The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-03
PICKS Her CHORUS
Miss Van StuddifOrd Likes to See
Pretty Ankles.
Intermingles Them With Voice
and Good Looks.
AN UNCROWNED QUEEN
Star Looked to as EXnnnant of
Star Looked to as Exponent of
American Opera.
Blames Lethargy OF Country
for the Conditions.

1.-The Paradise of Mahomet," which
was at the Grand last night, is pri-
vate heaven for Grace Van Studio
ford's high notes. She sings them and
makes faces at them very well indeed.
Her heaven is comfortably furnished
with comedians and the general atmos-
phere is fOreign-aS one might expect
heaven to be. Besides the chorus, more
or less bewitching, has the distinction
of having been selected by Miss Van
Studdiford herself.
Miss Van Studdiford is acknowledged
a connoisseur in the art of selection of
chorus girls. Here is her own view of
what constitutes a good chorus and
why, told in her own words:
You cannot expect every pretty girl
to have a good voice, but a certain
number of real voices are essential for
the ensemble and a certain number of
pretty faces and well turned ankles"
'Oh, Miss Studdiford!'
Likes Well Turned Ankles.
at mean every word, ankles
A-n-k-l-e-s-I like to see them just as
much as you do. No long skirted
chorus for me. When I go to see
musical comedy or comic opera, want
to see some neatly filled silk stockings
on the stage, but the face, the ankles
and the voice never seem to go togeth-
er, SO We have to compromise and as
semble a fair assortment of each. You
are and you heard their voices. and let
me tell you that they are as sweet and
nice a company of girls as you ever
met anywhere.
ct try to be mother to them all and
they seem to appreciate the interest I
take in them. Some of these girls will
be light opera queens themselves some
day. Many of them come from excel
lent families and I'm going to do all 1
can to help them along"
English Opera Still in Future.
Miss Van Studdiford, the uncrowned
queen of the unborn American grand
opera, is of the opinion that grand
opera in our native tongue is still for
the indefinite future. She admits that
she is somewhat prejudiced because she
has waited so long for it that she has
given up in despair. The trouble, she
thinks. is not with the language as she
says that next to italian English is the
American public as not patriotic
enough, and declares that she has re-
fused many offers to sing in Italian
opera, rather than turn her back to the
language in song of her own country.
Matrimony Seen in Paradise.
''The Paradise of Mahomet,'' suggests
the possibility, through the Messrs.
Smith, who are responsible for the
libretto, that earthly bonds of matri-
mony continue to binding in Para
disc. 1t is a startling suggestion, one
that fires the imagination and inspires
deep contemplation 1t makes, one
think that after all it is an exceed
ingly good thing, we know so little
about paradise. Our information upon
the opposite place is more extensive and
what we do not know the poets and
painters have tried to imagine for us.
but it remained for the Messrs. Smith
to attempt to give us our first glimpse
of heaven on the stage. To be sure
it is the Mohammedan paradise they
have in mind, but that does not make
it any the less interesting. On the con-
trary it rather excites curiosity.
Even Miss Studdiford is a bit start
led at the conception the Messrs. Smith
all the good work done at Reno going
for naught!'
The audience last night was small
so small that Daniel V. Arthur, the
owner of the production, may wipe To-
peka off his map as he threatened be-
cause Marie Cahill drew only $500. But
those who were there had a treat
nevertheless-it is a delight to hear
Miss Van Studdiford. She sings divine
" and has many opportunities in her
new opera. The action of the piece is
rather slow and it needs dash and
vigor to make it a success. Topeka
had an opportunity to see in the sup
port Maude OdelI, known as the most
perfectly formed woman on the Amer
lean stage. Miss Odell was here with
James O'Neil as Milady in the Three
Musketeers some years ago.