The Washington times., 1910-12-27
Marriage a la Carte" Gets
Enthusiastic Approval
of Capital.
LITTLE STAR TAKES
HEARERS BY STORM
Length of Performance at Pre-
miere Is Most Serious
Objection.

~ dSflIIlEIOn last ulEnL- represented
an audience that almost filed the Belas-
co. gave demoustrative approval 70 Ideb-
Ter & Cos latest production. Marriage
IA Carte" and accorded a place in
the front rank OF musical comedy stars
10 dainty Emmy WehIen-
There was no half-hearted acceptance
about the Capitals reception OF this
premiere for encOres were demanded
tine after time. despite the evident hesI-
fancy OF the composer-prO ducer-director
10 accord them Either this reluctance
was due TO the fact that such a hearty
welcome was unexpected, and therefore
unpTepared for, or It was merely d
question OF the performance being too
long 10 allow time for the encores-
Considerable confusion resulted IN
more than one instance when the en-
cores were finally given. indicating that
10 careful provision had been made for
this contingency during the rehearsals-
The most serious objection TO be fOur=ci
with the first production OF Marriage
Ia Carte Is the fact that Il IS too
long, the performance not being con-
clUded until 11-45.
When the pruning knife has been ap-
plied-and as moderate a pruning as
possible is recOmmended-s few changes
made IN the cast, for there is more than
one weak spot and the principals, one
OF two OF them. at least. become mOTe
familiar with their lines, this latest ad-
ditiOn 70 the ranks Of musical comedies
TO doubt viii take its place as one or
the real successes OF the last few sea-
sons
Two Prominent Figures
ANY discussion Of ".darriage a Ia
Carte which was not prefaced by the
mention Of its star would hardly be fair.
It Is doubtful whether any newcomer
into stardon ever before carried a Capt.
tai audience so completely by storm as
cid this 5ezintv little hit Of imported
femininity- Just as good TO look upon
ss the photographs witch preceded her
gave promise Of. with a witchinE charm
Of manner so peculiarly her own that
one IS not tempted 70 comparisons, and
with q voice more than big enough for
the demands put upon Il. and clear and
sweet. this little woman carried her
audience right on its feet and caused a
fLrore that one seldom sees in a wash
inStoH thsater.
Another who Is not 20 b overlooked in
the reckoning OF the premiere's success
IS Harry Conor. he OF many former tri-
un1phs here. Much Of the comedy fen
70 his lot. and save for occasional Iapses
Of mem0cy and q faITering in his lines.
he vas the same funny, lovable charac-
ter Of Old A little more familiarity
with his Dart. however. IS essential be
fore he can make the role OF Napoleon
Pettingil the comedy part il should be-
Unlike the average musical comedy,
there IS a story that Is sufficiently con-
nected to be taken into the reckoning
Primarily q. wife 50 lngroSSed with her
own importance that a mere husband
counts for little; two former maJTiTuO-
NAL ventures, and subsequent COmpli-
cations are the basis for the story One
Of these former husbands. after an alb
EenCe OF many years. IS returned. IN
willingly, BY q railroad wreck to the
bosom Of his family the ether material
ling about the same time
Napoleon, the first, IS at the head Of
q travelling aggregation. OF which his
daughter Resale. the wire walker, =
the star attraction Everyone loves
Resale. including the audience, and
Conplicatfons come thick and fast E,v-
prv1hinZ turns out nicely IN true musical
comedy style. but the consistent way In
which the story Is followed I'd is =
pleasing innovation
Stars Triumph.
Tn ere are two figures in the support
ing cast who stand out prominently
charles Brown. as q young English Of
fcer, did as good work as the accepted
stage type Of sSinine young English
man as one could ask 10 see His pOr-
travail was consistent throughout and
his number. Castles Not a Bit Like
Mother" vas delicious
Elsa Ryan Is another meInDer OF IN
cast who last night frightened her noio
on tho affections Of WashinEtoniaTls
Her biggest success was her lauEnaoie
number with the male chorus Captain
Df1Elspop-
When one excerpts Miss Wehlen, the
most attractive feature Of the production
* its mu-ic- Like most OF the features
the rlU=ic is not on the American type
There 5 none Of the clash of Cymbals
fleet = 10 George Cohsn, but much OF
f. IS seductive and aIlurinE with haunt
ing grains that IiuEer in the mind Ivan
CsrvII. who is responsible for the music
himself conducted the orchestra OF
forty pieces c. NJ 8 Mcclellan. who
wrote the books and lyrics, also saw the
opening last night
A chorus. which Is one OF the best
looking aEEUeEstiOns seen here this sea.
IN. stunning costumes and almost per
feet stage settings, al imported added
their quota 70 make the premiere ol
Marriage IA Carte" the success Il
really was NJ H NJ