The Washington herald., 1914-09-29
"THE DEBUTANTE" SCORED
BIG TRIUMPH LAST NIGHT
Victor Herbert Has Written
Beautiful and Musicianly
Score for Hazel Dawn's
Stellar Debut.
BY JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

| ny JULIA CHANDLER MANI
The first metropolitan appearance of
Miss Hazel Dawn as a Star in her own
right proved a distinct triumph both for
the dainty young celebrity and for Victor
Herbert, composer OF The Debutante," I"
the new operetta which had its practical
premiere at the New National Theater
last night.
| The piece is Programmed as q musical
| comedy, but the beautiful and musician
| ly score entities IL to a greater degree
of distinction. Certainly In all his pro-
life career Mr.. Herbert never treated an
audience to such a continued wealth Of
melody as that which lifts through THE
| Debutante" from curtain to curtain. One
usually anticipates in the announcement
of a musical play a single waltz theme
which is reiterated with such frequency
as to tease ones very soul. And the an
| ticipatlon usually becomes a reality, the
average composer seeming to feel that
one real melody TO a musical comedy Is
enough enjoyment for anybody's two
dollars. Not so with Mr.. Herbert, for the
measure of melody in THE Debutants"
is pressed down and running over.
An equal amount of praise cannot be
bestowed upon the book, for which Harry
B. Smith is responsible. The plot of the
little romance is sufficiently cohesive, but
the comedy element lacks both humor
and spontaneity. so that II is a most
fortunate thing for Miss Dawn's first
starring venture that Robert B. Smith
has done better in the matter of the Tyr
les. and that Mr.. Herbert has excelled
even his former successes in the quality
OF his ccore. His own capable baton
guided the orchestra last night, and won
the appreciation OF an audience which
accorded almost every musical number
a complete ovation.
Pink Lady" will remember the vision of
was no less exquisite in her billowy blue.
Her ethereal beauty is the spring-time
incarnate. Her voice has gained in both
power and expression since last l heard
it, and was delightful last evening in
her Professor Cupid and Call Around
Again" solo numbers, and even more
effective in her Golden Age duet, sung
with Alan Nude; The Love Of the
Lorelei' in which she was ably assist
ed by Mr.. Nude and Robert G. Pitkin;
Never Mention Love When We're
Alone" a duet with Stewart Baird. and
the sextette which included Misses Dawn,
Barnett and OdeIl, and Messrs. West,
Nude and Pitkin.
In choosing THE Debutante" for the
first presentation OF his new star. John
c. Fisher has shown great business
youth and blond loveliness. In addition
to this the producer has surrounded her
with a capable cast OF principals and
youthful and pulchritudinous chorus
which Is also a sartOrial delight.
Alan Nude is there with all his old
debonair manner in the role of the hero;
Robert C. Pitkin's excellent voice is fire.
Quently heard 10 advantage; VIII West
makes Commendable effort to extract
humor from a part in which there is
none; Stewart Baird Is delightful vocally
and dramatically: Maude Odell's comedy
methods have lost none of their strenu-
business; Zoe Barnett presents a sincere
picture of the temperamental dancer, dis
tinguishing herself in the art OF terpst-
chore, as well as In the excellent values
Of her dramatic expression.
Theodore Heinroth, as a famous violon-
cellist, won enthusiastic applause in his
solo number at the opening OF the sec
ond act of the piece in the studio Of
Paul Mason. in Paris: little Miss Sylvia
Jason scored something OF a personal
triumph in her trio with Messrs. Nude
and Pitkin, and Miss Hennessy won re-
peated encores in her ethereal terpsi-
chorean illustration CT Mr.. Baird's ex-
cellent will O. the Wisp' song.
THE Debutante' is in two acts. both
Of which are set with great lavishness,
presenting a background for the pretuest
girls wearing the most charming frOCks
which 1 have seen Oh the boards for
many a long day. tho entire production
furnishing a most delightful evenings
entertainment.