Evening star., 1914-04-21
Belasco.

Had Mr.. Ashley Miller, the play
wright. been as unfortunate in the Sc
lection of his materials and the de-
Yelopment of his play. Ambition, as
he was in the choice of it's name, he
would not have held the deeply in
terested attention of the large au-
dience that witnessed its initial per
formance at the Belasco Theater last
evening from curtain fall to final climax
Nor would those who, overlooking slight
defects almost inseparable from a first
performance, in recalling the play. be
saying this morning that Ambition is
not only a genuine novelty. but one Of the
real surprises of the season.
1t is novelty because. beside the
people. only one of them man. it
interweaves music and musical
charm with romantic drama POLITICALLY
beautiful at times. 1t contains some
little of philosophy. in that with falth
in ones self it teaches seemingly I'M
possible things may he accomplished
through unwayering purpose and Will
power. Its characters include young
musical genius. who has discovered
how almost Impossible it is for an
unknown to receive hearing from
managers and producers, no matter
what he may have to offer. and this
young composer. in the play, is made
at times to resemble strongly the un-
starved to death while his genius was
struggling for recognition.
Opposite this character, in splendid
contrast. is young maid Vi all work.
whose parents had sung and died in the
chorus of the Metropolitan Opera House.
Her heart was bursting with the love OF
music. even while her lips were continu-
ally giving vent to her opinion and feel
ings in the East Side slang of New
York. 1t was this young slavey. who. by
| lisfo
not only the melodies of the young COM
poser's opera, but his every word OF IN
struction to a fiashy and exceedinsIy
self-suff1cient young woman OF musicai
comedy fame, depended upon not only to
introduce the composer to a producer, bus
to sing the leading role Of his opera, Mt
ted herself to take the place or the
whilom star at moment when her de-
sertion for young gallant would nave
meant ruin to the young composer.
The fourth character-alnost Third
Floor Back creation of landlady IN a
cheap boarding house-infused into the
little slavey some of her own philosophy.
and here and there through the progress
OF the story soffened asperltles and
brought order out of chaos with her doc
trine of love and the belief that there Is
good in all things.
Bert Chester "a young composer IN a
strange land seeks and finds an attic
room in the house of Miss Love, paying
for it almost with his last cent. because
it contains a piano. and his whole soul
Is wrapt up in an opera. which he Is
trying to push to the point OF production.
Miss Love introduces him to Zelda Selby.
a New York show girl" who is finally
persuaded to secure him a hearing by a
producer with whom she is acquainted
on condition that she is given the leadlns
role.
eve Of production when, becoming OF,
Tended at his rebuke at rehearsal and
also hoping to land as her husband a
young rounder whose father is very
wealthy, she founces out OF the house:
against the protest and entreaties CT
both Miss Love and the little slavey.
Marie, who in her desperation and sym
pathy for the young composer seeks 70
restrain her by force. Chester returns
and the news is broken to him In utter
despair he is on the brink of suicide.
when little Marie, who has already
clothed herself in the prima donna's
robe, takes up and finishes the great
song of the opera. Success follows ooth
humble little substitute for the prima
donna, when the latter returns, having
been deceived by her young Lothario.
to beg forgiveness. She gets 1t. but lit,
as they pass out of his room with their
Goodnight" he sits at the piano play
ing his composition as the last curtain
falls.
As. SEIuci 0Io"hAsA6 PASoChAscS =
characterization Of rugged art that at
once leaped into the sympathy of her au-
dience, and her thorough naturalness in
the minutest details made her work
stand out as the best bit OF artistry In
the performance. Charles Maud. grand
son of the famous Jenny Lind and cous-
in of Cyril Maud. the English actor,
brought to the role Of Chester ability as
a singer and pianist of excellence and
dramatic accomplishment that command
ed attention. Helen Royton, as the
show girl" sang sweetly after her first
bit of nervousness in her opening song,
and swaggered-possibly to fit the role
while Marguerite ST. John gave to the
part of the .landIady an idealized inter
probation that though admirable. yet
taxed belief in its natural probability.
Evidently the author had in mind Forbes
Robertson's creation in The Third Floor
Back" but why he failed to furnish
companion piece must be left to closer
analysis The entire play has the attic
room for its setting. the only changes be-
ing little primping here and there as
circumstances permit