New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-05
A SUCCESSOR TO "PINAFORE."

A SUCCESSOR TO "PINAFORE."
THE NEW NAUTICAL COMO OPERA TO BE PRODUCED
IN THIS CITY SOON.
Charles Harris. the London stage manager, who
Is to superintend the production OF Biliee Taylor
the new comic opera soon 10 be produced az }n ',
Standard Theatre, arrived in this city on Monday
morning. Mr.. Harris is a young man., belng only
twenty-six years old. but be has already been asso-
cessful pieces in London. He was the stage mana
ger who arranged all The stage business OF be 70
Taylor" when 1t was first PLAYED ana ne Is sen. III ~
Edward Z. Rice holds the right of the opera LOT tnls
country. TRIBUNE reporter called upon NJ,
Harris ast night to learn s0ne NJ dcSi s to
be produced Mr. Harris was fonnd III his room az
the Sturtevant House, suffering from an attack OF
pS to e Harris ss
consider 'Billee Taylor one OF the pest OF INC
late comic operas. The humor is sufficiently broad
to SsSG ds
the hbretto Is clever man. though this IS his first
great success The music Is by Edward Solomons,
founded on the old song of Billy Taylor we'll
known mariners dittg, and the authors In order 10
preserve the copyright of their work. spelled tne
name differently. 1t now reads Billee.' The time
of the action is 1905 when you VIII remember. the
press gang was III full sway. lhe hT5t act OPENS
with view Of southampton larbor at the ora , lm1
of the Royal George, where the villagers have met
BiIlee and Phebe charity gil. There is is
also an heiresS named 1rGOfHG LA lane ort Mmo
and her hand, which he refuses. Sir Hlnc'ng Lane,
her father, is generous old gentleman w9 Is gong
to give the villagers feast at Be wedding, ailu
brings his friend, Captain Fidppe, to see the nun
The Captain falls in love with Pht6e at hrst sRhl'
aud vows that she shall not wed BiHe. tutor,
Crdb is also in love with Ihebe. He. the ,@Pg d
and Phebe unite In singing funny trio Gale. he
venge, revenge which they mean 10 nave upon
BiLce. Among the Captains crew is one Zen BarHa-
Gle who bas gone TO sea ON account OF ms rove i0l
how fa 10
the great solo of the opera. All for love OF Eilza ne
is ordered by the Captain to bring his presSSahg anu
carry Oft Taylor Dnrng the festivities JUST oolUte
the marriage this plan IS executed. and ends the
first act. Two years elapse before the sec9nu ACT
begins. The scene represents Portsmouth iiarpor;
Ships are coming and gong, Whlc the salIois anu
their sweethearts sit around the docks watching
some seamen dancinga hornpipe. All the cnarlty
girls, of whom PhebeiS one, have followed buee W
sea, disguised as sailor boys. Bce. IN INC neah-
time. has risen TO be lieutenant. When lie makes
his appearance in the second act, his sailors neglect
to touch their hats to him, and he sings song
called Just Like That i'll when no SHOWS
them how to salute him, and which has
always proved to be one of the best things IN the
opera. Sir Mincing Lane, who has become q com
mauder in the volunteers, appears, and endeavors 10
persuade some of the sailors to JON his company.
Phebe in her sailor disguise, is about to enlist, Wleh
Ben Barndele interferes, and there Is quarrel De-
tween soldiers and sailors. Captain Ft1per Stops
the tght and sings to them that all this Is the re-
suit of love. Some one informs Ihtbe that Bifee IS
untrue to her. She sees HIM In the company of
AfUUettU auu llTeS pistol Ut CuP'"W '"Pf'P
orders her to be shot She then makes herself known
Ardbed enters at this point, and there Is quarrel
ling duet between her and Ph,0e Everything
is finally arranged i'll satisfactory manner ana the
opera comes TO an end with O brilliant chorus
There is plenty of light and jolly music scattered
through it, and the dialogue Is very humorous
How many persons Will he employed in It's pro-
duction n
sixty altogether. The chorus will number 49,
We shall have two sets of girls one TO represent the
charity girls, and one the peasants, instead OF nav
ing one set for both. The chorus has been organ
ICED and has been rehearsing at the Standard under
Ernest Meyer for some time.
"What about the scenery
1.-The same models rs were used IN London have
been brought to this country and the scenery Is
beng painted by William Focgtin'
"When will Mr. Carte arriyee"
:" He is not coming over this season. If Billce
TAYLOR is successful he and Mr.. henderson VIII
probably produce several comic operas winch have
remain on the other side of tho water III order TO
secure the latest attractions for the Standard lle
atre" o.
{" Do You know anything of the plans Of Gilbert
and Sullivan"
health and is not doing very much work 1t Is gen
orally understood, however that he aud MI Gilbert
are at work upon q new OPERA winch Will probably
lie produced In this country next fall" 49,.
"How is comic opera dong III EnglandT
Every well, indeed. The popular taste for II
there is In advance of what exists here and israpd-
ly increasing. The public there has been more fully
educated to II. The American people, however. arc
becomiugvery fond of it. and have no doubt that
MANY of our successes will be reproduced In this
country 'Billee Taylor has been the great hit of
authors are at work upon new comic opera TO be
called Claude Duval,' which. If successful, will
probably be played in New-York soon after it
is produced in London"