New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-02
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
TIE TRUE PINAFORE.

Although " ii. IL. s. PinafOre has been the
most successful play OF our time, We DOUBT whether IL
has vet received the fun need OF praise which II de-
serves IL Is something more than a BIT OF merry
tr,hlng tits of the most adrOit and delicate OF
satres upon the sbsurites Of the conventional Italian
opera not broad buresque ;but ravesty neat.
keen 80 witty, and elegant that II mar be
called masterpiece. 1t Il surely no u.s.
credit either 10 a playwright or a musician that
he employs his gifs in work so good as tnis We wish
the other authors had correct On appreciation OF the
dignity Of humor Messrs. Sullivan aud Gilbert, and
knew no well how to illustrate a. ro conceft with rne
and conscientious workmanship.
splendid aud very fashionable audience crowded the
Fifth Avenue Theatre last evening. attracted, We ss-
pect less by curiosity to see wherein the new Pina'
fore differed the old than TO give personal well
come 20 two gentlemen who have endeared themselves
10 the American people. Tae greetings were exceed
iugly warm sir. Sullivan was appiauded loudly aud
long when he took place In the orchestra and IL was
not until he had been kept bowling an upcoDseionaDle
time that possible tor the performance 10 30 On
Az the end both coaborltors called before the
curtain Mr. Gilbert spoke their acknowledgements IN few
weichosen words and the assembly broGo up in
general good and hand-clappng. The actors and
scres,es were all we'll reoeivej Josephine Iss Blanche
RooseyelU Is young lady whose movements are some
what constrained ana whose singing Is no better than
that OF her predecessors but she "a very handsome
Miss Alice Barnett, who represents Lse Buteresp rs
,lI brawny brosd-shouldercd creature. has and
a sense OF humor. He5e tMss Jessie Bond II hitle
arch aud pretty. Mr. BrocoinI rs Captain CoreorGH
ana Mr. Talbot Ralph. have chosen because
they can sing we'll than for their abilities comedians
although they fair actors Dick Deadcge tar Fur
neanx Cook IL not so drol as Dayldge. but he has
rood strong voice. The BodtsoGin (r. Cllfton the
other hand has not voice enough for He IA an Eng
usnman" to which nevertheless he gives some
grotesque effects not tried here before
must be confessed that we miss the inimita0e SIR
Joseph Porter of SIR. whifen. The Frsi Lord Is
dry little wiry gentleman (Mr J. H. Ryey), who looks
Ike Puachs portraits Of Lord John Russell, sings very
we'll acts briaxly and docs not lack fun. though his
bumor has not the un0tlon and beautiful calmnrss 0f
Mr. Whifen's.
As for the dereuces between the genuine "Pnaiore'
aud the best piratcd version, It cannot be said that
they are very grcat Toe business under Mr.. Gil
b.rt,s mana semeut IN eaborate the ladies and
gentlemen OF the chorus moro carefully employed;
better use Is made OF the Mldshipnan; but upon
tho whole verdict will be that the old representa-
lion AZ he STANDARD Theatre caught the spirit OF the
or gInal and copied Il pretty closely In important de-
rails The action indeed, nj that establishment was
anything ratAer more seriouS-and therefore better
buresone-than it is With respect the music,
however the case different The genuine orchestral
paris have never heard here until now. and they
are Infinitely hotter than the imitation. Mr. sullivan
sueh an accomplished master OF orchestral wiring
that we might be OF finding IN his work
a thousand beauties which tho plano score
wouh reveal ana here indeed they are. the in-
strumontauOn al through being poctica and m many
places quite striking. " tie rs Eugshman afofding
a paruoulasly hue Illustration OF HIS skill But thes
not All He has earned the spir o. sa'ire INTO me %,
chestra aud Ind travcsty OF the opera not OILY
she formal aymS out OF the sras and choruses oui IA
the Jfcataeul OF the instruments; not that BIO ~
dulgcs IA comic Hosrs. but that no introduces
serious musict elects In absurd places. 10 tne
tempe We do not notice very many oin'r
enees, but some important. The Barcaroie, Tor III.
sAuc. improved by being taken slower than We are
aecustomod It while on the other hand TIE nuo
o. the ino0mp Utierances between Lane bur
fcrcpD and the Captain enormously improved Di pe
ing iakrn very faster Some or the conccrtto
pieces greatly changed for the better by the aodva
of a Deddede wlO can sing. Mr. Dayldge Sas nvi =
siugcr, aud was formerly INITIATED IN wv
mOst extraordinary way Ia suit his weakness.