The Washington times., 1911-01-17
"The Chocolate Soldier"
Given Hearty Reception
at Belasco.
CHARM IN THE MUSIC
AND LINES AS WELL
Consistent Story Told and Real
Comedy Situations Are
Disclosed.

! For many months occasional no.
tlces. all of them hatteripg, about
"The Chocolate Soldier" have beer
reaching Washington and echoes oi
much of its seductive music have beer
heard here. Last night this delight
| full operetta materialized and those
who had the foresight to purchase
their tickets in advance, saw and
heard the first production here
Others. the late comers, had to con-
tent themselves with making reserva-
tions for later in the week.
Music by Oscar Straus, based upon
George Bernard Shaw's Arms and
the MAN. libretto by Rudolph Ber-
naur and Leopold Jacobson; English
version by Stanislaus Strange.
This is a part of the information
given by the first glance at the pro-
grams and with such an array OF
past masters of their craft RESPONSE
BILE for the existence Of THE Choco-
late Soldier" 1t is small wonder that
the results obtained are so satlsfac-
tory. To Mr. Straus primarily, now
ever. are the thanks of the theater-
going public due for 1t is his music
that makes this musical show the de-
light It is.
Snatches of Music.
Take for instance my Hero" which
Incidentally found its way to the Cap
ttaI far ahead of original setting.
thanks t3 the modern tendency In the
theatrical world to exploit song hit
long before the production In ~hlch
II Is first heard gets ION the roao.
This was also true of many Oh the
numbers. for there was a haunting
familiarity about the music whlch
nossibIv does not detract in the least
from its charm.
Lest some one get the impression
however. that this attraction mas
nothing TO recommend 1t but its music
he II said that there is a story told,
Quito an interesting one, too. and
there Is not a little comedy OF lhe
genuine brand. ,o ,d
This story is laid in Bulgaria ana
opens during the war with SeFNla' ~
6rst scene is in the sleeping apartments
of Nadina Popoff, whose 1alner dNu
fance are both officers in the bulgarian
army. The time is nighttaH ana the tdir
Nadjna is preparing to retire "hen 10
her room comes q SOOhS :, 4
+I,ho has escaped from his captorS ana
climbed up to her room by the "dISt "tf
spout. This is Lieutenant Bu1nern, & the
fToCoIa+a Soldier" Nadines mother
and her cousin discover him there after
she has hidden him while MS puFsueFs
search the apartment, and so charulnS
is the Young soldier and SC welcome the
SIGHT Of a man that the three quarrel
over him and each of them fails more
or less in love with him. Before ne
leaves disguised in NGdina's father
hOusecoat, each of them, unseen, Sips
her photograph into his pocket.
The next scene shows the return OF
the heroes after the war Wneh tHt So
liant Major Spiridof claims her hand.
Discoveries are made. BUmerlt returns.
and everything works out in true opera
bouffe style.
Cast Is Excellent.
The opera is presented with an excel
lent cast. The two most pleasing fig
ures in this cast are Harry Farleigh, as
Bumerli, and Rena Vivienna, as Nadina.
Miss Vivienne's voice is heard to best
advantage, of course, in MY Hero"
Farleigh makes an ideal comic opera
hero and has a pleasing baritone that
he uses effectively.
Gene Luneska, who takes the role of
Mascha, the cousin, has more than one
song, which she handles very salts
faCtCrily, while Mildred Rogers, as the
mother, is heard only in the trio and
ensembles. George Tallman, as Ma
dina's betrothed, gives a good portrayal
Of an asinine and conceited young Of
good even in this good company. Two
Character parts furnished by Francis ].
Boyle and George ODonnell add much
TO the sum total of comedy in the opera.