The Washington times., 1910-11-22
FRITZ Sckeff Heads Cast Of
Merit in Famous
Comic Opera.
COMEDY HONORS
FOR DIGBY BELL
Even Miner Roles find Capable In
terpTeteTs- L. Waterous
Wins Praise.

That annoying tribe Of dramatic and
operate autiquarians who always car
find some obsolete occasion TO excel any
present artistic performance brought tC
their attention would have q hard time
convincing many Of the audience at the
BeIascO last evening that The AIikadc'
was ever better sung, even IN its palm
lest days, beginning in 1SS5-
Though the name of FRITZ ScheH APP
peared IN the largest type the program
afforded and a, crowded house probably
was as much a tribute 70 her as 10 the
revival of the famous Gilbert and SuIH-
van comic opera. the cast might truth
fully have been designated by that mis-
used term ail-SCar- The dep rich bass
Of Il l. NaterCUs was a delight seldom
found IN lElter opera productions, and
Frank RuSlWCTrh sang the tenor role
Of Nankl-POO with almost equal uistinC-
ton
appearances probably not the most
Tpened memory IN the audience could
strickland his unctuOus fUn-uaking
ana versatile appeal 10 the riSiblltIss
would put the antics Of some featured
comedians u shame Sharing in q
elElter degree comedy hDuOT5 were the
Mlkaoo OF William Danforth and the
IlSn-IuSn OF arthur Cunningham ka-
uS1a was sung By Kate Condor. and q
y1vacioUs Pitti-SinE was found in Hat
I've Fox
Fritz Scheh Welcomed
More noted for her piQuancy than for
the Occurrences usually associated with
the role OF Eum-Yum, II was a prob
lem as 10 how FRITZ ScheT was 10 sub
ordinate her personality 10 the new re-
QuireEents- She solved the problem
nicely BY not efTacinc herself in an orr
entail make-up-indeed, her gown in the
last act might grace any ultra-EurODesn
drawing room were il not for the con
slant reminder OF q large bow across
the baCI-znd her representation gave 2
touch Of Japo0's atmosphere 10 about
the same degree
She received aR ovation upon her ap-
pcaTa1ce and her singing IN the Three
Little Maids from School number. set
aside all further doubt as 10 her adapta-
bliltV 10 the GTITTleSs part But she did
not nave q cnance 70 exploit fully her
peculiarly SlEeTV and bell-llEe notes IN
III the aria early in the second act Her
singing Of this number alone would have
made the evening noteworthy and a
splendid tribute was paid her BY the ap-
pause or an audience that Was rather
UrdenonstTatiye earlier in the PERFORM
ance-
The only flaws in her work last even
11S may have been incidents TO that par
IiCular performance ard not TO be ex-
pected regularly IT NAV be an excel
lent quality IN real life to be able 70
smile cCylv in the face Of being buried
alive and q burden of similarly unFleas-
ant pT0S poets - FER gay good huuOr
al certain stages Of the performance
did not suit the requirements of the
Tole- Two OF her songs would have lost
none OF their effect had she refrained
from giving stage directions
Tribute to Comedian.
PIayeoers- who had only heard the
Flowers that Bloom in the Spring
and the pIaintive ''Tit-Viuow' songs in
stock productions. had little earnest Of
what was IN store for them when these
were sung BY Digby Bell His thrilling
recital Of the blOOd-CurdIing details Of
the imaginary execution Of Nauki-POo
won almost as hearty appreciation
The role Of the 1IikadO, generally as
signed 70 an inexperienced player,
opened a rich vein for William Dan
forth. Who was recalled several times
ICr his lTSL number The splendid voice
o. Il L " aterOuS blendid well with the
tenor Of M RUShvOrlh in their several
appearances together, and he was per
the first act
The male chorus, which latter day
managerial economy has banished, fur
HiShed no small amount Of the musical
enjoyment Of the first act The finale
OF this act was spleudidlv given
The uniform excel euce of the cast
again was recalled when the minor role
OF P1ttl-SlnG was done BY Miss Harrve
FOX with pronounced effect Miss KATE
Condor did not hesitate to conceal anv
ClE1elIneSS nature may have bestowed
upon her to meet the fullest REQUIRE
Tents Of the role Of Katisha, whose
beauty, since Il lay principally in her
Ehouicer blade and IN her unique right
heel was naturally concealed
II the pronounced success of this mo-
CuCtlou OF The lIikadO' leads 10 the
revival OF other comic opera classics
the ShuhertS should have added credfr
for ilaUgUrati1E a welcome precedent.
J r HILDEBRAND-