The Washington herald., 1911-05-09
THE BELAsco.
Frit.i sober, In ..MlIe. Ro.ita.,


FRITZ Scheff. the completely adorable,
and Victor Herbert, Americas master of
melody, are combination that seems
to be as inevitable as irresistible. For
the fourth time since her debut as
light opera cantatrice in Herberts
"Babette." Nine. Scheff appeared before
a theater full of her Washington admirers
last evening at the Belasco in one of this
marvelously prolific composers creations,
new operatic comedy. Mile. Rosita.
There is individuality If not originality
in all Herbert scores. He has skillful
tricks Of orchestrationr that he uses in
each Of his compositions. and which
stamp the opening bars Of any Herbert
overture unmistakably as his. While one
cannot apply the supposedly damning
word reminiscent to his latter-day crea-
tions, these cherished orchestral effects do
give a certain touch of sameness to his
scores. In this new work, however, Mr..
Herbert has come nearer to being guilty
of plagiarizing himself than in any of his
recent compositions, for the sweet, haunt
ing Cupid" theme that runs through
Mile. Rosita" is none other than our
beloved kiss Me- melody from Mile.
Modiste," rearranged, to be sure, but
none the less unmistakable.
This does not detract from the merit
of the new score, which brims with
Herbert melodies and crashing orchestral
effects at their best. If anything, the
music is a little too serious for modern
light opera, rejecting, perhaps. the in
fiuence on the composer OF his laoors on
his recent grand opera, "Natoma."
The story of Mile. Rosita" just es-
capes being worth retelling here. 1t is
. comedy,
Herbert being responsible for its adapta-
ton. Save for a few attenuated or super
fuous scenes, the hbretto offers far
more consistent and interesting, sustain
ing plot than in most of the light operas
of recent years. The finale of the second
act is particular lifts the action to really
dramatic, If comic. heights: and the
closing scene is 9leverly arranged and
charming in spirit, with touch OF The
Tanning of the Shrew.
Mr. Herbert librettist, has been espee-
cially happy ip his lyrics, several OF
which possess an element OF the deli
cious rhyming and whimsical satire OF
w. S. Gilbert.
Nine. Scheff was perfectly at home in
glove-ftting role and gowns. and her
voice seemed to have lost none Of its
power or sweetness. This is equivalent
to saying that she is still the incouipar-
able FRITZ.
In the role of the dashing young OFF,
Ger, Marquis and finally Duke lover,
Nine. Scheff is fortunate in having SO
able an actor as Eugene OBrien- 1t Is
a part that calls for the best of straight
juvenile" players and good berytone
O'Brien is undoubtedly the former. He
will be remembered as the lover in Ethel
Barrymores latest play, Mid Channel,
in which he shared honors with Charles
nort Srrltth
The comedy roles are in the hands OF
Walter Jones and George Graham. The
former has an excellent part for the ex-
preston of his own peculiar comic muse.
and Graham, as a weeping willow Willie,
is Iudicrously amusing. There Is also
Miss Olga Steck to charm with voice.
appearance, and grace OF movement, and
the inimitable, one and only, first ever
seen in captivity, Emma Janvier. in a
typical Emma Janvier part and two
Emma Janvier songs. Charles Indels is
capital as the conventional old French
nobleman. and the smaller parts are cap
ably played The scenic establishment
is charming and the chorus attractive
and beautifully costumed from designs by
the talented Melvina Ellis
The audience was more than ordinarily
distinguished in tone. even for Washing
ton. The President and Mrs. Taft, ac-
companied by Maj. Butt, occupied the
Presidential box. Tn, Vice President and
Mrs Sherman. with their guests-Mr.
Ray Loughlin and Mr.. Albert Hayes
occupied the box next to the President
Among those in the audience were Sena-
tor and Mrs. Guggenheim, the Turkish
Ambassador and the first secretary of
the Turkish Embassy. Mrs. Nicholas
Longworth. Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Nelson
Page. Count d'Agamar,. Col and Mrs.
Archibald Oracle and Miss Edith Oracle,
Miss Isabelle May. Mrs Robert Hinckley
and Miss Gladys Hinckley. Mr.. Joseph
Letter. Mr.. Oden Horstman, Mr.. Jack
Seibert, Mr.. Frank Godoy. Mr.. and Mrs.
George Howard and Miss Howard, Mrs.
OdeIl Smith and Miss Ida Norment
Smith, Miss Ruby Stokes, Miss Clorine
Hunter, Mr.. and Mrs Harry Wardman,