The Washington herald., 1918-01-08
NationaI-@TAe Riviera GIrLr


As dainty a lady as has been seen
here in many q moon. The Riviera
Girl" waltzed across the stage OF
the National Theater last evening
and captivated Washington COM
plefely. She Is pretty. witty. well
dressed. and lively with music with
the snap and sparkle Of the Riviera
itself. and upon this frame Of mar
velous melody Is hung q charming
romance Of Monte Carlo. enlivened
BY many amusing moments.
Wilda Bennett. a poor singing
girl. Is beloved by Arthur Burckley.
the son Of Louis Casavant, a proud
and naughty nobleman. Fearing
disinheritance II he marries sing
ing girl, Mr.. Burckley arranged her
union with Carl Gantvoort. an I'M
pecunious noble. in order that Miss
Bennett might secure a divorce,
.zFhereupon her title win make her
eligible to enter his noble family.
His plan miscarried. for the sup
posed poverty-stricken Gantvoort
turns out to be IN reality prince
OF the. royal blood. who from the
first has loved Miss Bennett. and
she in turn loves him.
You simply had to laugh and enjoy
yourself with the fine company OF
lovely women and gay men in The
Riviera Girl" They sang. danced.
and chattered most ensagingly every
moment Of their time before the foot
lights. and their efforts carried the
pretty play TO a triumphant conclu-
sion Vida Bennett was very much
to be admired IN the title role She
has an engaging manner and sings
the numbers allotted to her with rare
grace. Charming Just a Voice to
Can Ne Dear" rang out in all its
beauty and never seemed to let the
echoes die. and Gypsy, Bring Your
Fiddle was another fine number
for Miss Bennett.
At Monte Carlo also was a quaint
person named Sam Hardy. from Fish
burg, Ill. with his pretty little wife.
Juliette Day. As everybody knows,
Sam Hardy Is a natural born cut-up,
and Miss Day was just as delightful
laet night as she was in Upstairs
and Down" Their song. Lets Build
a Little Bungalow in Quogue" went
made "Half a Married Man" par
tieularly effective. and ]. Clarence
Harvey scored in "Theren Never Be
Another Girl Like Daisy" Marjorie
Bentley and two chorus boys danced
difinely. then there was Frank
harrington. Eugene Lockhart and
Viola Cain adding interest to the
play.
The chorus of THE Riviera Girl" Is
good to look upon They had endless
changes OF costume and brilliant
dancing interludes. Their most de-
nghtful moments, however, were due
10 Julian Mitchell, whose ingenious
hard was evident The costuming
presents a yeritable kaleidoscope OF
color and harmony, while Joseph
Urban has quite outdone himself in
the beauty and artistry of the three
settings which he has provided for
this pretty cousin to Miss SPRING
time"
Enmerich Kalman's score embraces
everything from syncopated rag to
grand opera orchestration. and it re-
ceived full value last night at the
hands Of the large symphony or
chestra and capable company. There
has been a lavish expenditure Of
money in order to provide an enter
tainnlent that viii delight. and we
discover the results of such a policy
in every feature of the performance;
but one must see The Riviera Girl"
TO realize the great outlay of money.
energy and brains which has been
necessary TO perfect IT. II is as capti-
waiting as Strauss waltz!