New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-04
he cast was as follows:
BY Haywood Broun

new comic opera prima donna was
introduced to New York last night at
the Cort Theatre when Tayie BEIGE
appeared in "Fiddlers Three" Miss
Belge's voice is the best which has
been heard in comic opera hereabouts
Tor some time. 1t is we'll to bear in
mind that the gulf between opera and
operetta in this country is wide. The
young Belgian singer could undoubted-
ly hold her own acceptably at the
Metropolitan, but we doubt whether
she would be able to displace any of
the reigning favorites.
But voice of true operatic calibre
is something of a sensation. in musical
comedy, particularly when it is shown
to advantage in we'll written score
Before everything else Tavie Beige is
skilful singer. Her style is almost
tlawless. Her high voice is extraordi-
narily true and strong. This is the
phase Of her singing which is most at
tractive. The middle voice is somewhat
lacking in warmth A certain knowl-
edge of singing is requisite for full
enjoyment of the singing of Miss Beige
hers Is not a voice which is primarily
exciting, and although she is eminently
personable, she is not the most mag
netic Of musical comedy stars. A young
woman informed us that it would be
worth thousand dollars week to
"Fiddlers Three" to have Miss Beige
discharge her present hair dresser.
This is probably an exaggeration. At
any rate, it did not suffice to prevent a
very warm greeting for the singer at
the end of Act and after she had sung
fine number called "Can 1t Be Love
At Last?" The audience seemed to
agree that it was
When it comes to soothing the saw
age first night breast there are other
arts just a little more potent than
music. The greatest welcome of the
evening was won by Hal Shelley and
Louise Groody in a dancing number,
but nobody minded that very much
after they began to dance, for they
performed with grace and humor. AS
King George would have it, they pos
sessed pep" Shelley was a welcome
figure throughout he evening, with a
fast, flip patter. It seemed to be his
own material, for Ale book of "Fiddlers
Three is not DISTINGUISHED although it
never gets in the way particularly. 1t
suficed
We believe that the captiousness of
the newspaper critic is exaggerated.
There was one in front of us last
night, and one behind. One special
ICES in American drama, and the other
reserves great deal of his enthusiasm
tor Margaret Anglin and her every
ttlewhilc Greek Performances at Car
negle Hall. And yet we ell but lost a
salient when assaulted front ard rear
by the laughter Of the two gentlemen
upon the comedians answer to the
question, "Woll, how is the world treat
ing YOU" He said, "Not very often. y
No voice in the new musical comedy
compares to that of Miss Beige, and il
is rather wise management which uses
her most sparingly in duets. Thomas
Conkey has some pleasant tones but
no great training, and he did not quite
get all the rhythmic values out of a
spicndld song called "As the Fitting
Swallows Fly"
The music of "Fiddlers Three" is bv
tombstone, and it is an az,
oellent score. 1t contains stirring n1,m-
bers, and sprightly ones, too, not for
Eettlng several fine, smashing choruses.
The book and lyrics of William Carv
Duncan are good enough The piece
possesses plot of sufficient dimen-
sions and the lyrics all have something
to do with the action. Mention ought
to be, made. of Clifford Brooke, Who
staged the piece, and Carl Randall, who
arranged the dances, for they have
keyed flddlers Three up to a merry
pace, which is sustained throughout
In addition to the performers alreadv
mentioned, Echlin Gayer and Josie In,
tropodi were agreeable, and Lyman and
King did whirlwind dance. We don't