Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-01

personality and good voice. with no lit
tie ability as an actor, to f1t him for his
role, and the remainder of the cast was
quite adequate and evidently competent
to meet all demands. A striking feature.
too. was the chorus, whose effective work
and pretty stage pictures lifted 1t out OF
the realm of med.ocrity and made one
sympathetic because the ensembles failed
to furnish even one brilliant chance to
show what it really could do in singing.
In everything else it was all that could
be desired. just as were the stage set
tings and the attractive costumes.
The trouble seemed to be throughout
that the composer had fallen short of his
previous efforts in supplying delightful
melodies and thrilling ensembles. The
audience, large and appreciatfve one.
seemed to be constantly on the alert for
something that did not appear.
In the first act Miss Hughes disclosed a
voice of rare sweetness and power in her
song. ''Snowdrops and the Spring" with
effective chorus assistance. which was
more delightfully."- revealed in 1.-The Let
and again in the duet Are We Widows.
Wives. or WHAT" in the second act
Miss Wheaton. too, prettily and viva
ciously sang Someone l Used to Know"
showing her possibilities if she but had
the opportunity with the melody. but the
fact remains that Mr.. kerker's music did
not meet expectations.
The plot, like most musical comedy
stories. was simply an excuse for stage
pictures and to help along the music.
Polycarp (Mr. PowersD is on his way to
marry a fiery Corsican when he is halt
ed by Boris at the doors of a young la
dies seminary to assist him in his own
love affair. BY command of the Russian
empress any man found alone with
woman within the Seminary's precincts
must marry her. Honorka Miss Wheat
on) is the cOnfidante of Tatjana Miss
Hughes). the object of Boris affections.
Together they read his love letter. and
at once Honorka becomes seized with
desire for a sweetheart herself confess
ing she has never even been kissed. She
thinks it will be fine fun to have Tatjana
and Boris discovered. and when by her or
ders Vodka, the janitor, rings the alarm
bell not only Boris and Tatjana. but Ho-
norka and POlycarp as well. are caught
and both couples are married, the cere-
mony being enforced by the captain of
the guard. Neither bridegroom had
counted upon this, and both made their
escape deserving their brides as soon as
the palace of Prince Petroff, in Wurttem-
berg. fall in love with them and finally
win them over. The complications
brought about by plot and counterpart of
the young married folks to make each
the other jealous and the appearance of
the Corsican girl who has been Tilted,
with her avengng brother and her coun-
trymen. help to make much of the amuse-
ment.
The audience seemed to enjoy Mr.. Pow
ers very much and called him back many
times for verses of his topical song. A
castanet dance by unbilled dancers was
one of the hits of the show. receiving the
only insistent applause of the evening. Il
Like All Girls sung by the two brides
and Roy Purviance, as the King Of
Wurttemberg, was daintily pretty, while
burlesque of the eccentric dance craze
seemed to please very much.