New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-20
CAST.

Take a hand of white-legged banditt fl
nuted skirts. a bevy Of Athcnian maids. a
double life prince, two ladies in inappro-
pirate garb held for ransom I'm noun
tain fastness. and have the whole tangle
uuraveIled by Il Rupertofhentzau nava'
officer. and YOU have most of the story
Of Maids of Athens presented last night
at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
The book. however. IS the least inter
essing part Of the evenings entertain
ment. There is melody and lots Of II,
sung by a splendid cast down to the lit
tlcst and most energetic Grecian maid in
the chorus or course. in these tango
DAYS ono could hardly expect the COM
posers, Victor Leon and Franz Lehar, TO
duplicate their earlier success, THE
Merry Widow but they have provided
an interesting and graceful score with
some few doomed -to-b -whistled num-
bcrs. which IS ample reason for cOngrat-
ulation.
Tho book is rather heavy and employs
quips and turns OF speech, humorous
enough perhaps IA the pages Of weekly.
but hardly of the species that carry over
the footights i'm full force.
There is a Grecian prince who has a
charming sister, and this prince. who is
secretly head Of a band of robbers. does
not want said charming sister to become
the bride Of naval captain. Finally he
consents. on condition that the captain
wins his wager and captures the bandit
chief. "Ha. hal" chuckles Parnes, the
prince. now a bandit in his mountains.
Hell never get me"'
So the captain proceeds TO get him, and,
of course. finally succeeds and wins his
wager-and the princess. The bandit
prince. however. is not any too depressed
for he wins little Mary Louise. an Ameri-
can heiress Boom, Boom, L. s. Okla
homa. Star Spangled Banner. Finale
There IS. running through the plot, both
fguratvely and literally. a brace of stage
hardened Sherlock Holmes-Dr. Watson
detectives. who are employed as the IN
iectors of that commodity so necessary
70 comic operas. a comedy element. AZ
first it appeared lacking, but later the
pair. both by their antics and their nat
ural comedy sense. drew a deal OF HVely
humor from their lines.
Cecil Cunningham. statuesque graceful
and in better form than ever. sang the role
of Princess Photini. the beloved OF Cap
tain William Penn Harris, sung by Elpert
FretveII. who made the character ooth
pleasing and convincing.
Leila Hughes played the ingenious
Mary Louise who was held for ransom
and finally held for keeps by the prince.
Miss Hughes has a delightful voice ana
made her solo. When the Heart Is
Young" quite the most attractive number
in the score. Albert Pcllaton handled the
role Of the Prince with assurance, AMI
Marie Horgan. who played Mrs. Barley
,,.on a number Of oncores with her song
Rosie"
Bert Gilbert and W. :. Percy played
the two burlesque detectives and played
them TO such rood purpose that they
livened the lines into laughabls comedy
Tho rest OF &c cast. and IL is large
one were obviously we'll selected and
trained. for they sang well and made
every stage picture effective The tNo
acts and prelude present three well cor
ceiyed scenes, particularly that OF the
second act. in the mountain home II the
Firobrands ~ llollas." where the brig
,uds and brigandcsscs disport themselves,
and where the attractive scNtcttc Nurse.
%ttrs. Nurse IL sung.