Evening star., 1937-08-01
AMATEURS OF '9Os
Performances on Washington Stage Among
Events to Which Memory Clings-Carroll
Institute and Contributors to Its Work.

which at the last moment left vacant
an important part. Mr.. James Ma
honey attempted it on short notice
and did the best possible under the
circumstances. but amateurs are not
accustomed to gloss over breaks OF
this kind like professionals, and the
example was contagious to the COM
pany and destructive to the con-
tinuity and harmony OF the perform
ance.
1T is perhaps unfair to pass final
Judgment upon an opera produced
under these circumstances, but even
under favorable auspices 1t seems
doubtful If 'Si-Lootah' would prove a
greater success than The Ogalallas,'
which 1t is claimed was pilfered from
It, The feat OF making the American
red man a hero in romantic opera
Will probably not be accomplished
until he has passed away and only
the memories OF his poetic qualities
remain, At present the realistic In
dian is rather too redolent Of rum
and Government rations to figure in
anything more elevated than a dime
novel.
In this instance Mr.. Grimes has
endeavored to combine the romantic
Indian Of Cooper with the modern
dependent on Uncle Sans agencies,
and the result is not harmonious. At
times he attempted to justify the
savage, as was suggested in The Girl
I Left Behind but Immediately his
low comedy braves counteract the
chiefs heroics.
"MR. GARLAND has written some
tuneful music for the ubretto,
but 1t is entirely American and up
to-date, very seldom suggestive Of the
aboriginal theme. There are Indian
motifs and wild melodies, which, per-
haps. the genius of a Dvorak might
weave into a symphony, or around
which some American Wagner may
build an opera, but Mr.. Garland
has not done this. On the con-
trary. his Indians disport themselves
TO very modern marches and waltz
melodies In fact, in his dance music,
Mr.. Garland is must felicitous for
his serious themes have flavor of
church rather than aboriginal chants.
His ballads are pretty. and several
OF the choruses, particularly at the
cllmaxes OF the acts, are excellent,
and altogether, it is a tuneful if not
pretentious score.
From spectacular point Of view
the production was quite effective,
the bright-colored costumes of the
braves and Indian maidens blending
INTO striking il barbaric stage pictures.
Some OF the dances, too, were quite
taking. and a military climax was
furnished by the National Fencibles
IN the last act. The case was selected
Tor singing rather than acting ability,
and shone best in that line"
IN the cast of characters, James
Watson took the leading role of
"si-Lootah," while Frank Rebstock.
still remembered by many as "Rebby,"
by which nickname he was called by
those who knew him best, took the
part OF yellow Bear" William M.
Mooney, Washington City postmaster
for many years, and now assistant
postmaster, acted we'll the part OF
Harold Byrne,' the hero. Few today
would suspect Mr. Mooney Of being
great athlete, and yet years ago,
when he was younger man, he held
the boxing championship Of the Co.
lumbia Athletic Club. gaining that
honor when he defeated a boxer
named Won Lendgren.
Miss A. May Rogers, who, the writer
believes, is the sister of the late DR..
Rogers, noted Hyattsville electrical
inventor, played Rose Garden" the
heroine; Alice Judson was Laughing
Eyes, and was praised by the press.
She later went on the professional
stage and appeared here a number of
times with the Castle Square Opera
Company and in other shows. When
she was with the Castle Square COM
pany, the writer saw her in THE
Gondoliers" The Gypsy Baron"
"Pinafore," and the "Mikado." She
was with De Wolf Hopper in The
Charlatan," and took the role of
Mile. Fiji" in the comedy of that
name. She had a magnificent voice