The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-13
THE STAGE
GARRIck.


Remembering The Merry Widow
and The Chocolate Soldier the de-
Iicious melodies OF which still linger
in the memory and haunt our dreams,
the public has come TO eagerly grasp
at anything bearing the Viennese
brand The latest operetta from the
gay Austrian capital is called The
Kiss Waltz" Widely heralded, II
came 20 the Garrick, Monday night,
for a weeks engagement and was re-
ceived by a large outpouring of first
nighters.
While not as tuneful as either
The Merry Widow or The Choco-
late Soldier" and lacking much of
the FIRE and spirit and pep" of these
popular favorites, THE Kiss Waltz
is nevertheless a diverIing vehicle
and one that can be relied upon for
an evenings pleasure, The music
OF c. NJ. Ziehrer. composer whose
work is practically unknown, and
therefore, new in this section, is for
the most part high quality, a bet
ter quality, in fact, than is found III
the average light opera. and there
is an occasional haunting strain
The American version OF the piece
has been done by Edgar Smith, with
lyrics by Matthew WOODWARD. The
production is staged by j. c. HUFF
man and the Schuberts stand spon-
sor for it.
The plot is simple enough, but
meets all the requirements. The
story centers around Guido Spini, a
composer whose waltzes, combined
with a magnetic personality, have
quite turned the heads OF large fol-
lowing of feminine adorers. They
are constantly swarming about him,
like bees around a honeysuckle bios
som, and demands for souvenirs are
inslstent. To obtain a lock OF his
hair To wear in q locket about ones
neck is considered a great triumph.
But Guido has eyes only for one. the
Baroness Won Bernau, Familiarity
called Nella. The admiration Is mu-
tual, but Guido. purely for business
reasons, is obliged to receive the az.
tentions Of Nella's cousin, the Count
ess Wildenberg. thus exciting the
Jealousy OF both Nelia and Count
Wildenberg.
--sFbsts~is- pfse.fcHify rtfrz wffofy1= story
as II runs through two acts, with fire.
quent musical interruptions, 70 a col.
orfui finale, where. as usual. all the
clouds are cleared away, and a grand
reconciliation takes place. The scenes
are laid in the Hotel Elektra. in the
Riviera, and In the reception hall OF
the Villa Wildenberg.
The cast that has been provided is
up to the Shubert standard. Miss
Rose Botti Is dainty and charming
Nella, with clear soprano voice and
just enough OF a foreign accent 10 pro-
vide the proper flavor Robert War
wick looks the part OF the idolized
composer, with his splendid physiuue
and a voice in proportion. Miss Car
RE Reynolds, as the countess. Is eoual
TO all the demands and she has mum.
erous opportunities
Comedy hoDors are about eduaItv
divided between Eva Davenport who
plays kathi, the wife OF I.eopold Fuhr
niger. coachman who has come into
an unexpected fortune, and Oscar
=sehwaFz, as Paul Won Geryais bar-
onet with a tendency 10 stammer thar
makes for no end OF amusement. Roth
scored individual hits. Monday night
Miss Davenport with her laughing
song, and Mr.. Schwarz in several sing.
ing and dancing numbers.
The KISS Waltz, from which The
piece takes its name * an entranc.
Ing melody, but II is not made a great
deal OF in the score. recurring only
IN the finale. The Kiss Waltz" nun.
Dor is pleasingly given by Miss Botti
and Mr.. Warwick
One of the most delightful bits in
the piece is the Russian dance by
Miss Lysa Graham. who. as Kathi's
daughter, becomes enamored OF Paul
and finally wins him. I'm her Russian
costume sftc presents picture That
Is altogether bewitching snd<-she
dances we'll