The Washington herald., 1914-04-21
BELASc0.
SEAmbit1On.''

"As a man thfnketh in his heart so
is he" is the keynote of the new ro-
mantle comedy by Ashley Miller, which
had its metropolitan premiere at the
BeIasco Theater last evening. Mr.. Miller
has named his play Ambition" which
but vaguely conveys the idea for 1t is am
bition coupled with faith. which turns
the trick-or, better still, the combination
Of genius and trust -r
The story told is one of simplicity, and
therein lies much Of its charm. 1t baS
to do with the destiny of four people
only: Miss Love, whose philosophy OF
faith is a revelation in the person of a
New York boarding-house keeper; Marie,
her maid of all work and likewise her
sanguine disciple; Zelda Selby, New
York chorus girl, and Bert Chester, the
young composer who, as a stranger in
a strange land, comes to occupy the attic
room in Miss Loves clearinghouse I'M
til he can win a hearing for his operetta-
This picturesque attic room is the scene
of the three acts in which the story
passes with cumulative interest to its
poetic conclusion. Here, in the first act,
young Chester meets the chorus girl who
promises to win a hearing for his music;
here he spends months in teaching her
to sing his score; here it is that Miss
Love airs her philosophy of faith and
that little Marie drinks melody into her
usic-hungry soul; and here also that
Zelda betrays the composer on the eve
of production and the maid of all work
declares that she knows the score and
can sing it. proving herself and winning
the love which her loyalty and genuine
ness deserve.
The music which Alfred SoImon has
written as a setting to the drama is de-
scribed as ''incidental' to it, which is
putting the matter mildly, for the fire.
quent recurrence of haunting melodies
from curtain to curtain is most vital
part of the performance, furnishing
distinct novelty in the matter of dramatic
production and an opportunity for three
members of the cast 10 display their
musical ability.
The program gives four musical num-
bers, the first of which. I'm In Love
With the Girl of My Dreams" makes one
quickly aware that Charles Maud, who
creates the role of the young composer.
is a musician of no mean ability; the
second, How Can a Grille Who Loves
Them All Be True to One?" falls to the
lot of Miss Helen Royton. who vizualizes
the Show Girl. Dream With Me" is the
third number listed, which is a barcarole
Of exquisite beauty, sung with fine tech
niQue and emotional shading by Mr..
Maud, while Don't Make Those Eyes at
Me- concluded the musical numbers
advertised. which is but a beginning of
the melodies both played and sung. any
one of which might easily make the
major theme of light opera Then there
was q recitative rendered last night by
Mr.. Maud with such fine dramatic power
and range of expression as to have
scored for him a distinct personal hit.
Miss RoystOn looks and acts the
vanIty-saturated, selfish, designing
chorus girl portraying the character
with admirable consistency, but fail
ing TO measure up to the vocal stand
ard set by Mr.. Maud. whose gift of mu
sic and dramatic ability furnish a rare
combination. which would seem TO
come to him by Inheritance, for Mr..
Maud is the grandson of the famous .
Jenny Lind, and a cousin OF Cyril Maud, /
who has won notable success in
Grumpy" which he is now playing in
New York. /;
Miss Marguerite St John impresses !
her EentIeness and goodness upon her
audience, making one wish that her
philosophy We're a matter of wider !
adoption, while Miss Ethel Browning, |
the Italian slavey, who, as Marie, has
inherited her gift Of music from oper- |
attic ancestors. shares with Mr.. Maud !
the greater honors of the play. Her
naturalness and sincerity are capti- !
waiting, while the brief snatches one
catches of her clear soprano leave one !
hungry for more.
There was last night but one lapse in !
her faithfuIness to her characterization, !
and that in the last act. when. after /
her operatic triumph she forsook her I
former iIliteracy, lapsing into English. /
the purity of which would be a delight .
10 the ear were It not inconsistent with |
the earlier limitations of Marie. This !
however, is minor detail easily cor
reCted. and so absorbed was last nights
a udience in the tender romance, as il .
neared its denOuement that this slight .
infdelity to character was cloaked in the |
strong appeal Of the concluding scene Of
the play when one is sure that the COM
poser has won-both for his heart and Il
for his art. II
And so it is that the old, old story of
love never does grow old. and so it will
be that Ambition as Mr.. Miller calls
his new drama. is bound to win a place
In the affections of the theater-going
public
Aside from the appeal Of the tender
sentiment of the piece it has strong
value which the author has Il
worked out consistently and with inten
sive interest, to all Of which is added II
that wealth of melody furnished by Mr..
SOlmOn. and the picturesque setting for
which Robert Milton is responsible, max
ing the production in its entirety dis
.inctly worth while.
JULIA CHANDLER MANI.
GAYETY.