National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-28
Gibet's Libretto Appropriated from. Va
rious Sources and Not Witty
His Silly Lines Set to Superb Music by Sir Arthur
Sullivan.
Some Description OF tho Setting OF the
Piece and OF tho Performers.


directors chair was tho occasion OF com.
plcto ovation to the distinguished composer
Tho overture was enthusastically repeated
and the curtain went up on y mos. splendid
tableau
The plot of Mr.. Gilbert's librotlo is q pro-
fesscd respectful perve;sion OF Tennyson's
princess" The same was given in q piece
some years ago in London. aud know Of no
reason why it should have been rcsuscitatCd
except the adagc that economy is wealth
seemed to apply to this reyamping Of some Of
Mr.. Gilbert's singuarly original and limited
ideas.
The argument. in brief, is this King
Gama's daughter. the Princess Ida, was be.
trothcd Mt the early age Of one to HilarOn,
King Hildebrlnd's ; sou. In the meantime
she aud her royal spouse have never met.
Sho is shut up in the castle with hundred
young women who study metaphysics and
woman's philosophy. Of course the story
hangs on Hilari1n wishing his bride or be-
trothed of twenty years standing to be given
up TO him. She refuses to come, and King
llildebrand on the day whom she was to be
brought to them, declares war NJ her non.
appearance. He claims Cana, with his three
sons, as hostage until the williul Princess shall
come TO her senses and--hcr betrothcd.
The story goes on with the usual finale Ida
yields, the young ladies choose llildebrand's
subjects, ldas attendants taking llilarions
friends for better or worse. In short, they
are all paired of in Dir. Gilbert's usual
fashion.
The wit of the piece is so much forced
that / can scarcely recall one really funny
thing, the first applause greeting Hide
brands remarks about his sons future father
iu-law--- d,
"For adder like" his sting lay in his .hnsur.
His "sting" is present. though his stnug Is pist.'
King CANA, hcPrincesss father, is a good
part. closely copied from Dick Dead. Eye. The
&c &c nd al
that of Lady Blanche, really the best one OF
the piece. Ida Is a second Aspasie, aud, Nj.
nerva-like, wishes that her subjects TAIL
women 30 far should think only OF phioso-
ply. / say "Minerva-likc.' Let me sec
men were known in those days, | think, but
Mr. Gilbcrt's stage women always harp upon
one thing. 1t is really too much to have
Melissa, Lady Blanches daughter, ask,
What is man." sny that
she has never seen one, and fee!
"thc pulpy softress of his cheeks" aud 50 on.
There is too broad suggestion in Mr.. Gill
lcr.'s wit Some might call it indeccucy |
turbeaf Why give it that name? This
scene recalls "the youth who never saw a
wUman," and | am also mean enough to re-
member that the scene. where Hilaron and
two friends, Cyril and Florian, come to Idas
castle and don womcn's long dolmans, is al
most the same as IN the Les WousQUCi0ires an
(omrch. These young princes meet Ida. The
luncheon bell rings as in Les MousqHeidires,
aud Cyril takes too much wine, rs does the
false monk in the French operetta.
This looks like wholesale cribbing, but of
course one may not say so. Mr..Glbert is so
thoroughly original in all he does Instead
of "Reminiscences, he quietly takes the whole
thing. This is certainly TO be original in
daring. There are the usual dances, trios,
two quartettcs. aud one qulntette, which was
most successful. The stage portion Of tho
work is quite perfection. In the prologue in
the first scene pavilion without King Hill
debrand's palace, with u fine perspective, was
much applauGcd. The piCrc &c resistance.
however, was the first act. The gardens.
lake, and view in the distance of the Prncess'B
castle were the most delicious that | have
ever seen. The scene might do for an Ophelia,
and any woman OF soul would drown herself
for the pure pleasure of dropping into such
a lovely water-liliGd pond. The house
came down, as might have heen expected, at
sight Of so beautiful \ picture.
The costumes arc the most magnificent CON
ceivable, the stutis OF such richness that even
n novice in silks aud satiuS could sec that the
management had spared no expense. Every.
thing is most lavish and beautiful. This will
do much toward the run of the piece rs %
stage spectacle. Lovely girls, delicious
scenery, charming music and clever artists
supcrbly cOstumed, make an ensemble quite
worth ones while seeing. Princess Ida
WA udNC lut ISuil bl4uCIL dlANi EDulllNhu run,
OF the music cannot speak too highly. 1t
is at all times facile and musical. The
tnales arc magnificent pieces of writing, the
concerted numbers very happy, and several
solos would not be out Of place in heavier
opera. \ duct between Lady Blanche and
Melissa is quite beautiful being cleverly
written in the old styles of Luli or Scarlatti
The Helmet song J. quite uandelian and the
last soprano aria Tor the Princess, II built
upon Rock" w.llhy Of any great composer.
Sir Arthur sullivan evidences the posses
Son Of talent far beyond comic opera
writing. There is but ono voice throughout
London, and that is this "it is a shame to
waste such music on such words" | cannot
describe the feelings Of Il real lover of good
composition listening calmly TO such thing
as Lady Blanche's song, one Of the fine bits
with which Sullivan has fairly overrun the
score.
60 omocklng Is, go disappointing was,
That am this, ye are the cursed cause
And in the second veTse--
oh, weak might be;
Oh, may might could would, should.
Happily this lasts but few moments ]
] can imagine no greater incongruity than to
hear an artist like Miss 3randram singing
such rot as this set to superb music. There
is no doubt that the element Of tho OratOrO
style is the fullest development 80 far of sui.
livan's school. No one cares about tho pat
ter pieces and the Jingle numbers, hut it is
great pity tO draw upon serious talent only
for wasio. There is so much advance in this
work, musiCally considered, that sir Arthur
is ALREADY besiegCd TO write Il grand opera.
Let us hope that Inc will bC able to SCI at once
about it.
After tho performance lie tainted away
and nj present Is confined to his bed. There
was much alarm ie.t at first, but tho doctors
prescribe rest and absolute quioti ovcrwork
is tho cause and with proper rcpose no will
be all right
A few words about the Savoy artists may
not bo out of place, George Grosmuth Us
King CANA was immCnso in small part lie
is one of tho Clcverest men on the stage, and
il is 4 pity that he cannot be seen IN America.
He is artist, musician, author, composer,
besides being about the best actor that ! have
ever seen and tho funniest man. His ply
siGuo is most folcitOus lie Is small, very
slight, and he can mako UP or unmako with
astounding facility. In short no is perfect
and the mainStay Of the Savoy.
jessie Bond is tho best of tho women
Her voiCo is sweet, cultivated, and She
acts charmingly. Miss Rosina Brandram is
clcvcr, and 4 superb COntralto. Shc is u
singer for grand opera, and acts better than
niue-tenths of the actresses. Miss LeOnom
Braham surprised even her greatest admirers.
As the Princess she was II delightful surprise.
sho delivers u speech in the first act which
would tax the olocution Of any professional
comedian. Her success was complete. Ilor
singing WINS also much admired
The men are excellent -Icmplc, Barring
TN, and Bracy. Tho star ID Durnard LcIy
, acts and sings dcliclously. His voice 10