The Washington herald., 1915-10-03

New YORK, Sept. 29.-What was built
to be and intended to be America s
turned over to the girl-and- music
show. The various steps in the trans
formation of the New Theater into the
Century with seasons of meagerly sup
ported opera and ballet have been fully
recorded. Now we have Ned Wayburn
and his chorus girls in full possession
of the big and ambitious building on
Central Park West, into whose con-
struction and temporary support the
rich men of New York so lavishly
poured their money. The whole thing
was based on error and now for the
hrst time in its history the thing seems
to be making money for some one.
The Wayburn show does not differ
greatly from others in New York that
are supposed to appeal TO the tired
business man, his sisters his cousins,
and his aunts. There is more of it. and
the Wayburn genius for gathering
pretty girls and training them into ef-
fective ensembles of beauty and color
has wider scope than ever before. They
are made the background for the ef-
forts of number of principal perform
ers recruited mostly from vaudeville,
including such we'll known persons as
Trixie Friganza. Adelaide the dancer.
blossom Seeley, Vera Michelena, Lois
Josephine. Bert Leslie. and Will Rog-
ers. The Century stage lends itself to
the display of Mr.. Wayburn's generous
provision for brilliant costumes and
settings. There is a fashion show in
gorgeous and extreme gowns that sets
every woman in the audience agape.
he comedians have plenty of business
in their respective lines. the popular
interest is dancing is thoroughly fed
up and there are musical numbers ga
lore
There was so much material in the
show first produced that the per-
formance lasted until long after mid
night. Enough of il was attractive TO
make what was left. even after the
most liberal cutting. very good per-
tOrnance of its sort, and one which
every one who goes to this kind of en-
tertainment will be hound to see.
Imported MeIodrama.
Another hig show IS Stolen orders"
imported TO the Manhattan Opera
House from the Drury lane, London. 1t
is a Scenic and sensational melodrama
Of the kind for which these theaters
have established a reputation. 1t diff
fers from those that have preceded 1t
principally in the nature Of its spectac-
!lar scenes. In Stolen Orders the
most effective of these are a reception
on the quarter deck of British flag
ship. raid of a fashionable London
gambling hell the cracking Of a safe
with an electric fuse a London picture
sale and a night in the car of a Zeppe-
lin.
Of course there is the usual compli-
Gated plot dealing this time with the
theft of the sealed orders. which are to
govern the movements of England's
fleet in certain circumstances presum-
ally connected with the outbreak of the
,-A baY
is made more realistic by the fact that
the entire company is English. so thor
oughly English. in fact. that good
deal of the text is made unintelligible
by the their London brogue. This is
more detail. however. in comparison
with the scenic and other thrills which
are the real attraction OF these big
English melodramas.
Back to the Waltz.
The Lyric gave US really charming
and funny comic opera in Two Is
Company" made over from the Ger
man in its libretto. Messrs. Philip
and Briquet. its composers. also sup
piled the music for Alma, Adele,
and The Girl Who Smiles" They seem
to be an un unfailing we'll of waltz
music in the sensuous German style
and. although there is trifle too much
in Two Is Company" the audience
seemed to relish II as a contrast to the
SI:rfeIt Of ragtime that has to be en-
Iurcd III theaters. dance halls. restau-
rants and on the canned music ma
.iI:ues.
The story Of the opera rests on the
rivalry of two private detectives. one OF
whom maintains a staff of -ood looking
Young women assistants to lure sus-
nccted husbands into compromising
sirustions and the other. corps OF at
tractive Young men who perform the
same function in the case Of suspected
wives The detectives were portrayed
with humor unusual in a musical sho"
BY Messrs. Ralph Nairn and Clarence
Harvey. Tho leading female role was sup