The Washington herald., 1914-12-29
By july CHANDLER MANz.

As dainty a musical piece as has
been seen in Washington in many a
moon is Adele" the offering of the
New Era Producing Company. incorpO-
rated, at the New National Theater this
week, quite earning its title of "operetta"
through its haunting and musicianly
score. which was interpreted last even
ing by an excellent company.
In making the English version from the
French OF Paul Herve and Jean BriQuet,
Messrs Adolf Philip and Edward A
PaUlton have managed the difficult task
of losing little of the Gallo flavor of the
book. and certainly nothing of the Hitting
melody of the music, forming a most de-
lightful combination in the way Of theat-
rical entertainment.
While the book does not depart
from the habit of musical comedy
plots in that the story it tells is most
improbable. 1t yet has the merit of CO.
herency, and scintillates with clever
dialogue and epigrammatic quips which
manage to keep an audience in hap
py frame of mind throughout the
three acts of the piece.
Adele, the little heroine OF the story,
enters into a plot with Myrianne
whereby both may obtain the land of
hearts desire. Adele is in love with
Robert Friebur, son Of a parvenu
tradesman. while Myrianne is as much
attached to Baron Charles de Chan
tilly. Now it so happens that Henri
Parmaceau, father of Adele is the sea
food canning rival OF Friebur, the
elder, which bars the road to the union
of the young folk. while Myrianne is
prohibited from marrying her Charles
because of his unfortunate pecuniary
position. In consequence Of this situa-
tion Myrianne proposes that Adele
marry Charles in order that he
may benefit by her dot and thus be
enabled to marry Myrianne when Adele
wins her legal independence from both
father and husband by her divorce of
the latter Immediately following the
wedding ceremony.
Well, We all know very well what
merry trickster is master Cupid, and no
one is surprised when Charles succumbs
to the charms of his bride, and the young
heroine decides in favor of her hus-
bands attractions, which makes II in
evitable that the discarded lovers, Robert
and Myrianne, should trump up a match
between themselves.
In adapting the tale for the English
speaking stage, Mr.. Philip has given it
a deft touch, and kept well within the
spirit of the music which is sufficient in
itself to assure Adele an equal popu-
larity on the road that the piece has
enjoyed IN New 10TH, "HeIe II was BENti
its first American production by Joseph
P. Bickerton, jr., managing director for
the New Era Producing Company, at the
Longacre Theater more than year and
half ago. The fact of the matter is
that there is not one dull musical num-
Der in three entire acts. and that each
melody is more fascinating than the
one preceding ii.
In the cast presenting adele" here this
week is Miss Carolyn Thomson in the
title role, to which she brings an exquisite
personality and a voice of flexible quality
and much Of sweetness and charm; while
John Park, singing opposite her as
Baron Charles, gives a fine performance
vocally and dramatically. In the less
important impersonation of Myrianne
Mae Phelps measures up to the vocal re-
quirements of the part, if not fulfilling
its physical demands, while Stephen
Stott, as Robert Friebur, falls beneath
the splendid standard set by Mr.. Park.
Carrying the comedy honors, Sidney
Davies, as Jacques, the valet; Eugene
Arnold as Henri Parmaceau, and Fred
Frear, as the elder Friebur, are con-
genially cast, to Mr.. Davies falling some
Of the most amusing cynicisms of the
book, while Miss Katheryn Beach, as
maid, and a group of seven chorus girls
and three chorus men complete the cast.
There could be, perhaps, no higher