The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
II. NJ. =. P,nacore "a, the Lye.um.

II is a great tribute 20 tho talent Of Gill
bert the dramatst and sullivan. the musician,
that two 81 our theatres should at the same time
have brought out their very pretty and anus
ing joint product on. the nautical operate bur
lesque. Her Maiesty's ship Pnafore."
Tho compliment TO the cleverness OF their
work is all tho greater r. the q" Pnafore" was
built FOR other waters than these. We speak Of
our British cousins and it certainly argues
pretty close kinship between the two poo
pies that the humor Of this operrtta
should take so readily in this country.
For the whole flavor Of tho piece is English.
Its fun il purely local. and every hit in it is not
at the weaknesses or foihlcs or pecularitics
common to all people. but strictly 10 such as
are English II really seems intended M n
political burlesque a hard hit at the Admiralty
in general. amt ut the First Lord Of the Admit
This individual in England. like our sccro-
tary OF tile Navy, In chosen from the civil ranks.
and is usually some Rndsman who does not
know n windlass from a backstay Tho satire
on such man In the character Of the ruler II
nc Queens Nayee" is one Of the chief motives
Although it is buresquc. 1t is very fine
and subtle ono, the humor 81 II being quaint
and delicate rnthcr than broad and coarse.
Ana TINS Is wh"ro the piece diNors from tho
many works Of its class that have preceded il.
The lydia THOMPSON troupe, were constantly
inost wretchud trash. filed with poor and ally
Jokes, and foolish and mean ngess songs
compound OF rubbish which II WIS wear
moss 10 listen Ia. But when two men
Of sense ana talent took hold OF the
traditions ot the French opera honfTo and on
the other from those of the weak English bur
lcsques. thoy, produced this very charm
| much az the OPERA houffo is both unsteady
| brilliant and supremacy witty. IT, flavor IL
| thoroughly national. ana when II is shifted to
English ground; dressed in the English Ian,
| gIage, and performed by n mongrrl crew ~
| persons who arc neither singers nor actors. it
| becomes very nAuseous article.
All English speaking people, therefore. owe
sullivan and his collahorat6r Gilbert, a debt Of
gratitude Tor making this new departure. and
| pointing out the true method Of writing q mu-
steal extravaganza, More is the pity that in
capable of making an equally good work
| adapted 60 our own latitude. Surely nobody
! Will suppose that there can be any lack OF sub
| Ject for satire.
>. As to the, manner in which the work is per-
| formed, both theatres seem TO have endeav-
| Torrance in their power At the Standard
the musical eXcelence Of the piece is
| moro conspicuously brought out AT the
| make the most OF the burlosdue. The scenery
,salike excellent at both theatres; and there +
| llule To choose between the two choruses. both
| OF which do their parts most effectively. At
the Lyceum tho solo parts gre not so
| strong as nj the standard; and although Mr.
| Milimm forrestoT plays the part Of SIR JoScph
bb"rl1 IN ,muHh the same auiH YEN Of
! Of the ludicrous IL NOT so keen NJ that OF Tie
| latter actor and he does not environ tho part
with that charming hy-play which gives con-
| slant surprise and pleasure in MIR. Mh,non's
| impcrsOnutiln.
Al tho lyceum. also. two notable changes II
| sex are made in the cast, the part of LNfie nut
| iercp~ tho humhoat woman. being assumed 10y
| the gigantic Mr.. George X. Fortcscue. and IN
| Of Rdlph Rae Stra'r, nblo seaman aud
| the hero OF tho piece. by the pretty and
! delicate Miss Lizzie Webster. Tho former
change, Of course. gave an opportunity Tor
| some capital hrond burleslue. oi which Mr..
Fortcscqc made iudicious, use. not greatly over
| doing what might 30 easily lbs oYcrduno under
tho circumstances, As 10 tho other cnnnge, il
| was not for the better. sullivan WROTE the
| music for tenor voice. and not for u Hight So
prano, and Gilbert wrote his text for a man un /
not Tor a woman. 1t is always ridiculous 10
| the least disguised 10y the coat and trowsors
she wears, making love in high pitched
| little feminine treble TO another little
woman Of JVst her own sir, and build.
Then when ~ concerted music comrs-a quar-:
| teitor mTe-wc have a soprano part instead
| Of n tenor, and the harmony is all imperfect.
| Neither Is n woman in n nuns garments ever
| in tho least funny. and this certainly is ono ot
| the qualities that one looks for IN q burlgsqun,
| We do not say that Miss Webster did not do the
l part we'll for woman, but simply that II ~ not