Evening star., 1928-11-21
SINGING OF MARTHA
DELIGHTS AUDIENCE
Company of Young Americans
Proves SuCCeSS-Give
''Faust" Tonight.

An audience equally enthusiastic as
that which witnessed Carmen" Mon
day night seemed to enjoy thoroughly
the performance Of F'lotow's charming
light opera Martha" as presented by
the American Opera Co. a. Keiths
Theater last night The youth and
grace of the principals. the easy non-
chslsnce of the capable chorus and
the colorful costumes and ingenious
stage settings. said to have been de-
signed by Edgar Bohlman. all contrib
uted 10 q delightful evenings enter
tainmeut.
The company OF young Americans
who are making opera in the Ian
guage of its audience" both practical
and popular will close its season of
three performances in the National
Capital tonight with their original sue
cess, Gounoo's Faust" There are
those who love opera who have wesried
Of Faust" but unless they have seen
the previous production Of that work
as given by this company here last
season, they would do we'll not TO miss
it tonight Those who clio see it last
year need no such suggestion for such
individuals have already Sensed the
feeling Of the true pioneer who has
discovered new country.
National Significance Stressed.
The national significance of the
be stressed too much With the Rus-
sian feeling for the dramatic values
that Vladimir Rosing brings to his di-
recting. the eXactness and thorough
ness of orchestral Interpretation that
Frank st. Leger. the EngliShman, has
brought to his conducting, and the
American vision and multitudinous neip
in detail that George Fleming Houston,
American Dasso and assistant director,
has, from the first to the current offer
ings, infused into these productions. the
troupe of youthful, earnest American
singers ere planting a seed that is
all their own.
Cecile Sherman was the dainty. petite
Lady Harriet (MarthaD last night and
she sang her Last Rose of Summer
with individual stage business and ex-
treme effectiveness. A storm of ap-
plauSe rewarded her and merited an
encore. but these young Americans be-
lleve in the artistic values and do not
permit encores so the Lionel, Charles
Hedley, who has an exceptionally love-
ly tenor voice, yet was obviously sing
ing over a bad cold last night. con
tinued the action with his part Of a
duet. Brownie PEBBLES was the Nancy
and buXom. fine looking laSSie she
was. indeed. Her contralto is rich and
warm and in this comparatively small
part she brought distinction to Sec
ondary role. She sometimes sings the
lead in Carmen" and should make
most satisfying singer of that role
Program for Mrs. Coolidge.
Mark Daniels, the PIunkett. was
thoroughly up to the bluffneSs and virile
vocal needs of his role These four
brought the climax of beauty to the
famous GOOD Night Quartet" at the
end of the second act. Howard Lar
amy was good Sir Tristram and
Charles Margolis was quite in the pic
ture as the sheriff. Jeffrey Harris con-
Quoted the orchestra and singers with
admirable effect last night.
Singing the leading feminine roles
IN Faust tonight will be Natalie Hall,
soprano, who, with Patrick Killikelly,
also in tonights opera, and George
Houston, baSso, presented q short pro-
gram Of songs before Mrs Coolidge
and the Wonan's National Press Club
yesterday, when the club entertained
the First Lady OF the Land at lunch
edn at the willard
Others in tonights cast will include
Clifford Newdan, John Gurney. Allan
Burt, Harold Hansen, John Uppman
and Brownie PEBBLES, with Mr. ST. Leger
conducting. Fl. F.