Evening star., 1915-09-14
Relasco.

Henry Blossom and Victor Herbert
have daintily and delightfully."- recreated
Helen Kraft and Frank Mandels sa-
tirical comedy, Our Wives" which had
already made laughter and entertain
ment in stock for Washington play
goers. as well as regularly with Henry
kolker heading the cast. and under the
title "-The Only Girl at the Belasco
opening last night, presented musical
play that even the weather could not
wilt
1t is fairly resplendent with typical
Victor Herbert music that soothes.
sparkles and entrances, two trIos espe-
cially. with Il bachelors quartet, ap..
pealinG with especial force because of
their novelty But this is only hitting
the score in high places and not the
highest at that An inimitable SOU
brette, Leona stephens, bade fair at
times to run away with the SHOW
because of her sprightly Personality"
song. Here's to the Land We Love"
an inSpiriting march, and You Have
to Have Part to Make a Hit" in the
language of the lobby Veritable
"corker" And yet, withal, the music.
all of it, has that peculiar charm of
Victor Herbert which holds the trained
ear while it delights the popular heart
Henry Blossom, too, in remodel1ng the
old comedy has given it new life and
artistic score of the composer.
THE Only Gir1' is not all song and
chorus composition, but the music is
blended in with the spoken story so
cleverly that the one adds to the other
in producing an enjoyable result. full
of life laughter and welcome melody.
Frank1yn Farnum makes breezy
and satisfactory Kim, the horettist
who is not overpartial to the opposite
sex. especially after his three boon
COMPANIONS have yielded to the Wiles
of .'the only girl in each case ana
Yet. in his need of COMPOSER: me- 100. 100
"snatched the only theme" that ap-
peaIs to him. after completing his
opera with her as if the two were sex
less machines. which neither OF them
was.
| .Corksey.' ''Fresh'' and "Bunkie, his
| chums. were impersonated by Russell
Lennon. Frank Coombs and Tom Bur
ton with the latter shade the pest
IN his Scotch impersonation, While
Elsie Baird. Regina Richards and
Genevieve Houghton were their re-
spective wives, with Miss HouShton
landing hit in her one sweet and
simple song, Tell 1t All over AGAIN.
Edna Munsey. the Statuesque beauty
who had the role of Ruth Wilson. the
composer, sang the theme-song OF the
play with exquisite charm and effect,
her high notes being very beautiful
She was natural in her playing, In
which her personality was a large as
set Miss Munsey sang here during the
past summer in the musical stock COM
pany on two occasions. and was not
wholly Il stranger. having previously
attended a nearby seminary. Her song
efforts won unmistakable approval and
evf enthusiasm.
Alfred Fisher. without singing note,
as the valet of KIM made pro-
nounced appeal to the audience in his
genial but always respectful and tact
fully played part of the humble help.
and il would not be fair to omit the
names of Florence Hunter, Nellie De
Grasse. Miriam Barry, Catharine Healy,
Marion Staunton and Janet McIlwaine,
Just friends of Patsy, the soubrette,
who did duty in the song and dancing
ensembles. For a genuine Scotch-Irish
girl Miss McIlwaine was n real sue
cess as cajoling French danseuse.
The BelaSco was in summer array,
and the numerous electric fans, added
to admirable ventilation. made the heat
of the evening a minor consideration
except perhaps to those who had
donned the tuxedo and the swallow
tail for the occasion. The palm beach
was much in evidence.
President Wilson occupied the presi-
dental box. and seemed to find an
evening of real enjoyment in the music
and the play.