The Washington times., 1915-09-14
Plays and Players at Capital
Theaters This Week
BELASCO.

With q quartet OF 'pnly girls" to
chose from that were left over from
sour Wives" Frank Mandel's farce.
from which Victor Herbert and Henry
Blossom made their newest joint ef-
fort. and the "only girl that was
entirely invented by the Herbert
Blossom combination for the action
Of the piece. the comedy with music
they prepared and have called "The
Only Girl" opened the season OF 1915
16 at the Bellsco last night to the
complete satisfaction of every per-
son In the packed house. including
the most distinguished OF them. Presi-
dent Wilson.
A seasons opening at the Belasco is
always an occasion Of more or less
import In the theatrical and social
affairs Of Washington and last nights
event was a cons !cuous example.
tion of THE Only GAR as the inaugu-
raj bill seems to have been rather
happs thought on the part Of Man
ager Taylor. Built upon the plot and
with practically ali OF the situations
of the Mandel farce intact. it required
no effort on the part of the swelter-
Ing audience to keep track OF the ia
miliar features OF an unusually COM
plete story, for musical offering,
especially in view OF the fact that
Victor Herbert has composed some OF
the richest and scme of the most
sparkling melodies for the piece and
presented them with himself In tho
conductors chair for this occasion.
The story tells of four bachelors who
each tlnd the only girl after having
foresworn women. Kimbrough. libret-
tist. is informed by each Of the detec
tion OF each of the other three in turn
on the same day. The writer teels bad
~ used, especially as he has been un-
able to tind a musician to compose the
score for what he believes is the g,eat-
est effort OF his life. He hears Il beau
tiful melody that seems to come from
an apartment near his own. He deter
mines to secure the composer OF the
The composer proves to be a girl-the
worst blow that has yet hefallen. He
makes an agreement. however. with
her to work together-but as machines,
The usual result follows after three
acts OF well-constructed comedy.
All of that is the story Of Our
Wives which Messrs. Blossom and
eomedy--or comedy with music-they
have introduced seven other people into
the action, one OF which. worldly
wise. loud-talking. ambitious soubrette.
piece so far as the viewpoint OF tho
audience seemed to so. The actors are
show girls, not chorus. please observe.
because each has a speaking part.
been chosen with careful attention to
the needs of the various parts. and in
no instance Is the success of the pro-
ducers In this direction given greater
emhpasis than In presentation Of Leona
Stephens in the part of Pstsy. the SOU
brette. Had the part been written for
Miss stephens. who Is we'll remembered
in washington for her vaudeville per
formances. she could not have filled t
moro completely or to greater satisfac-
tion. Dressed In the extreme Of fash
ion and colors. always the show girl of
the accepted type impertiEent. sure Of
herself and her ability. on the hunt for
: with it all. honest and big hearted as SO
many Of the type she portrays really
ARE, Miss Stephens gives a most de-
uGhtful performance and has three of
the four real song hits of the show.
Edna Munsey. also remembered here
. host of friends from her seminary
days In this city. has the prima donna
role-that Of the girl composer. Miss
Munsey makes a beautiful picture and
presents both the musical and dramatic
features Of her part r,,ro9,, a9ccePta6iy;
as the librettist with an infectious
laugh and a regular breeder Of germs
Of a big idea
valet. had the only part that carried
no musical score. and made an excellent
comedy in the role of Scotch bachelor
while Frank Coombs was thoroughly
acceptable as the lawyer bachelor.
Regina Richards and Genevievc Hough-
ton gave excellent performances as two
of the only girls" The others IN the
the piece and the costumes and settings
were pleasing. GARDNER MACK.