New-York tribune., 1891-12-31
" IHE LION IAMER.'

Theatregoers are in the habit OF attending the comic
o7srs gwen by Francis Wilson'S company, not so much
to he er the particular opera presented as to see MI
Wilson, with his comicaty Of limb and vsage. and
Miss Mar Jansen, with her brisk and erervescent
gayety. This fact abundantly proved when Z" The
Oolah- was pulled and patched and worried into a
moderate success. Never since these two people wan
dered away from the C.sno have they found so avor
able set of surroundings in which to present them
selves to their friends they have now discovered ID
"The Lion Tanner which was given for the first hme'
IA its present form least at the Broadway Theatre
last night.
There is nothing for any body to do in the new opera
except what is done by Mr. Wilson and Miss Jansen
The latter does perhaps rather the more OF the two'
Mr. Wilson received "A welcome that should 60 beyond
all his expectation . for he must be nsuferaoly vain
II he expected anything Of the ldnd To be sure MS
entrance happy one, and there was some'hing
rres tiby mirth provoking in his opening trio with
the two little negroes who have long figured in
The Merry Monarch" and who now appear as "The
Bounding Brothers Of Barbary." He had further
opportunity for the pantomlmic nun IN wmch he
Is so thoroughly expert in the scene in which the
news Of his supposed death is brought to the circus
company and to his wife. who knows well his horror
of death IN general and OF drowning In parucuiar'
while he watches all the crocodile tears through 'he
curtains of the dressing-tent.
Miss Jansen always bubbles with mTth and she
has seldom. II ever, had part that was more eAacuy
cut and fitted and trimmed for her needs. There Is
little dramatic element in it, too, which she is clever
and quick to grasp. The lionamer her husband does
not appreciate her. any more than she appreciates
him. till they are separated. and then she hunts The
world for him. while nothing but biunderousscs
will make him forget her. The clsverest scene
OF the opera Is that I'm which the lon-tamer ana MS
wife rehesrse the exhibitions Of sorrow that she Is 10
give when she told that be is drowned Her sorrow
Is more than half real. but she Is too much OF
coQuette to confess II TO him. With these party
hidden depth Of tue womanhood such as are not
USUALLY thought necessary in comic opera. there Is
the dash and brancy that may be supposed 10
belong to circus rider who delights In her skill In
the ring and reves in the admiration that 1t brings
her. She scorns all her adorers and hurres them
about In the most unmerciful way but she would not
be happy without them.
warm welcome was also given to Miss Laura
Moore who sang pretty song effectively at the be-
ginning Of the second act, and Miss Nettc Lyfod had
another. Charles Punkei also a general favorite
william Pruete appe ed for the first time with the
company. He sang well. but his acting wanted interest
on his part and therefore failed TO excite
IL in anybody else. He delivered himself OF
such Ike oaths as Broadswords and
bombshells,s "Horse-pstcls and hand grenades :"
asd Ramrods and rapiers - all Of which somehow had
familiar sound. quite If he were saying prunes
and pnsms' The chorus deserves credit for genuine
lfe vgor and energy Of voice and action so also
does SignOf de N0vellS as te director Ol tne music
"The Lion Tamers Is drawn from French original
by Jules Prevail and Albert dc sant-Albln. and the
present version words by J. Cheever Goodwin and
music by Richard stshl Mr.. Goodwin had a good
comic opera story ready to his hand, and all he
needed to do 30 struggle not TO spoil 1t. book
could be imagined freer from expressions and
alluslons that draw the attention away from
the time and the place Of the story than
Mr. CIoodwns Is, but IL Is good as anything that
he has done better than much that this public has
lnfiered The words OF the songs are even bright at
times and almost always mean something, and that
should be a cause OF genuine gratitude There Is
noihinc about Mr. Stahps music 10 draw especial
attention 10 IT, No attempt has been made 10 originate
snythng but all is In keeping WIN the occasion and
fherr is nothing tiresome or offensive.
An atlnospl,ie Of the circus seems 70 haEe settled
eaect of breezs life and Ii gives a novelty 70 the
scenes ami songs of comic opera, which too much
confined TO the royal palaces OF nameless East indian
kingdoms. The production OF The Lion Iamer is
rich and the stage pictures delight the eye. Inc
dressing tent OF circus Is shown IN the rst act and
q ruined chapel BY moonlight and wen-consiructcd
street In the second. The costumes also are eA
ceedingly handsome