The Washington herald., 1912-02-18

new 1Ork, req. H--SOlncloent Win ltie
return OF Margaret Anglin in Green
Stocking" Elsie Ferguson in THE First
Lady of the Land" and Sam Bernard in
He Came from Milwaukee" Marie Ca
hill cspered wiIly-ni1Iy back into our
midst and has been scintiIlating as the
brightest star OF the week in Gotham
town. All OF which means that every
body's happy. For Miss Cshill can enter
into even such a slow-golng affair as
''The Opera Bali importation and yet
provide an evening OF genuine enter
tainment
In connection with the return of Sam
Bernard comes the word that he will join
the big Weber and Fields revival within
about four weeks, and IL Is also an
nounced that De Wolf Hopper will follow
suit about two weeks later. Hopper is
due to close his engagement in Pima
fore" at about that time, according 10
word that comes from him.
In the meantime the jubilee company
continues TO make a big hit up at the
Broadway, and il is becoming apparent
that when the announced eight weeks
are up there will be a lusty popular
clamor for more. 1t has turned out Just
as every one OF the Weberfeld alumni
have said It would during the last seven
years, with the lone exception that II
exceeds the most sanglIlne expectations
Many Of the "hoi poloi" however,
have been possessed of the idea that
the mere fact would be the only ex-
cuse for going to see the reYival-that
the significance OF the event would be
the only magnet, and the production it.
self mediocre. But far be II from such.
The show that is being provided by the
inimitable Joe and Lew. to say nothing
OF Lillian Russell, Fay Templeton,
frankie Bailey and the hosts Of other
old-time favorites, is the real article. Fun
races rampant throughout the evening
Rspid-fire dialogue, droll witticism,
tuneful song with a swing" and lively
dancing are all minced up together, a
"a Weber and Fields, in a manner that
makes the visitor want TO call again.
Whoever said they never come back"
would jibe onto a new tack IL he should
take peek at the Weber-Fields Jubilee
Success. written with capital letters,
has been spelled by Louis Mann in
''Elevating a Husband" which has been
moved by Messrs. werba & Luescher
from the Liberty to the Criterion, where
il is expected he will enjoy a long run.
Everything had been planned to send the
company on the road after a short New
York engagement, but the enthusiastic
reception accorded the production caused
the managers to change their mind
There is treat in store for lovers of
wholesome comedy throughout the coun-
try when ''Elevating a Husband event
ually SAYS good-by to New York.
The entire array OF local impresarios
evidently overlooked a good bet the other
day. when they let Dickens centennial
Gay Slide by without staging any Of his
stories that have been dramatized. Even
with very mediocre company filling the
parts, packed house could have been
secured The revival Of interest in Dick
ems occasioned by the centennial how
ever has been recognized by Liebler 4
Co. who are now out with an announce
ment that ''Oliver Twist probably the
most dramatic Of all Dickens stories,
VIII be produced in play form in the
near future at the New Amsterdam
Thcater.
THE Opera Ball."
What The Opera Ball. lacks is the
infusion Of a little more ginger, but
even with the shortening Of its extreme
placidity Marie CahilI finds opportuni-
ties in it to prove most bewitching. In
fact. it is her high-grade work alone
that has been bringing the large audi
ences TO the Liberty during the week.
The star is cast in the role Of Celeste
Deremy, n young widow, who knows
very much about human nature, both
from observance OF IT and by means of :
human
nature. She argues with two married |
women that any woman's husband will |
accept an invitation to the opera ball IL |
II comes from some winsome little thing
outside the family. The two young |
women have such faith in their husbands
that they bet on it. and the widow |
agrees to send each husband an invita- |
uon. In the next act the widow is seen |
10 have won her bet, as the husbands |
both show up" at the ball Complica- |
tons ensue, but in the third and final |
act there is kissing and making-up, and |
all is smoOthed over
That in word, is the whole story Of /
The Opera Ball" There is very little
lnderplot or byplot, which quite obviously
Is necessary TO embellish such a simple |
little tale. Miss Cahill has to supply /
practically all the life and vim OF the
piece by means Of her personality and 1
art It is case OF the player and not
the play. The latter is almost as bad 1
as the former is good, but not quite as
bad, so that Miss Cahin plus the handl-
cap Of THE Opera Balr' equals one
entertainment.
During the course of the action. Miss
Cahill does some singing. Eftsoons. she
does rome very good singing particularly
the songs, We Only Have One Life to
Live and What Are We Coming To-"
AS another little speciality, she introduces
a take-of on the turkey trot" which
she executes in a mannr that is most
comicaI indeed.
Miss Alice Gentle also sings well, and
Harry Fairleigh and George Lydecker, as
the husbands, are at times passably |.
funny. But as for, the authors Of the
musical comedy-Victor Leon and H. Won
Waldberg. translated by Sydney Rosen-
eld and Miss Clare Kummer-very little
favorable can be said. The music Of
Richard Heuberger is not so much a
factor in the success Of the songs as the
way that they are sung.
"The TaIker."
A play may be lauded to the skies. by
he critics, but when you can't get the
public to talk favorably about II, 1t might
lust as well have been generally con-
iemned. The most-talked-of play in New
York at the present time is Marion Fair {
AXIS new piece. The TaIker'' now &
'laying at the Harris Theater. The piece
vas well received q few weeks ago on
he occasion Of its Broadway debut, but ,
he critical comments contained no hint :
" the phenomenal success that was to ,
nsue- The name OF the piece apparently :
infected the early patrons. with the re- :
ult that the advance sale on seats : :
umped daily, until now Il is one of the Z
oremost successes along the Great White
Way.
What Every Woman Should See" Isl
he attractive manner in which the press
gent describes the piece, and this brief, | I
ut expressive, poster has aroused the a
uriosity Of thousands Of the fairer sex. I
Ihe play, however. deserves all the sue T