The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-02-07
COLLEGE HERO"
DELIGHTS FIRST
NIGHT AUDIENCE
Washington Society People
Score in Big Production
at Columbia.

No sooner had the curtain nscended
on the FIRST act OF 1.-THE College Hero"
at the Columbia last night than a large
and representative audience settled into
Its seats with decided conviction that
II was to see an entertainment quite
worth while.
II w&s a most beautiful stage picture
that presented itself as the curtain
arose. showing practically the full
strength of the organization in a blend
ing cf colors that was pleasing.
The scene showed the interior of
Sagehurst College, but somehow or
other there was an excuse for tho pres
ence there of juniors, freshmen, alumni.
athletes, sprites, spooks, and witches,
showing several hundred young men
and pretty girls in garb o: various
hueB,
Popular From Start.
II was the premiere of 1.-The CoIlesa
Hero" given In aid of the Noel House.
and the event for which these 500 young
people mad been rehearsing Cor many
weeks. THE College Hero" as a matter
or fact, rah-rahed his way right into pop-
ularity, and every appearance of a prin-
cipal, together with every humber and
song brought forth an applause that
been forced. 'e
It might be said, and truthfully. that
never before in Washington has an
amateur performance brought out so
much. real ability, and seldom in any
city has an entertainment Of this kind
Fully 500 persons participated, and to
the credit of the people who drilled
them and to those who staged the num-
bers, 1t should be said that the per-
~ NnVn ruvNAI
might have been expected of a pro-
fesstonal organization after q long run,
put certainly not expected of amateurs
with only months rehearsals.
an the praise that can be bestowed
upon 1t. There were no delays, and
despite the numerous encores upon
WHICH the audience was insistent, the
maj curtain went down fifteen minutes
before IL o'clock. The costumiing of the
dlnerent numbers was one of the fea-
lures OF the production, and added not
a little to the general success which
attended the efforts of these young peo-
pie. The scenic and electrical effects
were up to the professional standard,
and the splendid manner in which the
numbers were gone through would have
made the producer of Broadway mus
zeal show sit up and take notice.
Up-to-Date Waltz.
Before the curtain had been I'D five
minutes there was an up-to-date YER
sion Of the famous Merry Widow
waltz with Anita Parker, a fascinat-
ing coed, and Jesse Brown, the COL
lege hero, as the principals. The dance
was incidental to a song, Morning,
Noon, and Night" in the singing of
which the hero was assisted by the
college men, but It was the dance that
ELECTED the most applause, and It had
rpDpatpd firnaa
coed.
Sailors of the Iowa" was sung by
Captain Murray, in the uniform OF a
naval officer. and he was ably assisted
by the students" One of the pro-
nounced successes of the evening was
the solo, MY Castle of Dreams sung
by Miss Mary Sherer. Miss Sherier re-
rewarded for her efforts with a huge
bouquet Of American Beauty roses.
OF course, no amateur performance Of
merit would be complete without a top
ical song. and THE College Hero" was
no exception. There was a topical song
In the first act, and good one. too. 1t
was written by Donald NJ. McLeran and
James White, ,ir.,, and sung by George
A. Bentley, who had the rather eccen-
trio role of Prof. Phiz. DR.. Wiley had
been picked for the sacrifice, and every
verse ended with land then I'll be as
famous as DR.. Wiley is" 1t was called
MY SIeSt EilAlr Oh 1ouLn, anu IOrtu-
nately enough verses had been written
to meet the demands of the audience.
Earl Carbaugh Scores.
Earl 'Carbaugh, as the Wizard. who
appeared a la Mephisto, did some I'M
usually good work. and scored a tri-
umph in his song. II Am Mystery
Man." in which he was assisted by the
alumni" Altogether, there were six
teen numbers in the first act and eleven
in the second, any one of which woul
have been a credit to a really and-trIly
musical comedy.
The artistic triumph of the evening
was scored by Miss Elizabeth Forney,
who distinguished herself as a danseuse.
Miss Forney's graceful work and her
toe dancing recalled Mile. Dazzle to
mind, and she should be given full