Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-17
Belasco.

THE Chocolate Soldier" whose domi-
nant melody, my Hero" both in solo and
ensemble, has been whistled doubtless
throughout the length and breadth of
Europe as we'll as America, had It's first
presentation in Washington at the Belas-
CO Theater last evening before brilliant
audience. The verdict, as elsewhere. was
Enthusiastically one of appreciation.
Not in many years has musical pro-
duction Of it's kind and worth more COM
pletely captivated its first nights audi
ence. The music is not only Netent1ous,
but II is beautiful and catchy as well.
Lieut. Bumerli, the Chocolate Soldier,
a young officer Of Swiss origin. serving IN
the Servian army, has escaped his pur-
the boudoir of Nadina Popoff daughter OF
the Bulgarian commander. Col. Popon He
is utterly worn out. but by sheer force
of cheek and nerve wins his way INTO
the esteem Of the young woman. VINO
finally shields and hides him when the
soldiers of her fathers army come after
him Subsequently he makes an impress
sion upon both her mother and Mascna.
the mothers young cousin. Suce Is the
scarcity of the cOlonefs wardrobe. how:
ever. that the women, in their effort to
provide him with another uniform, can
only supply him with coat-the
coloners house-coat. Each seems SO
want to sit by his side and watch him
throughout the night. Each OF them in
turn places her photograph with an In
scription in the pocket of the colonel S
house-coat, which he is to wear away
with him.
From this action the poet evolves q
series of comical situations, which result
in the rejection of young Nadlna by MAJ
Alexius Spiridoff, Her Hero. to whom
the matrimonial prospects of both her
self and .Mascha. the mothers cous n.
Much Of the embarrassment OF the women
| is brought about by the fact that the
young Chocolate" soldier, after leaving
| the house Of his protectors. tells the Incl
dent to Col. Popoff and Maj. Spiridof. as
a Joke, without mentioning the names of
| the women, and without knowing, at the
| time. that their photographs and tender
missives are In the pocket of that house
I coat. Later, when the war is over and
| the colonel is demanding his coat. the
young man returns with 1t. but also to
still more complicate the situation. The
| humor Of the story is thoroughly amusing
| throughout. The lines are bright, and
there is no resort to horse play of any
/ kind.
| AS Nadina, Eona vivienne sings many
pretty as well as many difficult passages
of the opera with fine effect. Gene Lu-
neska, as ,Mascha. is equally effectiv'
with her singing, besides doing some very
graceful and attractive dancing Mil
dred Rogers. as Amelia Popoff. thu
| mOLnef, nus opportunities " IedsedI FicH
contralto voice. while both Harry Fair
leigh, as the Chocolate Soldier and George
| Tallman, as Maj. Spiridoff, who never
knows or never does anything he does not
wish to, save to remember that he Is a
| hero with an aggravated self-conscious-
| ness Of the fact. both sing and play their
parts in a thoroughly satisfactory man
| ner. One of the most amusing roles of
| the cast both in makeup and action, Is
that of Capt. Massakron of the Bulgarian
army, which leaves nothing to be desired
| In the hands of Francis j. Boyle. George
O'Donnoll. with ample physique and voice
to back 1t, makes an acceptable Col. Po-
pof.