The Washington herald., 1916-02-15
BY JULIA CHANDLER.

Despite the keen disappointment
caused by the serious illness of Flea
nor Painter. which prevented her ap-
pearHnce Gin the title role OF The
Princess Pat" at the Bslasco Theater
last evening, the operetta proved a
two-fold delight to a capacity audi
enee, which chortled appreciation OF
Henry Blossoms humorous lbretto,
and reveled in the beautiful score
supplied by Victor Herbert.
With the exception of The Lilac
Domino" in which Miss Painter first
won our hearts, there has not been to
Washington in many a moon so clean,
clever. bright, and fascinating an en-
teTtainment as that which Is offered
by the three acts OF The Princess
Pat" The piece tells an inconse-
quential enough tale. but injects multi
.Udinous pointed epigrams, which can
not fail to tickle the Tisibilities of
an auditor. furnishing snap a-plenty
between the lovely. haunting strains
which dominate the score.
The story has to do with a maiden
fair whose titled husband cherishes a
Seener interest for art than for love
The Princess di MontaldO Cnee Patrice
rCoEnorJ Is a wholesome young thing.
FULL Of the JOY of life at its springtime;
much occupied by sports. but never too
Engaged in horsemanship. or hockey, to
:rH 'c perpetual romance
Finding her friend Grace Holbrook
about to annex Anthony Schmalz for his
millions The Princess Pat is abetted
ay Bob DsTrOw. true soldier Of fortune,
10 firt with the Old gentleman in the
nope that through the Irritation she may
sting her own husband into attention
by awakening his jealousy, even while
she hberates her friend to receive the
love of Tony, jr., whom Grace has known
only In his frail disguise of a chauffeur.
The Irritation prOspers admirably. An
thony, sr.,-bald and sixty-walks hun
Srtly into the net laid for him. Prince
Antonio finds an eye-Opener to his wife's
superior charms; Tony, jr.. wins the girl
OF his heart. and Bob Darrow rakes in
all the money in sight for services rem
dered.
1t Is threadbare little plot. but no.
body minds. 1t is ingenuOusly un-
folded and takes on reflected
charm from the exquisite musical set
ting in which Mr. Herbert has placed
il. Mr. Blossoms book and lyrics
nave that clever twist of epiEramatic fun
that has been so sadly lacking in the
majority OF Iibrettos Of the current sea-
son. afOrdinE excellent comedy uppor-
tunites for largely Capa BILE company
IN the title role, which was created BY
Miss Painter, there came to us last night
the little lady who has been understudy-
ing the part all season, Ferne Rogers a
dainty and ethereal bit of feminity whose
iran loNeliness in the second act reminds
one OF bit Of old Dresden. while her
grace and charm compensate in some
measure for the lack of sweetness. and
resonance in her voice In her For Bet
ter or For Worse duct with Eva FaI-|
lon 'who visualizrs Grace WolhroOlD Miss
Rogers NOCalizatiOn is entirely adequate
I" the lntIug melody. as IL also the case
IN hrr An For You number i'm which
she SHARES h0nOrs with Joseph r. Ler-
toTa, but in her solo numbers her notes
are Thin and her ability inadcuuatr to the
nor" eNacting demands Of AIR. Herbert's
score
Mr.. LertOra presents an amusing char
acferlzation uf the impotuous Italian
prince. and furnishes one Of the dcIights
IT the evening N his excellent rcndi-
ton Of tho "NrHIuIlt1n Love SONG
while Miss Fall"u proves equal to the
dramatic 7ud vocal demands, uf her role.
being Particularly acceptable in her duct
u Miss RC-eIs and ner Make Ills
DucSs' solo. tIr-yiuE Jess OF tl.. music
81 resDonsibfiities Louis Casavlnt as
Genera! John IIolbruok ~ Shcau. as An
il1ny SchmllZ. and Robert thcr ~
Tony S"rr1alz add To tn" pleasure, Of the
s1tcrtainm emit. while sam Il. Hardy as
bCo DarrOw scores a distinct Personal
nit as the professional ''rNcr' for every
body who may be. by any manner of
means. in trouble, carrying the comedy
Lurdens OF the piece to a highly sue
'vssfUl inish, in which accomplishment
he Is ably assisted by Alexander Clark
v hose anatomical cCJentricities add to
IN" ninth Of his ludiCrOus CharaCtcriza-
uon Of the country sheriff
IN the beginning OF the third act the
Tlot is laid on the shelf while Mr., Riggs
nd Miss WitchiC supply a dance divcrtfs-
S-n"nt which is so artistic IN its concep-
ION brilliant in execution. and pictorial
N charming that it wins for the agile
dancers a demand so insistent that last
night, at least. two equally effective en-
cores had 10 be given to in any measure
SAilsfy the audience. In her beauty,
simplicity. sweetness. and grace, Miss
Nitchie wtEsled her smile along with
hcr toes into the heart of the house"
While Mr.. Riggs shared her ovation both
IN assistant dances, and in an eccentric
solo number.
John Cort. who sends us The Prin
cess Pat" is to be congratulated for
the staging accomplished by Fred G.
Latham, the three scenes being artis-
tic and in good taste. while the com
pany is large. good to look upon, and
vOcally able 10 extract every ounce of
melody from one OF the most varied
haunting. and neatly phrased scores
which Victor Herbert has ever written.
The orchCstratiOn, under the direc-
tton 1f Gustav SalvPr. Is skiIltul and in
entire sympathy with the production
that cannot fail IN its artistic appeal
TO folk of musical taste and discrim-
nation in the matter of their enter
tainment.