The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-16
BEST OF THE SEASON
Was THE Chocolate Soldier" Among
Musical Comedy Plays.

OF the season with the fanfare of It's
own picked orchestra made its appear.
ance in the opera house last evening
before an audience that in waning the.
| atrical season augurs well for Barre as a
good show town. 1t was "The Choco.
late Soldier" that upheld the good name
of musical comedy and as vehicle for
the most talented company of the year
it was emphatically fine. Those per-
sons who paid real money to see the
performance speedily forgot the fact
when they witnessed production where
the profane foot of low and vulgar
vaudeville never once Travelled, pro
duction that was happily emancipated
| from the cheap and stilted contraptions
that too often sully the musical comedy
boards.
"The Chocolate Soldier" is the musica |
creation of George Bernard Shaw's "Arms
and the Man" and in this particular
element it is not likely that Oscar Straus
has ever delivered a score more satisfy
ing and so instantaneously successful.
The piece has nothing to do with "trip
perry; its situations have never the hee-
tic complexion of tawdry SHOW" and,
if anything, some portions ef the must
cal background suffer through lack OF
appreciation rather than by the chal-
lenge of too eager criticism. Its lines
are redundant with the raciest kind of
humor and as the ear is ever clearly at
tuned TO the music, so is the eye strained
to catch each subtle antc Of the prin.
cipal funmakers.
With consummate skill, Bernard Shaw
has conceived brocatelle of musical
comedy, a figured fabric that is ever
and always cleverly cut. Lieutenant
Bumerli, who carries himself proudly un-
der the title, escapes from the army
of the enemy and cond-storys" HIS
way to the boudoir of Nadina Popoff.
While the room is searched by grena-
diers, the unbidden visitor is secreted
behind a tapestry by Miss Popoff. Ep
auets departed, the refugee pays his re-
CARDS to Morpheus under the effectively
soothing ministrations of Nadina, her
pretty and winsome cousin, and her
mother, who is also quite foolish. Each
places her likeness in the sleeping sol
dier's coat, and betimes the chocolate one
takes his departure.
His getaway is made with house
coat borrowed from Colonel Popoff OF
the Bulgarian army, who is away at the
front, also with the trinity of pictures
in his pocket. Here the vista is I'M
folded and the whimsical outcome of the
little Irritation sounds the call for all
tremors that the audience ex-
periences. The production has a gum
shoe start, but operates on graduated
scale of fun. BY the end Of the second
act last night, the audience was all ears
and curtain calls were repeated Elation |
at the close was keyed at pitch equal |
ly high.
Heading a strong and vivacious cast |
is Alice York as Nadina Popoff pretty |
Juanita Fletcher, who was irresistible
and Charles Purcell, wearing |
the title role. Miss York enacted the |
altogether carefree daughter OF the
colonel with charm and intel
ligence and completely conquered what
seemed early in the initial act to be a
in her methods. She sang
my Hero" with intense feeling and in
splendid voice. Miss Fletcher is a pic
ture OF beauty, dances well and acts
with finish. She was undeniably strik
ing in her simple costume, and her work
bore not the least hint of affectation,
As "The Chocolate Soldier" Charles
Purcell was full Of caprice and playful
ness. He possessed just enough restraint
10 lend subtle emphasis to his re-
oartee and in several scenes he had the
audience shaking with mirth. Mr.. Pur-
ell sang pleasingly and was obliged to
respond to encores. Francis j. Boyle as
col. Massakroff was the ideal swash-
luckler and he would have been well
,omed for his hideous expressions almost
my old time during the three acts. The
,art of Popoff, taken by George O'Don
lell, was acted by one who knew when
md how to Jest Major Alexius Spirid-
fl was acted wonderfully well by George
rallman. Mr.. Tallman sang meritori
'usly and his evenly-toned tenor voice
vas one OF the distinctive parts of the
'iece
The chorus made up for its non-ap-
,earance in the first act by filling the
ouse with volume and harmony in the
pening of the second, when the country
iris and soldiers danced and swung and
ang delightfully."-. The stage settings,
wo in number, were carefully planned, !
nd the efforts of the company in cos
umery brooked no indulgence from the
udience.