Premiered at the Shubert Theater Monday night, "Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston" offered at most a pleasing array of music, humor, and color. Leonard Levinson's flimsy book was rescued to some extent by the lively and semi-original three-quarter time music of Robert Stolz, who conducted a well-trained and inspired orchestra. It was, however, the superb coloratura soprano of Virginia MacWatters which turned the otherwise insipid show into what might well be a hit.

Though scarcely a "modern" 1872 woman, Miss MacWatters' acting was satisfactory and her voice delightful arousing the only spontaneous applause of the evening and adding color and warmth to the show. The supporting cast showed remarkable coordination for an opening night and kept the play lively and interesting by diverting attention from the book.

Picture, if you can, Johann Strauss as a Don Juan in Sinatra clothing acted by an insignificant George Rigaud, who, though portraying the role of the Vienese Waltz King took no pains in disguising an obvious French accent. Picture Ralph Dumke as a mediocre W. C. Fields, General Grant popping in and out with trite world peace comments, Beacon Hill prudes condemning the immoral waltz, ballet scenes dragged in now and then, all this with gaudy costumes, plaids of all descriptions and colors splashed on the stage.

The first act, though long, was enjoyable, highlighted by Miss MacWatters' capable singing of the "Laughing Waltz," a difficult but novel arrangement of the Die Fledermaus motif. A lyric, "Who Knows," was the only outstanding original song and is destined most likely to fall into the clutches of the radio. The second act, getting off to a boring start and failing to attain the standards set by the first, featured ballet routines well danced by Harold Lang and Babs Heath. In a stirring finale Mr. Rigaud gave a ridiculous performance of Strauss conducting a 1000 piece orchestra, a chorus of 20,000 voices, and 150 clattering firemen, which had been assembled for a Peace Jubilee Concert.

With several obvious deletions, removal of some dialogue and most, if not all, of the opening dream sequence of Act II, "Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston" should have a prosperous run on Broadway, that is, as long as Miss MacWatters and Mr. Stolz remain with the company.