The Washington herald., 1920-01-26
hubert-BeIaseo-"Somebodys
Sweetheart

When the best man and the
bridegroom get confused, the re-
sultant emergency is likely to turn
into a catastrophe. And that's the
situation that develops in some
body's Sweetheart" the musical
comedy playing the Shubert-Belas-
co this week.
When Harry Edwards, wander
ing Broadwayite. becomes engaged
TO the daughter of the American
consul in Seville, he very absent
mindedly loses sight of the fact
that he has already pledged his
troth and all that sort of thing
to beautous Gypsy mail hailed
Zaidee. With this fine foundation
for a fracas the show gets under
way.
As trouble-shooter-in-ch other
wise best man. Harry imports his good
friend. Sam Benton. who arrives in
the middle of the first act. all loaded
for bar. (The Gypsy girl is bear)
Sam is willing to do anything for
pal, but when he finds that he is
slated to lead Zaidee away from her
enthusiastic pursuit of revenge by the
simple expedient of proposing to her
himself, he feels that the quality OF
friendship is being strained. Anyway,
he is skirt shy as he explains. But
all of his alBbis avail Sammy naught.
IHe is elected official proposer and left
to work out his own getaway.
In his despair he seeks the office of
the consul, where he encounters
6iasy like little maid. He asks for
help and she counters with a query
as to whether he cast his ballot for
woman suffrage. He responds brill
AI 20 h~
ladies, but that he personally wrote
President Wilson urging the appoint
ment of a charming young lady to the
Seville consulate. which request he
sees has been fulfilled. After this
diplomatic coup. relations became
friendlier and he finds he is becom-
ing acquainted with Bessie, the Sec
ond daughter of the consul. She Is
most envious of her big sisters fiance
nd has determined to acquire one of
the species for herself. preferably of
a romantic variety, a soldier or a bull
fighter.
auaintance is nipped in the bud
and unfortunate Sammy is dragged
away to serenade and propose to
Zaidee, who gives him roses or
uppercuts impartially as her wild.
free Gypsy temperament impeis
her. Complications. follow faster
than announcements of Presidential
candidates nowadays. Between songs
IL develops that the refund consul
is a "papacita" of Zaidee's. Her
Gypsy sweetheart finds Sammy es-
saving the role, of devotee and
waves. his trusty dagger. Alto
gether, things get into a perfectly
terrible mess. And then Sammy
meets Bessie again and presently
rushes up stage with the we'll
known announcement. the most
wonderful girl in the world has
just promised to marry me-" There
are a few more tangles. but they
don't amount to so very much.
None of the cast are featured in
the billing and the uniform excel
lence of their work justifies this
non-featuring. But there are some
high lights in the company and
Louise Allen, in the role of Bessie.
is the highest. Her comedy is as
fresh and unpalling as her piquant,
charming face. william Kent, as
Sam Benton. the amateur best man,
is so full of snappy comedy stunts
that the eye cannot follow him al
though the laughs do. Edith Ben
jar. as Zaidee, contributes delight
full personality and some very nota-
BILE violin playing. The other
principal roles are filed effectively
by Eva Fallen, Howard Marsh and
John Dunsmure.
The production offers nothing re-
markable In the way of music, al
though there are plenty Of pretty
songs, its strength lying in its librctte.
In the second act, veronica does q
Moorish dance in which a strange
sensuosness Ii achieved BY the shiy-
erjne of hAr handa. Tha shiverine