The Washington times., 1914-01-06
"SWEETHEARTS" HAS
BEWITCH|NG MUSIC
Christie Macdonald Scores
Brilliantly in HerbeTt's New
0peretta.

Christie Macdonald scored brilliantly
in Victor Herbert's operetta, Sweet
hearts" at the National Monday night
but Mr.. Herbert, directing the orchestra
shared the honors. The operetta is clev
erly constructed in all parts; there ar,
lifting tunes. snappy lines, and clever
comedy. Miss Macdonald was bewitch
ing. and had most effective support
"Sweethearts" has the most charming
chorus imaginable: pretty girls, who
wear gowns well and have the gowns &c
wear. and, moreover, who can sing.
''Sweethearts" is of the Graustarlian
school. The plot deals with the adven-
lures of the rincess. who was alb
Quoted and grew up as the adopted
daughter Of Dame Paula, conducting
the laundry of the White Geese, and
known as Mother Goose. because there
are six other goslings. The prince with
the tenor voice finally arrives, and there
A. the traditional ending
Music Has Real Charm.
II is in the music that the real
charm of "Sweethearts' lies. Victor
Herbert has repeated his former tri-
umphs, and with an augmented Or
ehestra and under his personal direction
the music did more than its part to
carry the operetta along.
The song "sweethearts" dominates
the music and is threaded throughout
the score. Sung by Miss Macdonald
and chorus. it has lifting swing to II
that appeals and Of the music this Is
the song that was taken home and is
hummed today. Cricket on the
Hearth by Miss Macdonald and Mr..
Conkey,. was anothsr charming air.
The supporting company measured
up to the highest standards. The bulk
of the comedy was furnished by Tom
MCNaughton, who as Mikel Mlkelovlz,
cOnspirator, alternates in posing as the
monk and as the father OF Mother
Goose's brood. But McNaughton DID
not carry away all the comedy honors.
Lionel welsh as the Hon. Percy Alger-
non Slingsby shared them: HIS song,
''I Don't Know How Do II" was one
of the comedy hits
the play. displayed a good tenor voice.
In the cricket songs with Miss Mao
Donald he was particularly good. Rob
ert OConnor and Frank Belcher aided
with the music and with the comedy.
Ifr Relcher's voice is an excellent bari
tone Ethel Du Ere Houston was an
acceptable Dame Paula and Miss Flea
nor Henry equally good as the little
Tnillincr who is Sylvta's love rival
Dance In Wooden Shoes.
There were additional features that
stamped the production as something
different. The Ssbot dance. for in
stance. where there was row of pretty
girls who danced in their wooden shoes,
their feet aiding the orchestral accom-
paniment to the song. The scenic and
electrical effects were strikinsly effec-
tive. Indeed. the production was mount
eJ in its entirety on an elaborate scale.
The gowns were especially striking and
seldom is a chorus so magntficently
Powned.
Responding to repeated curtain calls
a the close of the first act, Victor Her
bert ioined Miss Macdonald on the
EfASe and made a few remarks express
s.ve Of his qualification at the hearty
reception. He paid a high compliment
80 Miss Macdonald, and praised the
ci'urus. whose singing he was directing
fIUm the orchestra pit. Mr.. Herbert re-
grCtted that his Co-auth0TS were not
present to aid him in thanking his
v ashinSton friends. The book of
''SWcethearts'' is by Harry L. Smuth
and FREQ de Gresac. and the lyrics by
Robert. 2. Smith. The opera is present
&c by the W,rba-Luescher Olera Com
psny.
One Of the most strikingly effective
features of tEe Herbert music was the
''AnSelus Song by Miss Macdonald
and Mr.. COnkey. when the tOllinC
church bells and an organ aiGed in the
orchestral accompaniment.