Constance Drever (1880-1948)

"THE GRASS WIDOWS"
Musical Comedy by Gustave Kerker, Arthur Anderson and Hartley Carrick.
Produced at The Apollo Theatre
Review from Loyds Weekly News - 8th September, 1912.

Triumph of Mr. Alfred Lester and Miss Constance Drever
GORGEOUS APOLLO PIECE

From out of the rich array of pleasing qualities contained in "The Grass Widows" successfully launched by Mr. Tom B. Davis at the Apollo Theatre last night, there stand with special prominence the brilliant singing of Miss Constance Drever and the drollery of Mr. Alfred Lester.

There are other things in the production that give joy in goodly degree. There are the fascinations of Miss Thelma Raye, singing most prettily, as the heroine's friend, Honorka; there is the clever Mr. Bert Coote, who, greatly to his credit as an artist, strikes out from his well-known "Lamb in Wall Street" manner, and plays Polycarp Ivanovitch from a fresh standpoint; there is the decidedly-successful comedy work of captivating little Miss Dorothy Minto as Betty Baker, a Bloomsbury "flapper"; there is the delightful dancing of Miss Topsy Sinden in an interpolated number by Mr. Guy Jones; there are the smiles and graces and pretty frocks of the lady students at the "Snowdrops" Academy of Dancing, St. Petersburg; there is the gorgeous mounting of the three acts - all interiors, by the way, and there is the score by Mr. Gustave Kerker, composer of "The Belle of New York."

But Mr. Alfred Lester and Miss Constance Drever were uppermost among it all, and fully deserved the more swollen share of applause which greeted them when the piece was over. Mr. Lester's part is that of the janitor Vodka, at the "Snowdrops" Academy of Dancing, run by the Princess Atnanasias, on behalf, apparently, of Jerome I., King of Silonia, and it may readily be imagined what easy work it is for the students to make use of such a meek and mild and mouldable guardian in their affairs of love. The melancholy Vodka's utter and absolute disregard for the responsibilities of his post, his fatherly flirtations with the girls, his amusing account of the circumstances which led him to visit St. Petersburg, and his quaintly humorous songs, made up a relish of entertainment which last night's audience paid for in liberal sums of laughter. Mr. Lester's chief solo, "I've got a Sense of humour," is hardly as funny as "I've got a motter," but it went well, and it will go better when it has been "worked up." The cleverest comic song in the bunch is undoubtedly "My People," sung by Mr. Lester and Miss Dorothy Minto. Besides being suited to the performers, and having a most engaging tune, it is the brightest and most original of Mr. Arthur Anderson's twenty-four lyrics.

Miss Dreyer's Big Song

The cheif sentimental song of the piece is sung, of course, by Miss Constance Drever, as Tatjana. And this is as much as to say that "My Man!" - a worthy successor of "My Hero!" - is rendered with exceptional effect and the most perfect artistry. If anything, Miss Drever is even in better vocal form than when she was heroinising in "The Chocolate Soldier." And Tatjana's moods, in turn coquettish and emotional, are expressed in a manner which once more proves that Miss Drever is as fine an actress as she is a singer. It is around this Tatjana and her friend Honorka that the story of "The Grass Widows" revolves. It is the rule at the "Snowdrops" Academy that any young lady inmate (for the students all "live in") caught flirting with a man on the premises must marry the intruder. Thus Count Boris Himanow and Polycarp Ivanovitch become married in the first act, entirely against their will - for they had not contemplated going so far as all that - to Tatjana and Honorka respectively. They leave their wives behind them at the academy, feeling they have been tricked into matrimony; but meeting them three months later at a reception at an Embassy at Tasselle, and seeing that their "Grass Widows" are engaging a good deal of amorous attention - especially from Jerome I. - the two husbands fall in love with their "encumbrances," and all ends - as every musical comedy story should, and invariably does - happily.

With every good feeling towards composers from over the seas, it is not easy to wax enthusiastic on the subject of Mr. Kerker's music. Here and there he is his "Belle of New York" self - notably in the dance numbers; but, instead of sticking to his honest and straightforward melodies, of the "Follow on" type, he seems to have endeavoured, in "The Grass Widows" to become Viennese. However, a word of congratulation may be offered to Mr. Arthur Anderson and Mr. Hartley Carrick, who have adapted the piece from the German; to Mr. Gordon Cleather (Count Boris) and Mr. Walter Dowling (Prince Petroff); and to Mr. Tom B. Davis - to the last-named in that, thanks to Mr. Alfred Lester and Miss Constance Drever, "The Grass Widows" stands an excellent chance of a long and prosperous run.