The Washington herald., 1913-09-30
COLUMBIA.
.Her Little HIshne.s.n


a dainty bit of femininity is Fraulein
Mizzi Hajos, the diminutiye prima donna
who entered upon her second week as a
fuIl-fiedged star in the Columbia Theater
last night in the title role of the most
delightful musical play which Washing
ton theatergoers have seen in many a
moon.
In giving praise where praise is due
enc is at a loss TO determine whether TO
begin with the Hungarian singer, who is
SO chuck full of charm that she seems
.tc exude lit, or with the romantic little
comedy, in three acts, written by Chan
ming Pollock and Rennold Wolf, based
upon Mr.. Pollock's story, Such a Little
Queen or with the musicianly score of
Reginald de Koven, or yet with the elabo-
rate production Of the operetta furnished
by Werba and Luescher. managing direc-
tors. The work of all concerned is in
such complete harmony as to form per-
feet unit.
Her Little Highness," in the person
Of Fraulein Hajos, is a pure and simple
delight-some one has called her a
Hungarian raphsody, and they are not
far wrong. The little lady is just twenty
and has been on the stage in this and
her own land but four years. Mizzi is
not her real name In Hungarian il is
Mareschka; in French it would be called
Marie, evolving into Mary in English.
MiZzi is pet name, and one she doesn't
allow everybody to use.
In the Claiming Pollick-Rennold Wolf
story Of the exile of the young Queen
from her kingdom of Herzegovinan, her
experiences in America, her sacrifice for
Stephen ". King of Bosnia, that he may
return unhampered by a throneless
Queen when he is recalled by his people
to his still smaller kingdom, the emo
tional ability of the star is amply tested
and found in no way wanting, although
one regrets that her exceptional gift Of
comedy is allowed but fragmentary
flashes in Her Little Highness.'
AS for the voice OF Fraulein Hajos-
it is as sweet and as clear as a silver
bell-not powerful, but vibrant with
that sympathy which grips the heart
even while 1t pleases the ear. Her
most lifting melody is My Fairy
Prince" although she also sings when
You're Sweet Sixteen" &C. o. D." and
My King Can Do No Wrong" with
piquant charm peculiarly her own
the sort that exactly matches her inno-
cent blue eyes and delicious natural
ness.
While the story of the fugitive girl
driven from her own land by a revolution
makes strong appeal from the moment
Of the sensational riot in the Palace of
Queen Anna, when the pOpulace attempt
a rough house. until the last curtain when
the little heroine is restored to her people
and her betrothed, il by no means
monopoIizes the attention of the audience.
for in the score of Her Little Highness
Mr.. de Koven has excelled all other of
his efforts, some of the music ascending
almost to the heights of grand opera,
while other portions cavort gaily through
the brain, the melodies lingering long
after the last curtain has descended.
OF the three lavish scenes the last is
the most beautiful. being that Of lawn
fete at the residence Of AdOlph Lauman,
on the Hudson River. The guests are
arrayed in Spanish costume as well as
those of the Levant. It is during tbs
scene that the most of the dancing is
featured by Wallace McCutcheon, assisted
by Misses Mae Murray. Ethel May Davis,
and Miss LanGdon, all devOtees of the art
Of Terpsichore up-to-the-mnute Mizzi
also does a dance, a singular affair pecu-
liar to the Balkans.
In the support of little Miss Hajos is
a company of unusual excellence. OF the
principals Wallace McCUtcheon is the
young American, general manager for
Lauman & Son. who allows himself to
fall in love with Queen Anna. to be
duped by her, and to. in the end, find a
happy issue out of his malady Of the
heart Of transferring his affections to
Elizabeth Lauman, the lovely daughter
Of his employer. CapabIy portrayed by
Miss Louise Kelly. Mr. MCCutCheon has
an excellent voice and dances with
smoothness and agility The young
women who assist him are also accom-
rlished.
Miss Kelly wears some handsome
frorks. and has more opportunities 10
display the real excellence or her voice
in Her Little Highness" than was hers
in THE Pink Lady"
James Davis, i'm the role of the young
King of Bosnia, is in particularly fine
Voice in his vocal numbers with the fair
NizZi. and makes an acceptable lover as
the romance unfOlds.
Willard Lewis. Miss Della Niven, Neal
MCCay and other members of the sup !
porting cast are adequate, while the tre- |
mendous chorus will go down in the his |
tory of the present season as one of the |
best trained, most elaborately gowned, |
and vOcally artistic.
Some one has said that the real test OF |
a theatrical production. whether a mu-
sicaI play or a straight drama, is whether /
it kes one feel that one could sit !
through il the second time during a |
weeks engagement without being bored
Her Little Highness would come |
through a still more rigid test of merit !
unscathed. I am confident, for not only |
is the story appealing; the heroine a de-
light: the music full of melody. but the
text and situations are clean, without
sing suggestion of impropriety from
beginning to end, which is a deal of !
praise for comic opera in this day and
generation. ]. C. MANI.