The Washington herald., 1915-09-14
Belasco Theater Opens
Season With "Only Girl''
With Victor Herbert Waving His
Musicianly Baton Over the Aug
mented Orchestra. His Lifting
Score Made Distinct Appeal to
Large and Distinguished Au-
dience Last Night.
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

L
Despite the intensity of the heat las
evening. the inaugural OF the Beiasc'
| Theater season was a thoroughly happ.
| occasion, THE Only Girl" starting tn
ball of 1876 rolling with speed. whil'
a distinguished audience. which includes
the President, received the bright littl'
comedy with its still brighter musica
! setting with unstinted enthusiasm.
i In its original form THE Only Girl
was a scintillating comedy OF character
| a travesty on the estate Of matrimony-
| produced here during the season Of 1921
| under the title Of "Our Wives" beinf
| an adaptation from the German BY
Helen Kraft and Frank Mandel, with
| Henry Kolker playing the dominating
part
The story of "our wives"' remains the
| same dolorous chapter from the lives OF
four bachelors who pledged Themselves
single blessedness until THE Only Girl
in the world, assisted by Dan Cupid. lured
them into connubial bliss: The first aRd
second acts are laid in the livlng-room OF
Alan kimbrough, famous lbrettist
Here his three friel(s come one by one
to confess their detection from their
compact. Kim receives their respective
rantings over the perfections of their
1ancees with sarcasm SO scathing that 1t
Is amusing to watch his own capitulation
to the little love god before the story is
ended.
The librettlst persuades himself that he
can eliminate the sex question in order
that he may cola borate with a girl COM
him. but It is the same old story Of life
and love, and he falls a victim to the
charms of his "Only Girl"
In its central theme the story is frank
ly romantic, but fun is supplied in good
measure when the honeymooners return
to take Up the thread uf sood-fellowship.
accompanied by their respective wives.
The second act. in which the three to-
tally different and uncongenial women
are brought together for a dinner at
'kim's' apartment, teens with satire.
and furnishes an object lesson for the
librettist which he fails utterly to OBJ
serve. Naughty Margaret. swagger Biz
die. and gossipy little Jane. each jealous
of her husbands former cronies and con-
temptuous of each other, form the femi-
nine contingent OF the reunion party.
which is broken up by a tactless bit of
gossip, leaving the librettist to pursue
the girl of his dreams.
This Is the theme OF the comedy. which
the program credits solely to Frank Man.
del. which Henry Blossom has rear
and for which Victor Herbert has
written a score that is Hiding in melody
and musicianly in character.
While the comedy was, in its orig
inal. interspersed with exceptionally
bright lines and clever satire it lacked
just that something necessary to sue
cess. Obviously the something" was
a musical setting, for the piece as 1t
comes to us now, presented by a cast
Of capable actors and excellent sing
ers. is so per cent improved, furnish
ing an evening of entirely delightful
The naturalness Of the characterize
tions of the four bachelors as pre-
sented by Franklyn Farnum in the
role of the librettist; Russell Lennon
as the broker; Frank Coombs as the
lawyer, and Tom Burton as the Scotch
painter. prove equally as delightful
IS the visualizations Of the four only
Girls" with Edna Munsey as Ruth
Wilson. Elsie Baird as Birdie; Regina
Richards as Margaret, and Genevieve |
Houghton as Jane.
To Miss Munsey falls the pervading |
waltz theme of the score which she rem
ders splendidly. adding to the clarity |
and sweetness of her vocal accomplish |
nent that staturesque beauty which aid
ID considerably in the success she won
in THE Little Cafe"
Unessential to the plot, but serving
he double purpose Of exploiting the rare
gifts of Leona Stephens. and the intro
iuction Of several delightful sartorial ef-
ects, is the chorus of pretty girls, each
If whom has an exceptionally good
yoice and much charm of personality.
Is this true of Miss Stephens,
Who offers in THE More See of Others,
Dear, the Better I Love You,'' Per
'onality,'' and You Have to Have a
Part to Make a Hit the clever, snappy
musical hits Of the piece.
Another colorful personality is Janet
IcIlwaine, in her "Antoinette" song,
While the male quartet, composed Of the
our bachelors, is heard to splendid ad-
antage in BE Happy. Boys. Tonight"
Connubial Bliss" and several rollicking
ongs, in which they have choral assist
nee.
Through all this medley Of music runs
small Characterization that deserves
mention because of its natur-
lness and distinction. 1 refer to Alfred
fsher's Saunders" more friend than
ervant to the youthful librettist.
Leading the augmented orchestra in
onor of the opening season last night
'ictor Herbert was cordially received,
inning enthusiastic applause in his
ouble capacity of conductor and COM
oser, while everybody around me made
elighted little comments upon the artis-
C mounting which Fred G. Latham has
lrnished for this altogether charming
lusical piece.