The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-16
ADJUSTMENTS.


The Fifth Avenue Theatre was reoponed
Inst evening. tho Hess English Opera Company
appealing In an opera given now for tho first
time in English. and entitled "A Summer
nights Dream" Tho name Of the French
librettist ia not given. Tho English trans
lation Is by Myron A. Cooncy. and the
music by AMBROSE Thomas. In It appear
Miss Emelie Melville. Mrs. ScRuin. Mr.. Castle.
Mr. Peakes. Mr.. Turner. anu Mr.. Bcntz. the
conductor being Signor Opcrti. The costumes.
appointments. and scenery were altogether sat
islactory. and the chorus composed of young.
enthusiastic. and well-trained singers.
When we state that among the characters that
appear in this singular work are Queen Eliza
beth. Shakespeare. and Sir John Falstaff. II will
be readily seen that there is an odd mixture Of
dates and Of real and fictitious characters. But
when French writer chooses to make free
with Shakespeare there is no telling to what
length he will go either as n translator or ira
Queer. In an evil moment this particular au-
thor and librcttist. who had probably heard
Shakcsneare had written "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" bcthought himself Of the cxre-
diency Of writing the text for an opera in winch
the gr"ut nOet should bc one character. and his
creation. fdsi0f. another Probably having also
heard that Shakespeare had been wild in his
youth, it further occurred to him IA a happy
thought that no should represent him as
drunknrd Piled with liquor by Fdisfdf and
Other wild companions; bnt rescued from o
drunkHrd . fate by tho fond and tender care OF
the Queen OF England. who ina half mas drops
In casually at ono of the reyels aud Is hidgy Foi-
STAG IN n cOset. he mistaking her for dsrcD-
utable character. This delicate and charming
cOnccit of the French author. II was supposed,
would commend Itself H. tho French ~ i'm cx-
ouisite piece 81 hnmor and VI. Ambroise Thom-
~. Pres idcnt vi the Paris ConseryatOirc, etc..
wasgocd enough to st tito music. Accordingly.
We had last evening ior the first time in Eng
lish" the gratifying spectacle Of that Shake
speare whom som" very squeamish Ing
lish. speaking people have been accustomed TO
hold In such reverence as to have called the
divine Shakespeare rceling about the stage.
goblet in nnnd. and singing merry roundeay.
Of which this Is n fair specimen
Let's well pari. the theatre this banquet shall be
Hu, n the voice be coutcd ana the mind be shrouded
CHonrs-Fesr not hu; drink again.
Dropping out of poetry and into prose the
great poet proceeds didactlcnllv TO remark that
in the Juice of the grape ne will find refuge
from the cares and disapDointments Of q
Poets life;" In ihs synopsis OF th, opera.
thus terscy put: He drinks until he falls
insensiblc, and upon the great English poet.
or Mr. Castle, his representative. in this con-
diton the curtain falls at the close of the first
Er. Well, 1t might hhve been worse While the
French libretiist had his hand well in and WAS
II Is. perhaps. fortunate that he did iot also
Introduce. as part OF the persons OF the drama.
Beethoven and Washington. and bring them
out strongly In hnc breezy bacchanalian trio.
with chorus OF revellcrs in the background
IL II que 10 MIR. AMBROSE 1nOnlu- 10 say mat
his music Is quito in harmony with the general
tone OF the libretio. There was nothing in the
lcnst Characteristic. OF the composer Of
" Mignon" in II. and We should hardly have
been able 10 believe that Thomas had penned q
note Of IT, but thGt IL ~ upon record that he has
written many very bad operas. and but two
good ones.
There is one other thing that Enthusiastically
points TO him es the true author; for 1t will DO
Hamlet" hs introduced nj the point
whore the solioluy. ITO BE- or not TO
b.. occurs. drinking song for the Prince
Of Denmark. What more natural than that the
.fervescent imag nation which should conceive
the melancholy and interpretive Dane as a
troller OF drinking songs should also find much
amusement in writing tipsy music for the
author OF Hamlet"
The favor Of the humor OF this opera will be
apparent from what We have said
Those who like that navor-and OF matters OF
taste who shall Judge will find the opera
quite rcpletc with II. II may be added that il Is
we'll sung. Miss Melville has pleas ing pres
ence. flexible voice. and sprightly manner as
mn actress. The merits of Mrs. Seguin. Mr..
Castle. and Mr. Peakos. are too well known ~
make i necessary that we should dwell further
fn.afF