New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-25
MUSIC-THE DRzMA.
aFLEURETTE" AT TEE Standard:

FLEURETTE" Al TIE SANDAhD.
The makers of stage entertainers moro or leo
remotely resembling comic operas has found various
designations under which to dsruisether works. In
order to escape the charge Of attempng compositions
Of class beyond their powers The test Of these Ia
called On "operetta- comedy" Is emitted "Feurette'
and presented for the first time my stage at the
Standard Theatre last night. 1t IS coposed by Emma
Il. Steiner and Is said to be " from te French" II
appears, indeed, TO be a long way finn the French.
The scene is laid in France, at easthe programme
says so, but two Of the characters eak German
dialect one Is Yankee Of the most obtisive type and
the rest Of country. but only the music-hal
stage. 1t long ago, however, tina composers and
libretists shook of degrading shades all scuples
in favor of giving TO- their productics any national
characteristics Of the countries reprented. Perhaps
there was no clear understanding Of ust what might
BIO expected Of an opeettacomedy ut the audience
of last night certainly did not expecito be reminded
again and again OF a variety performaIe.
The music had nothing about IL tat was IN any
way remarkable or that could aroD interest, the
attempts at humor had the air of bsing strayed at
least fifty blocks too far uptown, al most OF tie
actors appeared like amateurs, who )ught to have
seen their parts played properly by oths before trying
them themselves. When sloppy turid the mansis
and sang songs for Mrs. Betty Higdenhe made selec
tons with large amounts OF spoken" ihem, but this
pretends to be offering a serious musal EFFORT, ana
when Mr.. Webb stopped In the middle his solo and
spoke some dozen words his auditors Murdered ana
wondered what theatre they were In. 1cre Is enough
slang In the piece TO ruin it, II it wenot ruined In
any other way Slang creeps into the,horuses. per
yades tho songs and is the very matenl OF the dia
logue Aside from the effect Of cheapess and vul'
xarity which it gives to everything. accomplishes
nothing and apparently aims 10 ACCOMPLISH nothlns'
The feeling impaired by the whole VS. one Oh %
pressing dulness.
OF the performers Miss Bebe Vining i'd more than
any other 10 transfIse something like eacefily oeh
cate gayety and sprightnness into aie piece Miss
Mamie Scott was violently frivolous In the title part
and Miss Marie Lorise Day played countess quito a.
a fairly intelligent boarding school girl might DC 'ex-
pected 10 play it. 1t was probaty the fault OF lhe
author and Of the cOsumer that se refused 70 uc
pink fan, because Of her blue gom AT the Ncis nee
ment that she was wearing PIN nat. M a VIZ Viz
Beaudet gave good rcpresentauo OF moaern ~, A. ~
cinIa negro in French scene Of particular pai",;
Edward NJ. Favor French imkeeper, was 10y
inch New Englander and Fred ornemann pay ~
mart intended 10 be like the Chealier In Erhlnr
az a sort OF Sir oliver Surface, with German 9laeo.
Miss Steiner herself conducted the orchestra ehe VA
greeted with applause ard the audience scemeo VI,
nOsed 10 be kind, but 1t would 10 futile KINDNESS
saw that Feurette" could be expected TO please ~
impartial public.