The New York herald., 1921-02-12

Gradually the theatrical map is edging
its way up to Columbus Circle and the
traffic cops there may some day see
tho taxicabs of theatre patrons running
in circles around the explorers statue
before disgorging their contents at half
a dozen playhouses. Lee and j. ]. Shu-
bert have fallen right in line with that
tendency In building their new AM
bassador Theatre, which was opened
last night with 1.-THE Rose Girl" Anselm
Goetzl's musical comedy. in which
Lydia Lopokova was flung to the breeze
In perfume ballet.
The new house. which Is in Forty
ninth street, between Broadway and
Eighth avenue. Is one of six being built
in that vicinity for the Shuberts, who
evidently decided from their experience
with "Florodora" that sextets were
bound to succeed 1t takes rank among
the handsomest amusement structures
within sound of the automobile SYM
phonies of Longacre Square. One fea-
ture which Is particularly striking is
the triangular floor plan. which permits
1.300 spectators to sit without overlap
ping, whereas under the usual four
square method of construction only 1,I00
persons could be seated.
Besides other arrangements the en-
trance from the main lobby leads di-
rectly into a vestibule, distinguishing 1t
from some thes tres. where the cold air
outside can blow directly In on the hot
air inside.
The scheme of decoration is a har-
monious red and gold, with the lower
part of the walls encased in italian
Pavanazzo marble. for which workmen
were said to have been specially
hrA t,rr1tt Aa1, e. ta~Gtf ~.
stone.
1t was In this setting last night that
Lydia Lopokova, brought here specially
and featured with Charles Purcell in
the bill, was introduced TO lend motive
power to the production in ballet
That ballet was the high light of the
evening, and, considering the fact that
II was staged by Michel Fokine in less
than two weeks. IL went off very well,
adding further evidence that he could
put together a cakewalk so 1t would
seem something new and arresting. Due
to the lighting Lopokova made a rather
unlmpressive first appearance as a per-
fume exhaler by unfolding roses typified
by group of pretty girls, but after that
she STRAINED about the stage in her
dance in way to make her particular
brand quite popular. whatever It was.
1.-the and comely in her petite and
extremely feminine fashion, she COM
manded attention every moment as she
fluttered about the stage, with, as a
country photographer might say, every
move picture" No hot house or
green fields rife with flowers could in
spire the vivacity OF mood aroused by
hor dancing, light as n breath--particu-
larly n prohibition breath. And the bal
let girls supporting her wove in and out
and bloomed from the cellar and wilted
away through the nloor again with
pleasant flower groupings that were
better than the common or garden
variety.
The Russian ballerina was n trifle ner-
vous-as anyone might be after being
away from the local public for years
but she was Immediately welcomed back
into the American family with gusto.
and her performance. instinct with the
free spontaneous grace Of the Ballet
Russo. raised her ballet Of the perfumes
above the usual level of Broadway stage
agriculture
The evening. in fact. was largely
decided over TO dancing, and there was
n gypsy number performed by Rose Ro-
lando that was as stimulating az Ro-