The Washington herald., 1913-02-25
BELASCO.
"The Merry Countess"

The musicianly quality and melodic
charm of Johann Strauss delightful
score have never been more enjoyed than
in "The Merry Countess. the new
version OF Die F1edermaus.' for which
the Messrs. Schubert stand sponsors, and
which was accorded a most cordial re-
ception at the Belasco last night Thanks
to a new book by Gladys Unger. new
lyrics by Arthur Anderson. and the eX-
cellent work of a large cast of clever
people. The Merry Countess" rolls
merrily along, the second act being bet
ter than the first, and the third. at
least from the standpoint of hilarity,
much better than the second.
The dialogue in the first act, especially.
Is somewhat highly seasoned with what
the producing managers are pleased Ia
call spice" a surfeit of seasoning that
wears off when the boudor OF The
Merry Countess" is deserted for the
Arum Lily Club. where Prince Orlof-
sky's ball is in full sway. II is here,
in the second act. that THE Merry Coun-
tess begins to shed its continental
farce from and assume the proportions
of a musical comedy of high order. and
II is here that the varied abilities of an
exceptional cast become abundantly
manifest.
You see. Count Cliquot was sem
fenced to Jail for something or other
and was supposed to begin his term
at o'clock the next morning, and. of
course. promised to spend the evening
in the company of his most charming
wife. and he meant to do it, too. until
DR.. Berncastler came along and per-
suaded him to go to the princes ball.
Nothing more simple than to tell the
countess that the sentence was to take
effect Immediately, and so get away
with the daredevil doctor. All very
well. except that the countess hap
pened to know all about it. and let him
20. all unsuspecting, while she thought
it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a
chat with Gabor Szabo. her Hungarian
admirer.
The count and the doctor are hardly
out of the room when friend Gabor
makes his appearance, and shortly after
him one Hochheimer, governor Of the
New Age prison. who. mistaking him
for the count, takes him Off to Jail In
that worthy's stead. Now, having got
a pretty little kettle of farce fish frying
the scene shirts to the princes ball
where comes the countess. nicely masked
and where her husband makes desperate
love to her. and-but forgetting all about
the marital mix-up, the second act of
things. Primarily. there is Jose Collins.
otherwise Countess Rosalinda Cliquot,
who. by her splendid rendition of Car
das." more than realizes the many flat
tering reports that have preceded her
In this number Miss Collins is truly a
vocal and visual delight, her soprano
n voice Of wide range and remarkable
clarity and sweetness of tone-in the I'D
per register, her stage presence prepos-
sessing. and her sartorial creations most
fetching.
Then there is Lysa Graham, an at
tractive young woman who leads one of
the best ballets seen here in many a
DAY, and whose solo number is the per-
sonification OF grace and naive charm.
Also present are Martin Brown and Roz-
Ska Dolly. whose agile efforts are ever
pleasing. and who last night were the
recipients of several encores. Getting
real close to home. SO to speak, we have
in THE Merry Countess two PLAYERS
VINO are pleasantly remembered in con-
nection with the Aborn companies-For
est Hun and FRITZ Won Busing. Both
clever performances. Mr.. Hun
proving himself a facile farceur as the
count. and Mjss Won Busing being her
usual pleasing self as IIka
Tom A. Shale also is responsible for
mirth. offering an effective
y ludicrous performance as Hockheimer.
Maurice Frakola and accent are excel
ent as Gabor. who. to slip into the ver-
1acular for the nonce. is quite some"
The surprise of the performance and the
Individual comedy hit of THE Merry
Countess" was scored by A. W. Bask
,omb. who does not appear until the
bird act. but whose quality of fun
making is so exceedingly good that his
work stands out as one of the brightest
its of the evening. Mr. Baskcomb uses
makeup that resembles one of viii
Vests weirdest. and is a sour-face COM
dian Of the first water