Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-03-10
The Once Over
THE CHmDs RESTAURANT OPERA

copyright, 1880, BY The Associated Newspaper

copyright, 1880, by The Associated Newspapers)
Georges AntheiL composer Of Ballet Mechanique.
is at work on an opera with a Chnds restaurant
background."-New item.
Il am at work on the same idea,' said Elmer
Twitchell today. Il already have a name for the opera.
It will be Made Buttercake.'"
Elmer then went into all the details. Two Of Its
big numbers will be The Vegetable Dinners Good
bye" and Song of the Flapjack." There will also
be an aria written around the idea of a dropped
egg.
The story will be about a beautiful girl who is
forced to make a living as a flapjack-turner in a
Childs restaurant. AS the opera opens there is a rip
ping ensemble, which conveys the idea that the
heroine, Olga, is adjusting herself to life in a front
window. The tread Of feet is heard on the pave
ment without and Olga, in the midst Of her work, runs
out Of batter. a thing she has been warned against.
She then sings a solo, Batter up!"
There is a clash with the manager and with a man
from Cohoes who ordered cakes and sausage fifteen
minutes ago and has to catch a train. Olga, pretty
well disheartened, is about to chuck up her job when
her eyes, staring out the window. meet those Of Win
gate Prudge, chairman Of the board Of a great indus
trial corporation, who, on the way to an important
business conference. stops for a half-hour to watch
her turn the cakes.
She is held by the mysterious spell Of his gaze and
forgets TO turn tho cakes. with the result that they
become so much charcoal. There is a movement Of
wood instruments to indicate that the restaurant
is full OF smoke. Olga remains at her post and sings
La Griddle," a very touching composition. Here
the manager notifies Olga that she Is through, but
she is saved by wingate, who turns out to be a d-
rector OF the Childs company and orders her re-
tanned. The manager relents but puts her to work as
a waitress. wingate gives Olga his card. Olga gives
wingate a charred buttercake. which he presses TO
his bosom as she sings, La wheatcake Tosssrs Good
bye"
To make a long opera short. Olga does not make
good as a waitress. because both thumbs are para
lived and she can't hold dishes very well. There is
a stirring scene with the management and here oc-
ours a high light OF the opera, a Ballet of the Bounc-
ing Crockery," in which the noise made by the fall OF
every type OF plate. cup. saucer, bowl. spoon. pan.
etc, Is recorded by some type Of musical instrument.
1t Is pretty awful.
Well, anyway, olga's fight for existence appears to
be a losing one and she IS about to be driven into the
snow on a cold wintry night because OF a customers
complaint that although he specifically ordered his
toast we'll done. she has repeatedly served It 20 him
barely Drowned. He demands her discharge. The
manager Is about TO comply when a stranger taps
Olga on the shoulder It is Tingate Prudgei
He takes from his pocket the blackened buttercake,
which Olga had given him as a keepsake years be-
fore. and gives IL TO the customer who wants the
burned toast. Thus a crisis Is averted, Wingate and
Olga are married. the customer Is kept contented and
everything ends happily as the orchestra plays Not
Responsible for Hats and Overcoats."
STUDYO OF A WINTER RESORT ONfON
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