New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-17
LEHAR'S MUSIC AGAIN
count of Luxembourg" Comes
to the New Amsterdam.
ANN SWINBURNE LEADS
Viennese Spirit Preserved in
Several Scenes of New
Production.

good operetta with swinging music,
cOaXing dances and plenty Of romance is
an antidOte for life in New York. Lehar
usually knows how 10 write such an
operetta. lie knows how to catch the
June love Of Vienna. toss il into music,
swing 1t into dancing and frame il for
the stage, without losing the unreal
reality. the usefulness that the lovers in
vienna feel as they sway to the rhythm
OF the waltzes around the open casinos
IN the Prater.
Tho Count of Luxembourg is not an
other Merry Widow" II has neither the
variety nor the strength. but it has the
same spirit Of romance. In a clever and
Well managed screen scene the Count of
Luxembourg is married to Angelo Didier.
prima donna at the opera. Neither sees
the other. The marriage has been ar
ranged by the Grand Duke Rutzinov. who
wants Angelo for his own wife, but who
Is forbidden by the Car from marrying
any one who does not hold a title. AZ
for III" count, he has a friend in trouble
ana only a frame LEFT of his spent
fortune with which to keep his
comrade from jail The Grand Duke
promises Count Rene a number OF thou
sand francs II he win give Angelo his
title, never try TO find out who his wife
ia and consent 10 a divorce in three
months. The prima donna and her count
see only each others hands IN the eX-
change of rings around the screen. hear
M -fr
automatically enough for dreamland-
fall very tenderly in love. In the ball
scene, which is in the second and last act
they meet, neither knowing who the other
is. The discovery then comes, followed
by dcuunciation and despair. then eX-
plantations IN which another screen figures
and final JOY. Meantime many waltzes-
one Of which clevorly leads its love-dzzy
pair mp and down the curving stairs in
the ducal palace-and several duets sung
with lightsome spirit by Ann Swinburne
and George Moore.
Tho romance OF the piece rests on
these two, and they held the spirit OF II
pleasIngly Ann Swinburuc is a winsome
Angelo. whose singing is far beyond the
usual IN musical plays a produced here
She is pretty and graceful. too. with en-
easy natural manner that has ia IL none
Of the tricks OF he musical comedy
stage. George Moore IN spite OF the fact
that he has not yet become n real actor,
has spirit and fresh sincerity which,
added TO a plea sing tenor voice, made him
an agreeable Rene. The important thing
In tho work Of the two leaders was that
both PLAYED as though youth and rO-
nance were real.
The leading comedy role that OF the
Frand Duke fell to Frank Moulan VII"
mace the most Of a thoroughly stereo-
typed comic part--in fact. he did more
than .hat he played II with distinction.
Fred Walton played the counts friend in
need, Brissard. In q song duet I'm So
ciety." which he sang with Frances Cam
eron. Nj. Walton got himself well liked
last night Both were called out sew
v IRE especially busy all during the even
Ing l. seems as though this custom Of
cHcorlng would better be- done away with,
al least on first nights
The only unsatisfactory feature Of thc
prodW ton Is the chorus and trimming
additions 20 tho original which arc gem
crously put in 10 suit the taste of Ameri-
can audiences. Is il really their taste, or
Is IL only supposed To- be? The continual
entrance and exit OF large and HIfilv
clad chorus Of Broadway Beauties who
are always in state of desperate hilarity
ard in perpetual motion, seem distract
Ing feature, which Jars on the essential
spirit of the original. However. this Is
matter Of individual preference That the
turkey trot should have been trottcd by
all the couples at the Grand Duke ball Is
perhaps not so much an impossiblity in
Paris-"eyery ones doing IT. there now.
too--as II is unsuitable 10 Lehar's music
Many of the original lyrics were pre-
served IN neat translation--the combined
work OF Adrian Ross and Basil Hood The
American libretto was made by Glen Mac
lonough and the chorus numbers were ar
ranged by Julian Mitchell. Messrs Klaw
and Erlangcr have provided refreshing
in presenting TO America
operetta, which is now a roper
tory favorito throughout Europe.
-AsT or THE COUNT or LCNEN-
RDt-pG