The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-09
AMUSEM TENTS
Academs-"NauRht. Marietta mat
incc and night.
Enthusiastically" matinee and might.
"NnuEhtN Alnriettn..

"NnuEhtH Mnriettn."
| This is certainly Victor Herbert week
! in Richmond On Monday we had ''rhe
| Duchess, described in this column as
| having little music and less comedy,
I last night we heard. for the first time.
| his Naughty Marietta" or this comic
! opera II may be said that much oc It's
| music Is pretty. some OF 1t lovely, and
| that its comedy seemed to amuse last
nights audience hugely. At the end
! OF the first act many of us were sadly
/ disappointed but long before the l7al
curtain fell We were all convinced that
I Naughty Marietta" is an inhritely
! more attractive opera than The Duch-
ess," even when Fritzi Schen wears The
strawberry leaves.
! To begin with, there arc many pleas
ing melodies In the opcra-thc Dream
! Melody in particular, comes back and
! sings itself TO ono: the "Marione ito
Song" Is a vivacious, catchy bit Of
! tunefulness; I'm Falling in Love With
some one" is good; the quartet for so :.
prano. tenor. contralto and bass is well
| worth henring, while the italian stree,
song, sung by the chorus with a
. beautiful soprano obllgato and the in
! tcrinczZo between the two scenes OF the
second act arc both gems.
| Then tho orchestra. composed OF five
. n.
! bass, clarinet. corner and trombone
(, and the company's violin. vloloncclio,
Clarinet, cornct. traps" and pianist
under the Ia ton of Alfred Mouiton
! the exceedingly competent musical d.
rector Of the company, simply played
| rings AROUND" the ten men carried by
The Duchess" company. Indeed, one
rarely bears better accompaniment
than this orchestra played. to say moth
Ing of the overture and the tntormczzo
] which could not he fully enjoyed be-
! cause of the inccssunt chattrl of The
audience.
! The chorus, OF some twenty women
, and twelve men. sang with precision,
sufhcient volume, and good tone, mar
red only by an occasional, though
Slnrins and unaccounta bic. failure on
! tho part OF some Of them to sing on
! pitch.
! Florence Weber, whose beautiful
voice and artistic singing in The
ClimaX' caused this reviewer TO rave
over her performance last season when
| that exquisite play appeared in Rich.
| nond for the second time, sang this
! title role last night. Her voice has, II
anything, grown la rgcr and lovelier
than when she sang Briefs Song OF
the Soul" and she sings with SO much
case and so perfect method that, II
| she. too. at times. sharped a bit, II
was doubtless due to cold or a throat
| temporarily bothered. And those who
! love to hear a beautiful voice poured
| out by an artist Will also gladly over.
look In her certain forcing of com.
| sdy, Latin or Gallic fire. and cute.
/ ness" as we'll as a badly worn gown
| In which she appeared in the second
| act.
Cara Crendelii sang Adah with a
| smooth, rich contraito OF much sweet
ness as well as power, and Edouard
| Beck, as Etienne, displayed power
full basso. which no handled, for the
most part so well that one marvelcd
at his breathing in the middle Of the
word .'marionette," as he did twice.
Juan Cardo, in the role OF Captain
Dick Warrington. proved to be that
rare thing--a real tenor He Is q big
fine looking young man; his voice is
clear we'll placed. and Of good quail
ity. and he runs up anywhere with
I ease and certainty.
I Blanche Latell. as Lizette. and Sid
Braham, as Silas, furnished the elc-
ment Of srotcsque comedy that amused
the house-hfiss Lateil does a very
brief and clever suggestion Of an OH
entail dance that Is not in the least
suggestive. and is really funny. while
| MIR. Braham has a real singing voice
There will be two performances to:
day--one at $3.50 and one at $50. The
| great majority of the audience will
begin to enjoy the evening perform
hnce about $40, when tho small and
nconsidcratc minority shall have been
seated, ~ y. &.