The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-05-22
NEW HIGH MARK
SET BY OPERA
Of THIS YEAR
The Naughty Marietta
Pleases Big Crowds;
Miss Wagner Is Light
of All Star Cast.
BY c. A. B.

I
era, lived up TO every forecast that hac
been made for its success and ther
some when it was staged at the Ameri
can Theatre Thursday and Friday ev.
enings. F. F. Beale. capable producer
scored again with this production, re.
garded by many as the best college
opera staged in Caldwell
To endeavor TO pick stars in the cas-,
is to slight every one who carried a
part of importance. But to Miss Len
ore Wagner, playing Marietta d'Altena
must go the distinction that was well
earned. If, as has been said, this was
Miss Wagner's first public effort in
work of this kind, she may go far. For
she has that unusual combination. a
voice and ability to act. The kindest
things that could be said for her are
not enough for Marietta was the key
to the play, the keystone. 1t was
around her that Mr.. Beale built so
we'll Without her
Miss Handy Stars
Sharing honors with Miss Wagner
was Miss Elizabeth Handy. who as
Lizette, the casket girl who wanted
some kind-any kind-of husband,
as may be suspected, carried the hu-
morous theme of the play. 1t is per-
haps enough to say that for all the ex-
celience of the play generally, Miss
Handy was the only member of the
cast whom the audiences would not
permit to escape without an encore.
Her travesty on the Egyptian dance
was too good for words.
THE Naughty Marietta" is a light
opera with a story. The tale centers
in the New Orleans of the French col
onial days. casket girls. and pirates
Marietta d dAltena, wealthy countess,
fees France as a casket girl. induces
Captain Richard Warrington to con-
ceal her by the simple device of having
her impersonate the young and miss
ing son of Rudolpho, keeper of mar
ionette theatre. Her identity is not
discovered until the climax of the sto-
ry when, almost simultaneously, the
identity of Etiennc Grandet. son Of
Lieutenant Governor Grandet, is re-
vealed as a notorious pirate, Bras
Pique. who is even then holding the
true governor of Louisiana on an oc-
can island and has designs for estab-
fishing a government independent of
France from this colony. 1t is thru
the purchase of Adah. quadroon
slave, by Captain Warrington. from
the disguised Bras Pique, that the iden-
tity of the pirate is established and
Warrington suddenly discovered his
love for Marietta.
Lyle Betebenner, also singing his
first part in a production Of this kind,
was somewhat disappointment. Too
much orchcstration. perhaps, but GER
tainly a stiffness hurt his interpreta-
tion Of the hcros role in the first act.
In tn second and third acts he was
much better and his final song, I'm
falling in love with you" he promised
something really worth while.
Features Please
William McHose was one OF the
really effective characters. He has
voice of considerable volume and while
the part that he carried as Bras Pique
in disguise was not particularly diff
cult, he handled it well. Cecil Pollard,
as Silas Slick, Captain Dicks servant,
was scream. Indeed, he perhaps
overacted the part but his abrupt tran
sitions from arrogant ambition to abb
ject fear were capably done. Nor
should the work Of Miss Beryldine
Gartin as Adah. a part admirably suit
ed to her, be passed. 1t was good, and
Miss Gartin richly deserved the re-
ward OF a lovely bouquet given her
Friday night over the footlights. Cap
able. too, were Frank Huett's portray
al of the sleepy. procrastinating lieu
tenant governor and Grant Gordon's
of a secretary whose
chief work. was to find whipping
boy"
Three features aside from the play
itself made this a notable production
in College of Idaho opera history. The
first was the exceptionally fine orches-
ira assembled and directed by J. J..
Smith, the second the professional
quality of the scenery used and the
third solo dance by Miss Anna SoEar
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