairy dance, the march mill
taiTe, and the sailors hornpipe. each
with a slight change OF costume. Her
dancing in all these figures IS little short
OF marveious-the bounding on tip-toe,
the maintaining OF perfect equilibrium for
whole moments on the toes. and the grace
and the suppleness apparent throughout
1t is an exhibition that holds one breath
less. like the singing Of Tetrazzini or
Caruso or the playing of Paderewski.
The grand ballet OF THE Silver Grape
Arbor," with Genee as the Spirit of
Champagne. was the climax OF the per
Torrance last night Great ribbons Of
glittering beads and mirrors rejecting
the many lights OF the stage transformed
the scene into a veritable fairyland of
light; and slke the bubbles IN the wine
that II represented. il was intoxicating
in its brilliancy. It was at this point
that Genee gave complete evidence OF
her mastery over her art. and abandoned
herself TO moving her audience TO the
fullest extent.
The lexicon does not produce adiectives
that quite describe this creature Of
twinkling feet. fImy skirts. and tight lit
tie blonde curls-she is simply the en-
bodiment Of grace. the spirit Of the dance.
indeed. One could say of her
When you do dance. | wish You
wave Of the That sou might ever do
Nothing but that
and that he might watch.
The Silver star" is the subordinate
attraction at the National Theater this
week. Independently, Mile. Genee would
attract quite as large aud distinguished
an audience as she did last night, but
her managers have seen fit 10 offer her
as jewel in setting OF unusual beauty
and merit. The play is an unusually
good one. and is by no means an IN
worthy background for so peerless a star
as Genee.
In the first place, the scenic effects
call for especial praise. Three settings
OF great beauty-the first showing the
outside and the inside OF millionaire's
mansion, where a Christmas party is in
progress; the second the grand foyer of
the Paris Opera, and the last villa gar
den on the Thames There is wealth
of fresh and attractive costumes, and the
ensembles are wonderfully executed.
The chorus numbers show, also, the care
ful training of Julian Mitchell, stage
manager par excellence, and the girls
are pretty and can dance In fact. there
is a great deal of dancing, all told, the
presence of the great Genee being ap-
parently an inspiration for the entire
company
Bickel and Watson are funny. of
so Their antics are
quite as laugh-provoking as they were In
the Folly" shows. with which they be-
came identified to high-ciass audiences. !
Emma Janvier, too. with her legitimate
deal Of her humor is too subtle for the
average mind, and many of her shafts
met with no response. There is no bet
ter Coincidence on our stage Lee Har-
rison, as a comedy villain; F. stanton
Heck, and Ann Tasker were the leading
of the rest Of a cast uniformly
capable. o. c. Mack proved to be the
tailest actor on any stage, and the
rooster on Miss Janvier's hat served to
remind Washington that the world is in
the throes Of the ''Chantecler" craze.
The Silver Star is an enviable pro-
duction. There is a vast amount of clev- |
erness involved in its makeup, which re- |
fleets credit on all concerned, from the |
beautiful and accomplished star down to |
the stage carpenter.
WILLIAM OSBORN.
THE ACADEMY.