Right off the bat

Olin Downes in The New York Times:

The performance triumphed especially in the virtuoso singing, and the very amusing acting of Patrice Munsel, the bright particular star of the whole show. She is born for Adele’s part, by personality, wit and temperament. She held up the show after her air: “Look at me once, look at me twice,” in the second act. But she was always the point of the scenes in which she appeared.

With her were leading singers of the company, reasonably well coordinated and playful in action and song, if none of them had in complete degree the quality that makes for the essence of this comedy. Mr. Brownlee was the effective ball-master, the Bat, the plotter of confusion to his friend, Eisenstein. His prologue before the curtain was an excellent idea and was well carried out by him. And Eisenstein-Mr. Svanholm-was the shining target for the Bat’s machinations. Rise Stevens was very comical as the foppish Orloff, with his monocle and yard-long cigarette holder and rapid laughter.

Miss Welitch sang her Czardas effectively and Richard Tucker’s lover was as idiotic and vocally admirably as he was meant to be.

Happy 84th birthday composer John Harbison.