New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-14

De Koven-PoIIoCk-W Wolf Musical
Comedy at the Liberty.
is PRETTY. MUSICALLY
First and Third Acts Are Pict-
uresque and Tuneful-Sec-
ond One Is Weak.

Her Little HighDess. n new thI'f-''t
musical comedy. music by REGINALD De
Koven. book and lyrics by Claiming Pol
lock and Rennold Wolf, had its first per-
Torrance in this city last night and won
what looks like "a genuine success, not
withstandine the handicap Of monde
script second act. which offered the COM
poser practically no opportunity TO add To
the number Of genuinely musical SONGS
OF which there are even 80 a Iull eighteen
IN his score Mr.. De Kovens music, in
deed. deserves success. for ii must be
counted with some OF the best things he
has done.
The musical comedy is based upon Mr..
Pollock's romantic play. Such a Little
Queen" which had prosperous run
some years ago. with Elsie Ferguson in
the title part. It's possibilities for trans
ference into the other medium wcr" I'M
nistakabiy proved last night, but the sec
ond act. so amusing i'm the straight COM
edy Of three years ago, did not fit init was
somehow or other. transformed INTO
something that was not musical. and not
comedy. but somewhat tedious domestic
farce. However. il does not matter so
much. since the first and third acts. in
picturesqueness of setting and costumes.
i'm groupings of the chorus and In con-
slant tunefulness make a full evening
entertainment Of excellent quality. Mr..
Dc KoVen has been equally felicitous IN
writing solos quartets and choruses, and
then there was Mizzi Hajos, who made
her first appearance on Broadway, ana
who Is likely TO be seen there again. II
is not yet three years ago that she made
her debut in this city at the American
Roof Garden in "A parody on "Chante-
clc-," and since then she has learned TO
sneak and sing English inteligibly with
out losing the captivating piquancy Of
her accent. she has a pretty voice. which
she uses admirably well. and she is as
comely to behold as ever.
The plot need be- but briefly told. The
Little Queen Of Herzegovina is bctrothed'
for reasons Of state, to the King OF
Bosnia. There is conspiracy. which
ends the first act with a French revolu-
ton sort Of climax. The two royal per-
soraEcs escape. In the second act the
Queen is living in "A farcical fiat In Am
sterdam avenue. New York. with her
faithful chambermaid and an Irish cook.
Ills majesty. the King OF Bosnia, is a
clerk i'm a drygoods store. or course,
there IL a rich American. who visits Her
Little Highucss In her glory at the
HcrZcSovinian court. with his daughter
ana his secretary. and while he is plotting
10 marry his daughter 10 the King. the
l.. -
Queen. The scene Of the third act Is laid
In the grounds of Humans country
estate on the Hudson. a; nocturna!
garden fetc. In this act Miss Hajos
dances "A czardas Wallace McCutcheon
dances tango. a turkey trot. a waltz
and Brazilian" with different part
ners. 10 music by Mr. De Koyen that Is
not the least Of his contributions To the
show.
There are delightful waltz song. My
Fairy Prince. q folksong, when You're
Sweet Sixteen. when the Landlord
Comes a-Knocking at the Door and a
romanza. "IIcImwch." all charming.y
sung py Miss Hajos. There is con-
splrators' chorus The Practical Patri-
OTIS" sung by fodr Of them. Including
Allan Pollock-a new departure for him.
and tLat. too. i'm a part that does not
cffer him any sprituous opportunities
though his makeup was reminiscent 81
u1st lhatiouy Mr. Pollock was most
amusing i'm his familiar nonchalant way.
Ancient Rules Of Etiquette sung hy
Miss Hajos. Wimuth Merkyl and chorus,
Is another hit OF the evening a Self
Made Man" &C. o. D. zone Little
Girl" Etiquette" sung by other mem
hers Of the cast-all these are worth men
tioring. But why specialize when. as WIS
said At tho beginning of this review the
music is mclodius from first To last? This
first performance was a little late IN end
ing wherefore IL must suffice To stat"
that an the other principals. including
Willard Louis as the rich American ana
Louise Kelley as his daughter. acquitted
themselves well. Her Little Highness'
is welcome on Broadway.