New-York tribune., 1885-09-21
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
TIE TWO MIKADOS.

The decision of Judge Wallace in the United
Circuit Cours pronounced Oh Thursday places the
representations OF Gilbert ana sulvan's MikadO" at
the Fifth Avenue aOd Standard Theatres On the
footing with respect to legality and tie only contentious
regarding that ut latter theatre those which
grow out the ethical ASPECT OF tue ana the char
acter OF the performance ON the hrst OF these points
Mr.. Dan has spoken. lie says that he was ulJisty
treated py Mr. DOyy Carte in England when he went TO
him the exclusive right OF performance In this
city aud nates that this fact suilces to ease his con-
science The pablo however. little concerned in tho
matter and the progress Of affairs slice opening tEo
standard Theatre has verified the observation IN our st
Of tue opeetta namely ttat neither the legal nor
the ethical question wOnd determine the attitude OF TIE
public toward tho entertainments. but that this wodli
turn their comparative excellence. Authors aud
managers will easily perceive however, that the whole
question involved in tne dispute not reached by tle
decision which was IN substance, that the publication OF
III. book OF words an the accompanying music was
dedication OF entire work 10 the puOc tue only right
reserved by the authors being that OF multiplying aud
selling copies OF the orchestral parts wGich remain III
manuscript. We still left in dodbt neither or uos
musician entitled to reproduce all or practically All OF
the instrumental effects OF not published by tne
simple xpedeut of attending theatre and catching them
as they TALL from the orchestra. This phase WAS hOs
presented IN the peadng and do not knoS how any
court that SAT in Chrisiendom would deternlho
whether these eerts in which much OF the essence OF
Musical composition lies, III sO-caieu pIa'cu 'os""'
were v invention of the arrauger or were purloned
from the score, which according to Judge Waliac"s
decision Is fully protected by the circumstance that IL has
not bee dedicated To the public. This, ceraluy Is
knotty aud an interesting problem.
Practically however. tue question Is settled ana tho
pubic have choice between two representations OF ths
same work. for tue difference between the Ffh Avenue
and Standard versions is ncOnslerablo and can scarcely
be said exist for the popular ear t Is noticeable TOO
that in character the two representations have grav
iated toward they nrst were gwen to tho
public Each performance has merits and deficiencies
peculiar to ITSELF line of demarkatton which was
so noticeable at first gradually beug obterated Mr.
Duf's people have improved Their performance In
marked degree and have brought IL muoh nearer the
plane on which ought to move In justice to the oer-
c and the ability ana fame Of its interpreters, whilo
Mr. Cartes comedians retaining many OF the features
that give keenest doignt. In other particulars show
ing tendency TO depart from principles which odght
always to be kept in sight In performing an opereta
written by Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan In the process
of what the actors themselves wonld probably call
developing their characters" some OF them. notably
the clever Mr. and Mr. Frodcric. bringing Nr
Gibers ingenious creations TO the OF carosture
They no longer hesitate TO gag" the play and indulge
In extra, agant gesture and defamation which are
utterly subgersive OF Mr.. Gil0erts traditions anu
injurious the most delightful element OF his hunor
Mr. Gberts paradox needs accentuation; his whin-
scalities cannot bo improved by the addition OF morse
play matter how divertng the latter may DO. Iao
ponderous fiat footed, unconscious gravity or Mr..
Biugtons Pooh Bah gives far greater effectiveness 70
the jOinJ conceits OF author and composer Wuo IAN
always sa ely be consulted as 70 their Sns 70 nis
part of K0.k0 Only low Ideal OF hunior woun he
that the comical side OF Mr.. Jefersons hip woan @
improved putting big wart on his nose ana paue
AZ red In Mr. Tnorpes recent additions 10 his
alton OF ko-Ko we can only sec such mistaken eA"