Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-22
ADJUSTMENTS
Belasco.

Players with tragic ambitions have
been proverbially anxious to play
Romeo and Juliet. The aspirations of
comic opera singers toward the roles of
Ko 10 and Yum Yum are almost as
strong. True the opportunities to ap-
pear in the Gilbert and Sullivan classic
were more numerous. THE Mikado"
swept the country at q time when comic
opera was still opera as well as comic.
1t observed the restrictions of tradi-
tional form, yet developed themes in a
spirit Of whimsical gayety that made
them seem the very acme Of frivolity.
Nobody expected 1.-The Mikado' to en-
dure; 1t was too effervescently playful
to appeal to anything but the passing
taste. Yet the lines, with their subtle
satire. were quoted by the wags who
get their conversation ready made from
the theater, and the music was well
coined with delight by connoisseurs who
recognized tho marvellous craftsman
ship, both in voice and orchestral writ
ing, despite the humorous purpose to
Kos and Yum Yums were almost as
numerous as original members Of the
Florodora sextet have since become
The name of Digby Bell is so closely
associated with the early career Of 1.-The
Mikado" in this country that he repre-
sents the traditional spirit Of the pres
ent enterprise, even while contributing
its most 1aughable moments. 1t Is a
come back. but one Of those perennially
youthful personages who wait for time
and taste to circle around to their own
heyday.
Miss FRITZ Scheff is not a Mikado
veteran-heaven forbid the suspicion!
Fresh. youthful and exquisite of per-
sonality. she Is none the less a tradi-
tional Yum Yum. uniting with the rare
individual charm vocal projections that
make the artistic phase Of the role as
important as its piquant drolleries
Normally the Mikado Is not star
opera. In the first act the prima donna
is rather neglected and at times almost
effaced by the romping Titipu school
girls by whom she is surrounded. But
when the Moon and L" song enables
Yum Yum to artlessly declare her sense
of natural superiority to all her sur
graceful and fascinating prominence
that fully justifies the ingenious avowal
Of self esteem.
The first time Miss scheff sang the
the singer was not; the next time was
better. and when in response to an encore
a verse was repeated she sang Il with
delicacy Of incubation and accuracy Of
tone control that made each note like
radiance from a facet of an exquisite
gem.
William Danforth's Improvisation of
the Mikado was more than q revival. 1t
was q reincarnation Of the spirit of COM
edy which went abroad when librettists
were still Influenced by the best literary
models and when composers were not SO
ambitious to qualify in the intricacies Of
ragtime syncopatiOn.
Frank Rushworth as Nanki Poo made
an excellent showing in one Of the most
exacting tenor roles, since 1t requires mu-
| eli ulv eYDcrtneSR without sacrifice of
distinct enunciation. HI. L. Waterous
was a capital Poo Bah. and Hattye Fox
went frolicking through the role Of Pitt
Sing like sunbeam. Kate Condor play
ed the part of Katisha with fine legiu-
mate erect and sang competently, and
the chorus, we'll trained and beautifully
garbed after the manner of the orient.
afforded a pleasant relief from the ath-
letic frenzy which possesses the ordinary
musical entertainment.