Evening star., 1916-03-19

-T is not often that the producer of
new work submits himself to OBJ
seryation while it is being piloted
through the first few performances
of its career He usually seeks re-
t.rernent His personal attitude is OF con-
siderable significance, and unless ne Is
. master Of facial expression his anx-
,ety is likely to betray itself He
L,ovs the merits and the weak points
of his production as only one VINO mas
studied IL from the first sentence OIL
the manuscript to the last Item III tie
expeuse account can know them. foF
the moment his instincts become those
Of a recluse He IS not in frame oi
MIND 10 receive or impart Information.
C,1v tho public's attitude toward tne
hox o44cs IS in doubt With Mr.. Dipple
', is different His serene smile as II
was displayed beneath JauntS opera
h.. was an asset to the theater 1t
hetokened a sense of security tha' m
yited confidence. Even those VINO o'o
NOT know II was Mr.. Dippel were
agreeahIy impressed. The tired nusi-
ness man as he approached the ticket
taker could take heart. confident thae
the show was not designed 10 meet
the desperate frame of mind IN when
he is popuIarly depicted at seeking the
playhouse
.~rhe Princess Tra-la la" is not an
effort to please the tired business man
on the theory that his fatigued men
taiity has fallen into n state of con-
corresponding confusion on the stage.
This new musical play has an idea
not great big one, but pleasant one,
consistently worked out, with touches
OF exaggerated sentimentallty which
warm the imagina ton into youthful
glow 1t is not often that musical
play has so pretty story: nor that
playful story has so much pretty
music. As discoverer. Mr. Dippel
again claims attention. for the people
upon whom the chief responsibilities
rest are not familiar figures in this
city. Mr.. Baldwin. a graceful and
virile actor as well as an accomplished
singer. is handicapped only by a prop
erty fiddle which it is evidently as
sumed that he must appear to play.
everybody else, the fiddle emits no tone
in response to Mr.. Baldwins athletic
technique. The fiddle episode would
be too small to be worth comment were
il not for the fact that il mars a buoy
antly sincere impersonation which ap-
proaches faultlessness so closely that
the slightest blemish becomes con-
spicuous.
George Arliss when ne played Pagan
ini' here gave an illustration of how
minutely the technique of the violin
may be initiated; yet even with him
the illusion was not perfect Like Mr..
Arliss. Mr. Dippel finds his own pre-
vious achievement providing the most
severe standard of censorship for his
work. Comparisons with the Lilac
Domino are as inevitable in musical
shows as comparisons with D'Israeli in
the biographical drama However much
''Tra-la la" may please, there will be
certain reluctance about according it
place in admiration side by side with
the Domino"
War pictures made grimly interest
ing prelude to the elaborate frivolity
promised at the Beiasco tomorrow
night. The scarcity of material for
touring companies Is apparent in the
seasons bookings, although New York
is reporting numerous successes and
a condition of congested opuIence that
should provide patronage for many
week 10 come.