Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-19
ADJUSTMENTS
New National.

production of stunning ma snificence
yet burdened with startling mediocrity is
The Red Rose the much talked of
musical company with which ValeslSa
Suratt and her company opened the sea-
son at the New National Thcater last
evening
The program announced that the pro-
duction was staged by r. ii. Burnside
apd the press agent has heralded Miss
Suratt as the designer of the color
schemes and costumes. Both being true,
Mr. Burnside and Miss Suratt are entitled
to the credit of furnishing one of the
most beautiful spectacular productions
that has been seen in Washington in a
long time.
But there is something sngularly elu-
sive about 1.-THE Red Rose 1t is very
like the straightforward work of a magi-
cian-now YOU see it and now you don t.
The musical setting is original, beautiful.
tuneful and catchy: the costumes some
thing to be dreamed of. a translation. as
it were, from the scenes of the Arabian
Nights. They beggar description, as do
the stage settings for the second and
There is nothing offensive throughout.
At times the brightest of original salles
fairly set the house aglow with laughter,
and then some tries to sing
chorus "as is chorus and not ashamed
to show its face, and 1t need not be.
1t is a comedy chorus. a graceful chorus,
even if one or two of its members were
little green as to what they should
do last night; but as a whole it did its
work attractively until some one In the
effort to supply the deficiencies OF the
comedians tried to be funny and only
got gay and boisterous.
Miss Suratt is not a singer, nor yet
an actress. but there is a charm about
her performance that is Enthusiastically
telling in it's effect The curb stone crit
tics were kept busy guessing her and her
show throughout the evening. Her work
and the work of her six green imps" in
the Dance of the Seven Saturnalias
was artistic and effective. The dance is
a sort of commingling of art and aero
battles, but it is one of the pleasing lea
lures of the show Miss Suratt Is stat
uesque and really handsome In her chief
pose in this dance.
Craig Campbell. a lively little fellow
who really wanted to help the star out.
has a very pleasing voice, and he used 1t
for all it was worth in each of his pretty
songs. in trying to hit an imaginary high
C at the end.
Flavia Arcaro was one of the company
who "got well over the footlights." Her
song 20 You Beautiful Doll" was one of
the smart numbers of the evening, and
it called forth many encores. THE Rose
Must Have Sunshine and Rain. Dear in
the opening chorus. was also pretty
song. Come Along Ma Chere" was catchy
and pleasing, as also was Inc Rosy
Morn The finales to both the second
and third acts were very effective. In
fact, the music of the play alone would
have furnished a delightful evening"
entertainment either played by the or
chestra or sung by fairly good singers
with the orchestral accompaniment.
Had all the principals compared with
the scenic and musical portion of the
production it would have ranked as one
of the finest things of its kind ever of
fered in Washington. Even as it is 1t will
duplicate the capacity house of last even
ing many times during the week unless
all signs fail. and yet. more's the pity
when the week is past there will be
many who will mingle their praise with
regrets for what might have been.