Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-03
HAZEL DAWN BEGUILES
IN HERBERT OPERETTA
Celebrated Composer Scores Another
Success in "The Debutantc' Book
Thin of Plot, But Production Lavishly
Clothed and Excellently Cast.

Victor Herberts music is most remarkable,
perhaps. for its orchestratlon. Technically 1t
Is maIvolously composed and orchestrated with
the felicItous skill of the master genius. Her
bert's waltzes always Incompatible, haunt
Ing. hypnotzing, with magcally melodic quail
ity; his songs are often dreams. Herbert Is,
too. musician with sense of humor.
Luxuriously staged, with scenic settings PEN
dulous with mammoth roses, with chorus of
stunning, almost Parisian-lookinE girls, gowned
with ornate magnhcence, replete with effective
dances, wnltzes and songs and with Hazel
Dawn. Just roseately lovely star, Mr.. Her.
berts new operetta THE Debutante," opened
last night at the Garrick Theatre. THE Debu-
tante" ranks with Mr.. Herbert's former notable
successes, and while the hand of the composer
is at all times recognizable, his new work is
marked by original departures in composition
and testInes to Mr.. Herberts amazing versa
tlty and fertility.
Inconsequcntial to plot, the book, written
by those unInspired and Neutrality-suspicious.
lIbrettlsLs. the Smith Brothers-Harry b. and
Robert b., not yet ncorporated-serves merely
to string together a series of incidents and
situations and to give the principals the cues
for singing and dancing to the music "The
Debutante" is one of the most delightfully."- di-
verting, enthrallngIy entertaining and melodi-
cally pleasing musical comedies Of recent years,
and one of the most notable productions OF the
present season.
There take part in 1.-The Debutante" Elaine.
the daughter OF Sir Francis Yaue, charmingly
interpreted by Hazel Dawn; Godfrey Frazer,
the stock humorous American captain OF in
dustry, laughably enacted by William Dan
forth; Philip. his son. in love with Elaine, sup
posedly a bounding American youth, rawther
too English, youh know, by Alan Nude; Mrs.
zenoba Bunker. an English sufrraGette, and
her husband Ezra, composer OF cubist grand
opera. Maude Ode, the vigorous suffra-
ggtte, proves corISing character actress. and
VIII West. as her husband puts across tho
greatest amount of fun in the piece.
Miss Dawn rcts her part as ingsnuously, as
unaffectedIy, naturally as when she played
THE Pink Lady" While Miss Dawn lacks all
that artihce which becomes art. she is all the
more insinuatingly captivating therefor She
is a subiugatingly beautiful. rosy. golden
haired Elaine. and her ross-coIored gowns arc
simply gorgeous. Alan Nude the young
American. might make convincing hero
IL he learned the art Of makeup and appeared
with at least the stimulation OF such good looks
az capture women's hearts.
OF the many delightful songs in the show,
Miss Dawn scored hits with Professor Cupid"
The Love OF Loreli." in which Robert O.
Pitkin--a ripping lieutenant OF the navy-snd
Mr.. Nude Joined. and Call Around Again"
Sylvia Jason. Mr.. Pitkin and Mr. Nude evoked
the greatest number OF with "Ths
Bakers Boy and the Chimney Sweep"
catchy song. excellently accompanied by a
novel dance Mr.. Herbert's musical humor
reached its high spot in "The Cubst Opera"
a screaming farce sung by VIII West and
William Danforth. Grand opera" declared
win West rs tragedy set to music The
music is all on the stsge-the tragedy is in the
boxohics"