The Washington herald., 1911-12-05
THE BELASCO.
seThe WeddinE Trip."


typically- brilliant Washington audi
r1ce at the Belasco last night accorded
lIeginald de Koven's new opera bouffe'
The Wedding Trip a welcome marked
Wy great enthusiasm and constant out
nurst of applauSe-a welcome little short
If an ovation-for Mr.. de KOYen has writ
zen a score OF excellent quality and
melodic charm throughout, and is very
fortunate in having it interpreted by one
of the best singing companies that has
been heard here.
1t is seldom indeed that one has the
pleasure of hearing so many excellent
voices blended together as they are IN
the several concerted numbers, and par
uCularly in the finale OF the first act.
= MeSsrS. Fred de GreSaC and Harry b
Smith have provided story which has
TO do with tho wedding trip Of one Felix
shrinking violet Of n bridegroom, and
FRITZ, his bride. Felix and FRITZ are
about TO start on their honeymoon, when
Capt. Josef appears on the scene with
the information that Felix's twin. Fran
co.'s, a soldier far more successful in his
attentions to those of the opposite sex
than in military duties. has deserted, and
great dlSgra"" is about to be brought
upon the family. But he suggests d
rcmedv-and what more simpe?-let Fe-
liX take his place. and who will know
the difference? 1t is the boast of Felix
that he has never kissed woman, and
many funny scents occur when, as
Francois, he arrives at Ragusa, accom-
panied by his bride, posing as maid to
his mother, and others Of his family.
Between his own wife his brothers
wife, who, of course thinks him her
husband, and the various other women
enamorcd of his brother, including a
gypsy prone to the dagger habit. his
lot &c NO ha Az. In
arranges with Malta, a brigand. to kid
nap the whole party, and Felix is final
ly restored to his bride at the bandits
lair. but not until he has tasted of the
waters of a wonderful spring, and real
lied that he is rapidly accommodating
many of the amOrous characteristics
which made his brother so attractive
to the fair sex.
OF the company probably first hOnors
60 TO Dorothy JOrdOn, whose Aza is
SinuOus, fiery, and Yet wholly attraC-
tive creature, and whose splendid con-
tralt0 is heard in four numbers. Her
two numbers in tho second a.. The
Sea Shell T"l"DhOnc.' one Of the pref
ticst Of the score. and The Bivouac
Song, with Il male chorus. were excel
l"nuy done, the latter especially call
InE forth rr"lOn@cd applause. Christine
Nelson = a spirited Fritzi-one feels
sorry that poor FeliN didn't get to that
Wonderful spring s"oner-and her fine
soprano is heard best in The Inter
rupt"d Love Song one OF the best
numbers, and on" which happily runs
through the entire score.
!. J. McCloskey sings ''F"Iix." and docs
il we'll while Edward MartindcTs deep
bass is heard Malta i'm THE Modern
Bandit" and The GentlemanIy Brig
a"dS,' Arthur Cunningham is Capt
Josef. ami las a typical number with a
good swing i'm The Miraculous Cure"
"'fhc Wedding Trip" is Handsomely
mounted and costumod, the three scenes
slowing the courtyard OF Ignace's house.
the public square at Ragusa. and the
h""dits' lair in tho mountains. all calling
f"r1h applause as the rising curtain ro-
N"aled them
ut lh" end Of tho second act Mr.. de
koyon made Speech in which he
thanked the audience and those on the
other side "r tho footlights for their
efforts in making The Wedding Trip
4 SEcrr. :