New-York tribune., 1885-01-28

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE HOW GLLs-HENsCHEL oPERETrA.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSE.

lBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEl
BOsTON, Jan. 27.-BefOre a small number
Of invited persons chiefly friends Of Mr. W. d. Howels
there orchestral reading this forenoon OF the
music composed by Georg Henschel for Mr.. Howcllss
operetta A Sea Change; or. Loves stowaway." The
operetta published simultaneously sometime ago by
rribner Co.. in London, and James r. Osgood Co.,
preserve the rights Of the authors against agarsm Of
the ordinary kind yet only few copies have been per
mted of the publishers hands and the public
are as ignorant OF the style, scope and story
OF the work they last spring,
when 1t was first whispered that Mr.. Howelis
and Mr. Hensche were at work on an operetta II was
hoped that the work woud be presented before this
the of the Bou Opera House, but several unor-
circumstance conspred against It, One the
drowning Of Mr. Tyler, manager OF the BJou; another
the discovery. somewhat late in the day. that the
stage the too small to permit mounting
OF the piece the style contemplated by the authors
The stage furniture OF "A Sea Change" includes not
only big portion OF the deck of steamship but
also iceberg. big enough to be the habitation OF
chorus which must float alongside the vessel and be
ashed The paraphernalia Of the piece is to tell
the TRUTH almost Enthusiastically extravsganI and would
strain the resources OF large and we'll
appointed theatre. The purpose or the
private rehearsal to-day to help Mr. Field. of the
Museum to make up his mind whether or not to under
take the production OF the piece When Mr. Loasdale
came from New-York to take the management OF tn
Bou all talk OF its production there was abandoned
and since then II been waiting manager Mr., Field
has not yet made up his mind further than to say that
thinks Of the piece and has not yet rejected IT, MI
Duf the standard, in New-York has requested the
use Of the score inspection and will be sent to him.
II is possible therefore, that IL it is found practicable
Messrs Field and Dun may bring 1t out simultaneously
The rehearsal consisted OF performance at sghtoi
the instrumental parts the whole work by the band
the Museum. under the direction OF Mr. Pardy IN
band Is not brilliant one and the reading wa
exceedingly crude; but with tho aid OF a pianofor
score one with quick fancy and some ability In reau
Ing music able to get good idea OF the music whe
Mr. enschel has written to Mr. Howellss words FITS
few words about book In which. OF course. popular
interest chiefly centres The dslos and verses are In
the vein disclosed by Mr.. Howes in the drawing room
farces which lately has written. but the humorous
onceits are broader and the literary style has oeea
nearer plane which is supposed 10 10 the
only one which operetta can move successfully ".
powes has shown desire to hold to the true aim oi
comedy by chastising manners with smile.
and some Of his hits at the social follies OF
to-day and of Boston are cutting. The story
ef the play cannot be told without Violating q conf
dence but an idea and contents can bo
given The action takes place on board the Retardes
two days Boston. and all the me
supposed to eapse rising and breakfast ihe
entire second act Is merely the embodiment Oh area
out of which breakfast bell arouses the heroine
will be seen however that there Is no limit 10 ,hc k'
uhi hiph ma
hr cshcrv fairies and other fanasca things may DO
ntroduced On the ship are all sorts of people who'm
operatc duty bound, introduce themselves In soAs
Here is a specimen:
We are lawyers and physicians,
Bankers brokers, electricians,
Publishers ana politicians.
Clergym-n, professors, students
OF all kinds,
Whom our imprudence -
In the mad pursuit OF wealth
Has compelled, for relaxation,
To endure 70 brief vacation:
And we all are going TOR our health.
Rut whatever be business our Wasness, or our ID
Asit in the Concord School Of Metaphysics was sx-
prest.
Love alone, and love extremely,
Is our fe's great interest
This gentle touch at the Concord School of Philosophy
keeps company with sly digs at Harvard. as wneN
the hero a Boston man, says to the ship steward
of very impulsivs nature though trained IN the scno
Of indiferentism at our leading University" A9saa
where the heroine says Of the hero to the Ice
"Oh, they dop't learn Greek at Harvard II you w
study the College Fetch you will see that they oniy a
A. Idare say he didn't learn anything" Ana sss'as
| "oh, yes,-sthlstics Of course sso