The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16

THEATRE.
The Right Hon Sir Joseph Porter, X 9. B. First
cap Ssd q co4ssa commanding ii = rasi"r as a
Bin Bobstay bosts~an Mr. 'na'ls e nr R.;
Tom Fucker Nijsipmts. Master I!c.ry
josephine The iapisns daughter Eva Mills
Little satseeap tNrs crmp' % a n Cation
nebe Joseph Nile iarbean
The two-act operetta. H. NJ. =. Pinafore.' which
has been charming London since last May and
which Boston has been enjoying for seven or
eight weeks. was male known at the Standard
Theatre last evening t. fun house. 1t may be
set down as a success Cor though at points the
performance was little lame las. night, the cast
was q capable one and much improvement is prob
able Only give the music Of Arthur sullivan and
the words of W. S. Gilbert fair chance and the
.Pinafore" will have prosperous voyage.
II was rather odd that the country which produced
the "Beggars Opera a hundred and fifty years ago,
and which gave 1.-The Quaker and Midas to
comic opera should have been barren long in
The same field. For the past twenty years
English musical comedy has been represented in the
absurdities of burlesques, which stole their airs
from the music halls and fag ends Of Italian
opera, and which played batledoor and
shuttlecock with the Queens English in the
mechanical wit of puns The invention of opera
iboune the other side of The English Channel tailed
ITO stimulate English composers " writer's TO
strike out for themselves. and LA Grande
'Duchesse' done into English and sung by burlesquc
Actresses, the best for long time. At length
Mr. Gilbert whose exquisite wit in .Pygmalion and
(alatea has been appreciated here by the most re-
lined wrote little sketch called Trial by Jury"
which Arthur Sullivan. whose melodies are widely
known in America set to music. 1t was great sue
cess in London. III. NJ $. Pinafore' was the next
result of this suspicious union OF writer
and composer. In London, where of course.
mot int of dialogue
the talk of the town. TO transplant it here
not, therefore, attended by great risk. It's
sparkling melodies i'll Sulliyan's best style.
its dainty humor and its nn6aggng movement secure
its appreciation wherever the English language is
spoken. The difficulties in the way of seeing it's
local points not great
The story is. after the manner Of some of Mr.. Gil
Humor Consisting A in the absurd situations
resulting from an upse'tal OF f.. the previous s'lu
ana Private James Captain corcoran, Of the man
of-war Pinafore has daughter whose hand is sought
ever. by common sailor. whose passion she re-
turns. The time has come for her to be
pighted to Sir Joseph but she declares her love for
the sailor. Ralph, andis about to ny with him. when
the guilty lovers discovered Ralph is ironed and
sent below; and the Captain caught swearing at his
by the First Lord is. ordered to his cabin.
woman, who announces that she was once
in their eS infancy. The result is that Ralph
forth in captains uniform and the
latc Captain "A common sailor. Ralph marries the
Captains daughter. the Captain marries the bnmboat
woman and Sir Joseph inarries his cousin Hebc
one Of bevy of female relatives who follow him
about everywhere to the making OF q chorus and
much fun. Indeed, one of the funniest things in the
operetta is the song of Sir Joseph.
whose s praise q, sHs rsa a" loudly chants
Cousin Htnr-And we ro his sisters and his cousins and
RIlArIvns-And we are his sisters cousins his
aunts.
The effect of this refrain is irresstibly comc but
1t il only of many such that iarly bristle
through it. Such again, is the boatswains song in
admiration Of Ralph's declaration that he is an
Englishman-
For he might have been a Roosian,
French or Turk or proosan
Ea, il spite Of all IL temptations
lie remains an Engiishman.
The performance was far from perfect. but
with the exception of Mr.. Davdge, who,
not voice enough tor his part. the performers
Yang we'll. The most uplardonable defect
not knowing wei their ho.a nes that Mr it snnat
be changed without. injury. The rehearsais
should proceed until n this i glazing defect is
good voice and sang with admirable effect. She
nervous ind awkward, and most unbecoming
first act In the second act she left little to be de-
sired in singing, acting or appearance. Her first
tslity that will be popular. In her solo.
1.-The hours creep on arace. was admirably
she surprised aud pleased. LIE. her take courage MIR.
Laurent has light tenor voice Of tair quality,
and used 1t acceptably. Mr.. Thomas Within
scored easy success az Sir Joseph. his make
up, acting and singing being capital Miss
Blanche Cations song. I'm Called Little But
fercup,' is charming little melody, and tine
part all through in coed hands. Mile. Jarbeau,
Mr.. Eugene Clarke and Mr.. Maxim deserve
. kind word although the latter managed TO
Offend frequently against time The glee in which
lie participated was failure. Altogether the per-
Torrance. though scarcely more than dress
hearsal is promising OF u success.
The operetta was preceded by pretty little high
comedy farce, my Uncle's WILL, in which Miss May
Davenport Florence Marigold. and Mr.. b. T. Ring
gold Charles Cashmere, gave haf hours
amusement to the audience. II is feature that we
hope to persevered in.