Mabel Green (1890-1970)

"THE BALKAN PRINCESS"
By Frederick Lonsdale and Frank Curzon, music by Paul Rubens.
Produced at The Prince of Wales's Theatre - 19th February, 1910.
Reveiwed in Lloyds Weekly News (London)

CHARMING MUSICAL PLAY
"Balkan Princess" Cordially Received at the Prince of Wales's Last Night.

In "The Balkan Princess" Mr. Frank Curzon makes a notable addition to the amusements of London. At the Prince of Wales's last evening it had a whole-hearted reception, most amply deserved, and it is by no means difficult to see in the musical play a leading attraction for many days to come.

Mr. Frederick Lonsdale, who gave us Cadonia, has contrived to interest us equally in another mythical land. Ballaria, from the same rich fount of inspiration. Of course, it is not new that a princess ruling over a Balkan State should be under penalties to select a husband in a given time, but the process of selection is amusingly varied by Mr. Lonsdale's Princess. One great aid to this is that Princess Stephanie is a lady of a certain independence of mind. She tells her suitors that she prefers a man to riches, and is rather amused than otherwise when the Grand Duke Sergius, one of the most influential nobles of the realm, flouts her and will not come to the palace. As in the case of the mountain that would not come to Mahomet, the Princess goes to find the Duke, and discovers him in a Bohemian restaurant, of all places. The Princess being, in point of fact, Miss Isabel Jay, and the Duke Mr. Bertram Wallis, it is not difficult to see how interesting the situation is made. Of course, at last the woman tames the man, and the joybells ring.

The comic relief is found in the excellent idea of a rascally thief representing himself to be a prince, and actually coming to court a princess. The scoundrel in question is a certain Max Hein, who has for confederate a timorous blusterer named Blato. Miss Isabel Jay sings better than ever as the heroine, and Mr. Wallis is an ideal Bohemian conspirator. The two thieves are such finished comedians as Mr. Charles Brown and Mr. Lauri de Frece, while Mr. James Blakeley has a droll part as a waiter, and dainty Miss Mabel Green lends distinction to the lady friend of the duke in the Bohemian restaurant.

The music by Mr. Paul Rubens is characteristically adequate.