Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-22
Y. w. C. A. Music Club
Gives Operetta.

~ YER two hours Of real enter
tainment for children and
grown-ups alike was provided
~ by Girl Reserves Of the Young
Women's Christian Association
in the performance of the "Hansel and
Gretel" operetta staged at Barker Hall.
The operetta is being given three times,
with the last performance this after
noon. The music has been arranged SO
as to include the most effective and
best known of the solos, duets and
choruseS written by Humperdinck, while
several numbers are interpolated to
give opportunity for some delightful
singing and dancing, which added to
the clever production.
The parts Of Hansel and Gretel were
acted by 10 Carter and Frances Berger,
respectively. Not only were they ex-
celiently suited to the roles, but played
them with q naturalness and spontane-
ity that was decidedly refreshing, while
their sweet voices fitted the music ex-
actly and carried out the idea Of their
appealing youth. They were thoroughly
at ease on the stage and their acting
was both natural and appropriate. No
daintier Gretel could be imagined than
that of Frances Berger, while 10 Carter
made much Of the Dragging but fearful
Hansel. Mabel Wright as the mother
and Polly Wrightson as the father gave
clever characteriZations in spite of their
young appearance, which their makeup
did not sufficiently cover.
An unusually fine bit of acting that
Is not often eQualed on a professional
stage was done by Clara Divine as the
Cookie Witch. Her demonic laughter
and wild gallopings on the broomstick
were truly terror inspiring, and that she
fully embodied the children's conception
OF what witch should be was shown
by the startled gasps that greeted her
outbursts of rage. Other parts that
were excellently acted were the Peddler
of Shirley Thompson, the Bull Frog of
,, Mary Yahres and the Sandman of Clara
Tarbett
Ihe chorus was particularly lusty and
full OF zest and it was real JOY to see
the 'peasantry" as lively and full of
fun as was this group Of peasants. The
: other group numbers were also we'll
done. A particularly amusing chorus
and dance was done by the Frogs,
with a realistic touch added by the
fittings of little Camella and Theresa
Custard as the Flies. The Angel
pantomine was well conceived and
showed a group Of stately and well
OICoSSO dllBSlS WIZ ulOEeU dUOuL WIFI
SO graceful and sure a manner that
, the solemnity Of the moment was not
once interrupted. The dance of the
Dew Fairies, the Dance Of the Wrinkles"
and the chorus and dance of the Cookie
children were splendidly executed.
The performance moved without a
hitch, which still further increased the
pleasure of the audience. There was
also a completeness about the details
of scenery and costuming that deserve
special commentator, for everything
was in its place and nothing happened
to disturb the smooth run of the play.
Mary M. Burnett and Alice Sigworth
Morse should be thanked for the splen-
| did work they have accomplished with
this crowd Of amateurs. The entire
musical accompaniment was taken care
of by Marjorie Morrison with great
efficiency and her splendid playing gave
secure and artistic help to the singers.
Friday Morning Music Club
Concert at Mount Vernon Seminary.
THE simple and impressive chapel OF
Mount Vernon Seminary was the
, scene of Yesterdays concert Of the Fri
| day Morning Music Club. In the
| austere surroundings. the sacred organ
numbers played by Adolf Torovski had
an appropriate setting. while for the
secular music the fine acoustics of the
chapel gave added resonance and power
The three Bach chorales. with which
Mr.. Torovski opened the program, were
/ in the most lyric style of Bach and
Mr. Torovski brought out their melodic
beauty in careful Interpretation.
Jesus Bleibet Meme Freunde" and the
! inspiring cho,ale prelude. In Dir list
Freude" were excellently contrasted
| and effectively rendered. Two numbers
! and Clair de Lune," were in keeping
with the Bach numbers in their sus-
tanned legato and the "Marche Til
| omphale" by the same composer
brought out the more powerful re-
sources of the organ. Mr.. Torovski
plays with sentiment and a thorough
| understanding of the color to be COM
! manded by his instrument. He held
| the attention of the audience until the
| last note and was rewarded with pro-
| longed applause.
The second artist on the program
was Milton Schwartz, violinist. Mr.
| Schwartz demonstrates an increase in
| artistry at each appearance and yester-
| day placed the D Minor Concerto by
! Vieuxtemps with beauty of tone and
| elevated feeling that created truly
| religious atmosphere. The technically
brilliant numbers which followed we're
| played spiritedly and with apparent
indifference to any difficulties. He was
| recalled several times by the enthusi-
astic applause and finally gave Kreisler's
La Citana" as encore His playing was
| further enhanced by the excellent ac-
| compartments of Emerson Myers, who
| understands intuitively when to make
| his own personality felt and when to
| become a background for the soloist. A