The Washington times., 1911-11-07
Winsome Fairy Is Subtly
Charming in First
Stellar Role. n
WINS PRINCE IN PLAY,
AUDIENCE IN REALITY
Sings Tuneful Score and Acts Bet.
ter Than Ever Before in Her
Stage Career.

OtdSc SdTcST.
Ending the way all well regulated
operas should end, the Spring Maid
narries the prince, as every. one in the
audience hoped, and almost knew she
would. from the very first. and pre-.
they lived happy ever aftsDs
ward" as in the fairy tale. This, how
ever, was in the very last scene, after
lhe librettist had finished two acts Of
romance that proved irresistably ap-
pealing to everybody who went to the
National Theater last night to see
dainty Christie Macdonald in 1.-THE
Spring Maid" the opera that enjoyed
such a phenomenal run In New York.
The play stopped just long enough en-
route to Chicago, where 1t enters next
week an all-winter run. to allow WASH
ingtonians the privilege Of enjoying the
story CT the love affair, some
what fiirtatious, but eminently proper
and delightfully."- interesting. of the
Princess Bozena and Prince Aladar, a
gallant Hungarian nobleman.
From the rise Of the first curtain the
little opera is so full OF en-
trancing melodies, colorful ensembles.
funny men. graceful girls, stunning
gowns, and strong coloring that one
Is almost embarrassed at the richness
Of the offering, scarcely knowing which
to choose as best. There Is a waits
tune. "Dav Dreams" that is fairly hyp-
motto. and then there are two tunes,
Love Bees" and Fountain Fay"
which are among the tantalizing melo-
dies that stick in ones memory delight-
fully. The music of the Spring Maid"
In which Miss Macdonald is making
her first appearance as a star, is de-
ligbtfully melodious and rich in popu.
lar melody without being cheap.
Charming Stage Presence
And Pleasing Personality.
Miss Macdonald sings and acts better
than she ever did before in her life.
Music and Miss Macdonald combine to
make a really unusual success. She Is
like q winsome little fairy. dainty. de-
licious. and with q charming note OF
subtlety in her work. and her charm
ing stage presence is combined with .
pleasing personality.
The story of the play Is woven about
the love affair Of the Princess Bozena,
played by Miss Macdonald. and Prince
Aladar. the Hungarian nobleman. Their
first meeting is at Carlsbad, whittier the
Princess has come accompanied by her
father. the impecurIous Prince Nepo-
muk, who. possessed OF more ancestry
than income. and was never known TO
pay his debts. Here. also. comes Prince
Alaoar. possessor of much coin. and
disliking oh! very much. the women Of
his own aristocratic clsss. whom he
characterizes as cold and unattractive.
Here he meets number Of his compan-
ions. who tell him he surely will fall in
love with Annamirl. the favorite foun-
tain girl. who is Courted by young
officer. The prince lays a wager with
his companions that he will make the
fountain girl love him. but that he will
I rot fall in love with her. At this
overheard his boast. takes the notion
into her pretty little head Of imperson-
aing one Of :he spring maids. which she
proceeds to do. and to flirt outrageously
| OF course it follows that the prince
falls in love with her at once. and in
vites her to accompany him the follow.
ing day on motor trip. She agrees
guised as a woman. whom she intro
duces as her aunt, goes along as chap.
erone.' This aunt Is addicted to ths
wearing Of hoop skirts. and is AFFLICTED
Woven into this tale of romance there
is considerable comedy. furnished by
three clever comedians, Roland. a IA
is hfsh ssd @ho hGof Is fofoasS );
Ursula, an admiring matinee patron,
part excellently played by MISS Jessi.
Bradbury. With three patrons Of tn.
Ursula give a buriesque Of "otheilo'
that is screamingly funny.
Legend of Carlsbad In
Shimmering Fairy Ballet.
The beautiful fairy tale Of the Origin
of the famous Carlsbad spring is gfvei
in a shimmering fairy ballet Of etherea
beauty. Then there is an allegorica
monologue, with music. which is givel
by Annamirl, Roland. Nepomuk, an,
Aladar, which is almost as screamingl
funny as the "Othello" burlesque.
There are seventeen musical number
in THE Spring Maid" all gems of har
mony, and the scenes are OF surpassin
beauty. Elgie Bowen, who will be re
membered for her work In THE Low
Cure" is a Wvacious and attractiv
Annamirl, the real spring maid. Vincen
Sullivan and Ben Hendricks are give
are equal. Tor" McNaughton is one Q
| the cleverest comedians on the stage
| and his impersonation of Othello
one of the funniest things he ever ha
Bradbury, who is not only an intelliger
dancer. AS Prince Aladar. Thoma
Conkey charmed by his presence an
, the excellent manner in which he In
terpreted the part Of the manly scio
!, of a noble house.
IN "The Spring laid Miss MacDor
aid is given opportunity for much effec
, tive work. and in the character of tn
plotting. mischeivous little princess sh
: won the audience from the start wit
hel simple, pleasing way. The music G
J the opera is by Heinrich Reinhardt, ant
; 1t ; needless to say, is of a high charao
ter. Most of 1t is far above what
usually found In light opera. and man
: novelties are found in the writing an
: management of the score, especially I
the skill and ingenuity with which tn
lines of the libretto and the airs ar
woven into each other and the gracefl
adroitness with which one numbt
glides into another, The costumes ar
. delightfully."- picturesque and the scener
: beautiful, especially in the crystal four
1 tain scene. JULIA MURDOCH.
Tomorrow Miss Murdoch will revie
'''"he Deep Purple" which Is being pre-
a sented at the Belasco Theater.
Il NT-l- D-I-. c. Ell