The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-30

ADJUSTMENTS
Grace Van studdifors in New onera

anu otner DIE cities in the north and east, the critics of the south praise Grace van Studdiford in The Golden Butter hy' in which this star. supported by a large and excellent company, will be heard at the Jefferson theatre Tuesday night. The Fort Worth, Tex, Record of January IS has this to say:
 All those who delight in light opera should not let themselves miss the pleas ure of hearing Grace Van Studdiford sing "The Golden Butterfly which she gave at the Byers last night and in which she will be seen again tonight. Here is a musical offering which approaches more nearly the charms of "The Merry Widow than any light opera offering seen in Fort Worth.
 In comparing the two--and it must be borne in mind that the world went "Mer- " Widow mad-there is found much in common between the two operas in mus ic. The Golden Butterfly is not so strongly Hungarian in tone and in musi- cal competition, which may account for the fact that it's songs have not quite the insistent way of returning to mind as have one or two of the numbers of the ''Whew'' music, but at that, ''The Golden Butterfly music shows strong Hungarian colorinHs, and there Is a peculiar delight ful quality In Hungarian music which has universal appeal That the music was written by De Koven is the hallmark of excellence but since 1t is so markedly tingsd with the folk music of the Hun garians 1t can scarcely be called typical Dc Ksven music. This is one instance in which comparisons are not odious, for the comparison is made more because of similarity in musical locale and cos tunes, rather than for the need of meas uring ''Ths Golden Butterfly by any thing but it's own golden self. The music is beautiful, in certain passages brilliant; the story is romantic and full of charm neither is it lacking in plausibility, and it is SC well knit that it may be carried from one act to the next without drop ping any stitches. The production is beautiful, the costuming prodigaAy rich and handsome and the company, number inG D people, are all integral parts of a smooth moving, brilliantly set and alto- gethsr gladseme light opera
 The story recounted Is that of two arn- bilious young musicians. Ham Walden, in the chorus of the Budapesth opera company, and Franz, a young music stu dent of the Latin quarter, who are be- trothsd, but who each seeks the achieve msnt of hope before their troth is con summated. nam has never been able to even get q chance to sing in opera, and at last when Tina, the opera queen, In a wf1im declines to sing, the Baron Von Affarkoff, director of the opera and who is offering an opera which he declares fs his own work, tells Ham that he will give her the chance to create the title rels of his opera, The Golden Butterfly" if she will consent to marry him. Having been previously convinced that Franz has forsaken her for another she prom ises Hew the chance is finally saved to her by the cleverness and Quickness of Yranz and how they are afterward re- united by Franz telling liam the real story ef the author of ''The Golden But ternys-how 1t Is his work which tho baron has stoien-makes a pretty and in- terestinE story, which runs through three acts of beautiful musical establishment.
 As Ham, Grace Van studdiford is all that an enthusiastic press agent has claimed for her; all that enthusiastic critics have written of her. Her voice is one of great fiexibility and perfect tech- nioue. There are no tricks, no artinces in her effects. She does not 50 around and invent methods adaptable to her own notions ts achieve vocal athletics. There are nc sthletics in Grace Van Studdiford's singing There Is sympathy and feeling and beanty of understanding and fntelli- genoa Nature gave Grace Van Studdi- ford . very dslightfuEy rich and resonant voice. and nature also gave Grace Van OtssAAifcrd the intelligence wherewith to apply that voice to Its best uses Miss Van Studdferd. in addition to being singer of marked abilities, Is handsome. graneful and more than proneuncedly oharMing. Iris pity, indeed. that there are net more Grace Van 6tuddifords sing ing light opera and that there are not more Reginald De Kovens to write music and Harry B. Smiths to write such clev- erly musical librettos as are offered in .~The Golden Butterfly"
 Among a number of clever people. Carl Hayden as Franz must be mentioned. as must Harry Macdonough as Baron Won Affenkoff. Charlotte Leslay as Tina and George Edwards, pocket edition comedian The chorus is a collection of pretty girls in pretty gowns. and they combine an ability to sing with an ability to dance
 The Golden Butterfly will be the only attraction at the Jefferson this week and since the seat sale opened at the box offios yesterday there has been steady demand for reservations. Local Manager Douglas is expecting this to be one of the events of the season.
 "Mrs- Wigqs of the Cabbage Patch" at