Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-20
NATIONAL
That ever tuneful
and most melodious
of Friml's light
operc ttas is with
1.-THE Vagabond
King"

4
Ava and most melodiou
1.-THE vagabond of Ennis ligh
King" operc ttas is witt
us again. "Tht
,vagabond King" now playing at tn,
National TheaJer, still has all thu
charm and appeal that 1t had when.
first opened.
Time has dealt kindly with the must
cal version of McCarthy's IF I Were
King" The plot and the music seen
TO have mellowed, and the company
that played it SO capably last nigh
brought with 1t evidence afresh thai
this story of Francois Villon's dream
come true will never die. To say tna'
one could tear the book from the music
or the music from the book, without
detracting one from the other, is
considerable boast. And yet 1t is q
true one. Each is a gem in itself. the
combination totaling almost perfection
It is, however, the music that hauntS
after the enchantment of the story Is
over. Long after the final drop OF the
curtain there remains the echo OF
.Only A Rose" Some Day" or the
stirring Song of the Vagabonds." !.
George WHITES company treated IL
last night with good deal OF the
respect that it deserves. Paul keaSt, IN
spite of having Dennis Kings miraculous
performance hanging over him, was
everything that one could have nopeo
for. His voice brought all the stirring
characteristics that are essential 10
the famous "Vagabond's Song" ana
his actions were deft and intelligent.
Vida Hanna, in the role of the lovely
Katherine. although considerably ham,
pered by an uncertain orchestra, sang
her songs competently. Adrienne Muir
raw and Marian Stuart bestowed De-
witching smiles upon their lesser parts,
and Joseph Miller as the sour Louis
was good to the point of perfectlor
On the whole the audience seemed 10
be pleased with the production. CnoruS
numbers and dance numbers are Wen
polished, and all the voices sang OUT
with considerable gusto.
NEWMAN-On "Argentina.
Argentina was the subject Of the first
Newman Traveltalk presented yesterday
afternoon at the National Theater, and
Mr.. Newman, only recently returned
from there, seemed to be as dehgnteo
with his topic of conversation as MS
audience was with him.
He began by exploding the theory
that Argentina is a wilderness and the
abode of Indians. That its wealth ana
modernness is something to be reckoned
with. Mr.. Newman illustrated from the
beginning, He urged future travellers
into this much-ignored land, however,
to beware of their sailing date and not
20 in the middle Of the Winter, unless
they wanted to be burned alive from the
blistering rays of the sun. The climate,
he cautioned, Is the exact opposite 10
our own.
There was o pleasant element OF
GOOD fun running all through Mr.. New
mans talk. He interspersed such anus
ing topics as Neptune initiating the
passengers on the boat into crossing the
EQUATOR and the enormous wine casks
of the Argentine, which brought forth
prolonged applause. He had most ap.
propriate climax, too. in his pictures OF
President Hoover being welcomed last
wear in the City Of Buenos Aires.
Besides showing the modern build
ings. streets, shops and automobiles IN
the capital Of the Argentine, Mr.. New
man took his audience to the races,
to a foot ball match, to golf tourna-
ment, to the vast fields known as the
pampas, and even included the burly
physiognomy of the pugilist Firpo DEM
onstrating his capability as salesman
for the Stutz car.
R-K-O KEITH'S DECK" that
"Hit the Deck"