The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-11-12
TRENT|NYS SHOW
.PLEASES LARGE
AUDIENCE HERE
Repeated Encores Are Called
for in THE FREELY at
the National.

Those things which please are not
necessarily the most perfect. as was
demonstrated last night at the National
Theater, when highly enthusiastic
audience called for encores OF the songs
In THE FREELY" the comedy opera pre-
sented by Arthur Hammerstein rs
Emma Trentini's starring vehicle. The
score is light and tuneful, but the melo-
dious cadences without the powerful
and clear soprano voice OF the dimnu-
tive star would perhaps lose most OF
their charm. Not quite suited to the
performance of grand opera. and yet
plainly too good for ordinary comic
opera, the call for musical play which
will suit the capabilities OF Trentini has
caused the resurrection OF serious
form of comic opera, which Is an excel
lent sign of the advance of light opera,
o.. rather OF what 1t could be II sent out
under the proper auspices and CON
ceived discreetly with an eye to beauty
Instead of horse play.
Lack of Comedy.
In fact. there Is, II anything. a lack of
comedy in 1.-The FREELY" and though
there are some clever situations and
lines. the room for a little more iegitl-
mate comedy which would not mar Is
there. Roy Atwell as jenkins" long
of face and bilious of mien, is az funny
as anyone could wish. but he does not
seem to be quite as sure of his man
nerisms. and. though he is, as jenkins,
above all things consistently tentative,
he should live In his part with all the
assurance of one who knows that the
audience Is appreciative OF comedy in
every move and look. The clever dane
Ing of Sammy Lee. in the first act, only
whetted the appetite OF the audience,
but he does not show off his steps. but
that once. Here is an element OF com
edy which could be elaborated upon and
which might help to balance some of
the musical numbers. which, as in the
We're too long.
,,a line Fireiiy" is a vivacious little
1ork who attracts the attention OF
lack Travers, played by Leslie Gaze
She Is persuaded to masquerade as a
boy; taking the clothing of pick
pocket, SO that she may go away with
herr Franz Henry Vogel, a choir
master who happens to be in the same
party with the young man whom,
fatally fascinated
Trentinfs first number, Love Is Like
F1rehy, is the theme around which
most OF the music Is written, and is
h Inc song as In Naughty Marietta"
moment of extremity. Something"
sung by Roy Atwell and Ruby Norton,
VINO Is Trentinfs understudy, and who
sang the title roles at matinees in
other cities, was accorded a generous
ana surely deserved encore.
Pet of Army Officers.
Act two takes place in Bermuda, and
the excellent opportunity afforded by
the wonderful coloring of that land
Is seized upon as a means of present
ing scene Of unusual beauty. Little
Tony, as the Firefy now STYLES her
sell, has been made the pet of the
army ofhcers, and goes about dressed
In a most distracting little Tommy
Atkins suit, red coat and buttons,
blue trousers. pill box cap. and all.
The song, We Going to Make a
Man Mar OF You" by. Trentini, and male
Melville Stewart and Roy Atweil, is
not only beautiful, but is made de-
cidely touching by the clever little
sR% asnt,fS, T The next next n%mber The
Henry vogel and male chorus, al,
though shaded a trifie too much, is a
very pretty thing and received sew
when Maid Comes Knocking at
Your Heart" is Trentinis last song
in this act, and is the theme for the
next; and the grand finale. In the
third and last act, the little street
singer has come into her own, has
through the remarkable finding of a
note In her three old Tommy At
kins clothes, the fiancee OF the man
who loves the street singer, is hand
ed over to another chap with no re-
Erets. and so leaves the way clear for
the two lovers.
Leslie Gaze, who sings "a Womans
Smile. displays a charming voice de-
void OF mannerisms, and showing evil
dent training. Music, costumes, and
scenes mark the production as dis
tinctiye. and stamp THE Firef1y" as
rather serious comedy opera, not
to be taken too seriously from
technician's standpoint. The support
Ing chorus Is an excellent one, well
chosen and well trained.