New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-01
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
ALPINE ROSES.

The announcements OF n new picSc NJ t''S
Square Theatre suiiced to assemble there humef-
o,s and brilliant audience. last night notwitn-
standing the stormy and gloomy weather whion
has recently prevailed; and this sssembiage ioi-
lowed with attention and received with quiet ap-
rroval and occa sional applause the first perform.
ance of four-act comedy, entitled Alpine Roses,
which has been written for this theatre by hI H.
" Boyesen. of Columbia College The OCCASION
NAV be recorded as one of refined effort ana OF Fc-
spectacle success. -,
"Alnina Rosesr presents ono of the oldest of old
,or;os. lint since il drapes its time-worn plot in
frash attire the presentmsnt wears certain faint
osnec. If novelty In Act First its hero youthful
cbamois-hunter keeping a tryst with his sweet
heart. is wounded. overpowered, and seized as Il
copseript In Act Second, having escaped from the
army he agaiu "a eks his sweetheart, this time IN
dscuise and this time he is arrested as spy, ana
tbersupon is said TO be condemned to death. In
Act Third sever al persons seek pardon Tor
him. aud this is eventually obtained-but
unaer circumstances which somewhat per-
,lex the relations of the persons concerned
IN obtaining it, In Act Fourth the perpiexity
is cleared away by talk-wbich might have had
The same result much esrlier-and matrimonial en-
eacernents ensue. Mr.. Boyesen cannot have read
much English fiction or seen many plays, Ii he sup
poses there is anything new IN his inquire OF 'iie
solder-lover who gets in disguise 10 see giII ana
gets into trouble and then gets out OF It, has ne
ever seen for instance, the first act OF "lhe
sboncbrannv, However this eminent figure is,
at least adventurous. He does not smack OF the
Sunday-school There are other elements OF the
Mot blended with this one. The first act ana the
last pass at chalet in the mountains OF the 1yrol'
The intermediate two acts pass at house Ia per
lin The Alpine Roses are two peasant girls sisters
Ukd and Iraa, who, with their mother OoG7a'
dwell in the Tyrol chalet. Tia is betrothed 10 nan
.l.A r.
sell hunter, and HeRsel is the youth VINO gers
conscruted. The Count Ton DOrafeld, an officer
who has been wounded in battle, but is conYaies-
cent now and is lodged in the Tyrol chalet THINKS
himself in love with both the Alpine Roses, while
in reality he loves Traa, and is by her. secretly,
beloved There is Countess on Dcrnfe'd, proud
lady, mother to the Count, who objects to her son
,boice Of a peasant girl for his wife. and who
strives to separate him from the Alpine Roses.
The second thread of plot is DorHteLds perplexity
as to which of the girls it is whom he loves HIS
attentions TO Ilka. being mistaken by Hdnsel,
aronses furious jealousy in the breast of that lover
and this jealousy precipitates the catastrophe OF
HaRsers arrest as a spy by making him reckless IN
his conduct at a critical moment He is betrayed
Furthermore, by Hahn, theatrical manager 10
whom IHa has engaged her services as singer
after the CONSUMPTION of HGase}. The Countess, mis-
taking Ir1aa for ILkG, the assumed object OF
her sons passion, augments the CONFUSION Oy the
from Iraa when piqued and petulant the written
promise that she will never wed tie Count In act
third the proongaton of the piece is made to depend
upon misunderstanding, on the part OF the Alpine
Roses as to whether il was the Countless or the
Count who obtained the pardon of the condemned
Haasel.
As soon rs il became understood that the Cont
obtained it. and that Hansi need not be jealous
because it is Trina whom the Count loves and not
UIa,-al is happily arranged. Even tie naughty
Countess convinced that love will prevail. now d.
reefs herself to be brought in litter and blesses
her children. And "Ika lassie has her laddie," as
the poet Burns has so pertinently remarked. There
is Leaie,ant Stineqg attached to the story, as a
friend 10 DOrateld-a lghtsome individual, who
assists IN the conversation, and who is concerned
in the first capture of HaRssl; much the most pic
turesque incident IN the play. Hum0ri is supposed
10 be extracted from making Hahn, the manager,
so fat that he sticks fast in ordinary door-ways,
and says "Totz tausend" aud "Donnervetter"
Also this cheer is drawn from causing+he deft in
PRODUCTION of American slang intO the IyTOl noun
tans and Berlin by Mrs Iberia, who refers to
"chaps As comes up like eaayantin' and rebukes
one OF her Alpine Roses for a guyin' the old
mother"
1t will be perceived that very little can be said
about d" lphie Roses" beyond a rehearsal of these
innocent incidents. The piece EXHIBITS no delicate
character striking situation, felicity in conduct Of
plot. equvoke of dialogue, depth of feeling. any
sort of distinction, theatrical or literary. It's
interest would scarcely disturb the slumber OF
summer fly. II does not contain a single part that
an actor can make distinctive. Each OF its speak
ers use substantially, the same kind of language
The mys;fcation between the several characters is
80 glaring that its maintenance by them seems
merely fatuous the moment it is seriously regarded
IL. 70 Frrfr IN,
and which is made effective by TyrOlese songs. and
moonlight and tableau of combat-its movement
rmubles on with most insipid sloth. And when
last the stream of pretty n0things has ceased TO
flow, the spectator f al all expert in the sense of
dramatic art) leaves 1t with mild wonder why
instead being done in four acts the piece not
restricted to two, or expanded into twenty
What then. is the reason that it pleased many
persons and that it probably will hold the stage at
the Madison Square Theatre for considerable
timei One reason, suppose, is that it deals not
with real feelings but with their shadows, and this
is always effective upon dilettanti audience.
There is flavor in il, slso, of youth, and senti-
ment, and adventure 1t is suggestive likewise of
health and bloom. Its accessories of scene and
dress and music are very pretty Ii is innocent,
and refined, and it exerts mildly stimulant effect
upon the fancy. Almost everybody in it is mace"
No one. not even Mr. Hahn, is particularly wicked.
Its literary scheme, moreover, is probably felt
that is to say, what pleasant. pictorial fiction 1t
would be- if set forth in narrative, aud with de-
seription and the color and atmosphere Of artfUl
words. Then, too. in the character of i7aG who is
piquant tease, the author has suggested kind
OF girl who charms rs well as men; and the
language that he has given has to speak in some
thing especially saucy. Finally the piece has been
Se' upon the stage Ia scenery that Is tasteful in COM
position and delicate in color. and it is carried
through by several experienced ana clever PLAYERS
iIROrnn l.arln q