The Washington herald., 1912-01-07

New York, Jan. 6-The launching of
the new year-signaIized by premieres of
two exceedingly promising productions
and another not so promising; the Amer
ican debut Of the English artist, Lyn
Harding, and the news OF the recoupling
OF Joe Weber and Lew Fields-could not
be described as other than auspicious.
Throughout the week. as through sew
eral weeks past, new spirit OF enthu-
siasm appeared on the rise. Everything
worthy in the metropolis that savored Of
the histriOnic or the musical was well at
tended, and in almost every instance 1t
was pleased audience that filed
through the foyer when the evening came
to the climax. ClimaX-not the close
for IL was a week OF after-theater dfn-
ners such as has not been known on the
Gay White Way for many moons.
OF course, holiday time is always a
time for merrymaking. but the week
after has usually been like unto a
morning after" So the gayety and
magic of good fellowship and cheer that
did not subside. but gained added i'm
petus during the sequel of New Years
Day, bodies happily for a general bull
movement in the wares OF King Merri-
ment during the pending twelve-month
Aggrandizement Of this spirit means
prosperity to the Bismarcks of the the
atriCal world, and accordingly the not
overly successful year OF 1911 has ceased
TO cast its pail over the persons Of afore-
said Bismarcks.
"Just to Get Married.
II the talent of genuine diplomat is
reNe ealed in the giving to the public ex-
actly-just exactly-what it Graves, IT
was most indubitably displayed in the
presenting Of Miss Grace George in the
stellar role of Just to Get Married at
Ma NFfr Sc
does not in this score the greatest tri-
umph of her career-and a lasting one.
too-there will be many surprised ones
along Broadway.
Her distinctive charm, wistfuI and pen
sive, Is shown to all to excellent advan-
tage. The vehicle is particularly suited
to her, in that it gives her admirable
oportunity for the practicing of those
little mannerisms that make her so win
some.
Lyn Harding. whose London successes
had caused him to be widely heralded
and his coming eagerly anticipated, would
not be dealt with fairly IL he were to be
judged by his appearance in the part of
Adam Lancaster" A lesser artist adapt
ed to the part. would have fitted in bet
fer. Mr.. Harding is superb in clearly
defined character roles, and in Shake
speare's masterpieces he is the equal Of
any man. 1t Is to be hoped that he will
not be compelled to continue in Just to
Get Married" and that he will soon be
afforded a chance to do himself justice
before the American public in something
more suited to him
Just to Get Married" begins with the
proposal, in the first act, of the wealthy
but bashful suitor TO the poor girl, pes
tered TO death by uncle and aunt anxious
to get her Of their hands, and she ac-
cepts him. A week later, in the sec
und act. his goodness has so tor
tured her conscience and nerves that
she confesses she never loved him, and
freaks on the betrothaL The third act
shows her, on the same night, wet and
bedraggled, in a country railway. sta
ton, where he encounters her quite un-
cxpectedy and takes her into his arms,
she having discovered in the meantime
that her indifference has melted away in
the genial glow Of an afterthought and
belated realization OF how much he
means TO her.
Miss George, as Emmeline Weary,
evokes much sympathy as the beloved
and interprets to the Queen taste
everything intended by the English su-
thor, Cicely Hamilton, and we venture
10 opine that she is better even than
was Gertrude Kingston when the piece
was first presented at the Little Thea
ter in London
Her performance in Modest Suzanne"
at the Liberty Theater was accorded
such q welcome that It is safe to say
that Miss Saliie Fisher has arrived. .
Moreover. she is apparently here to
stay!' Her voicing of the lyrics of Jean
Gilbert was past criticism; not that she
sang like a Nordica or a Tetrazzini-aI !
Nordica OF q Tetrazzini never could have
filed the light. airy part as did Miss,
Fisher She was natural throughout and |
was deIightfully clustered" when the |
amusing complications of the operetta |
necessItated her being clustered"
Modest Suzanne was adapted by |
Harry B. and Robert b. Smith from the
book OF George okonkowslxy. It has |