The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
Opera Comique
Sung in the Open
at Hewitt Farm
Special Despatch to TIE HERALD.

MIDvALE, n. j., Oct. 2.-NicolaFs
sparkling opera comique THE Merry
Wives OF Windsor rarely heard In
these times except in orchestral FORM
had a delightful performance this after
noon ut Wewappo Farm. the country
home Of Mr.. and Mrs Edward Ringwood
Hewitt in the foothills of the Beaufort
Mountains In an open air theatre, as
picturesque as it is perfectly adapted
to dramatic or musical performances
Mr.. and Mrs. Hewitt and the Misses
Candacc and Lucy Hewitt, their daugh-
ters, received their guests. who assem-
hled not only from Tuxedo Park and
other nearby colonies, but also from
West FONT, West Chester, Princeton.
rom country homes along the Hudson
aver and from New York.
Mr. and Mrs Hewitt's delightful
matinee served double purpose; one
being a compliment TO their younger
daughter. Miss Lucy Hewitt, whose for
NAL introduction to society was pre-
vented by her active war relief work
in France. and the other being short
ened performance in English Oh gem
of light opera. Socially the matinee
formed a notable incident of the autumn.
Musically the performance was pro-
nounced success.
Mr.. Walter Damrosch, who was
among the guests, said: This care
fully presented revival of Nicolafs
dainty opera has been most capably
sung and acted. 1t has been as delight
full as a bit of Mozart"
Wewappo Farm is in the vale OF the
Burntweadow River, with the Ramapo
Hills that separate 1t from Steriington
and Tuxedo Park on one side and Wind
beam Mountain on the other. IL is
rugged country. and in the side of one
Of the hills rising back from the house
has been constructed a theatre. The
seats are terraces cut from the steep
slope. The wings are tall evergreen and
oak trees. The back drop is an inspir
,ng view Of miles of the vale, and yes
terday the flies were clear autumnal
skies. The natural construction OF the
open theatre makes for perfect acous-
tics. Every word spoken or sung by the
members of the cast was heard by those
sitting in the outermost reaches OF the
theatre.
The cast was as follows:
Mistress Ford ......... Miss Mary Burns
Mistress Page. MISS mary fottef
Anne Page ............. Miss Essie Ehrstein
Sir John Falstaff. .......... John Boschen
A Waiter Northumberland Sidney Peterson
The singing actors and actresses are
like Miss Lucy Hewitt, pupils OF Joseph
Reuueas, who abbreviated the opera and
made the English translation from the
German. He also arranged a piano
score which was played by Miss Blanche
Barbot.
Miss Burns at Mistress Ford displayed
q high soprano voice of excellent quail
ity. There was fulness andrichness in
the contralto of Miss Potter as Mistress
Page. Messrs. Webb and Boschen are
harytone singers of whom more will be
heard. Throughout the five acts all were
well within the picture and responded
to the spirit of the merry comedy. Mr.
Boschen's fat knight kept the audience
IN almost constant laughter.
Some of the guests, in addition to MI
and Mrs. Damrosch, were Mr. and Mrs
Thomas A. Edison, Mrs Charles 3. Alex
ander. Mr.. Frederic A. Juilliard, Mr.. +.
Victor Loew, Major-Gen. and Mrs.
Charles F. Roe, Mrs. Prescott Slade, MT.
and Mrs. Herman LIE Roy Emmett, Mr..
and Mrs. James O. Green. Miss Eleanor
NJ. Green, Mr. Norvin Hewitt Green, the
Misses Sarah Cooper and Eleanor u.
Hewitt. Mr.. and Mrs ]. Frederic Tams
Mrs. Charles w. Cooper. Mrs. Schuyler
schieffelin, Bishop Russell of Washing
ton. Mrs. Lucy Work Hewitt, Mr.. and
Mrs. John s. Rogers. Mr.. and Mrs Henry
Kelly Brent Col. and Mrs. Allen ano
Mrs. Oliver q. jennings. Col. and Mrs
Carter were among the guests from
West Point, Messrs Ashley c. Hewitt
and Abram s. Hewitt acted as ushers.