New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29
THE NEW FIFTH Avenue THEATRE.

Is very seldom that theatrical occurrence of such
importance as the opening Of the Fifth Avcnuc
Theatre occurs late In the season rs taH present
time. II not question of choice. however.
but one of possibility. The theatre IS not even
We, quite finished but the delays In It's reconstruction
have been many and veXntiouS that the managers
were determined TO open 1t at the earliest pc. Sibe
moment. That moment las, night and larga
audience which in attendance rewarded with
the first public view OF handsome, safe and lnNurions
playhouse. The company present was a brilliant one
for this time of the year. and the occasion was alto
gether suspicious.
The entertainment provided for the opening of the
new house was comic opera called The Robber
Of the Rhine with music by Charles Pucrncr and
book by Maurice Barrymore. The book is the portion
which more especially invites discussion The i'm
pressicns which produced were varied 1nteligcn,
theatie-g erS have suffered much in their efforts
to enjoy comic operas that there is temptation to
extoI librctto II II is merely lnofcnSive. But
Mr.. barrymore work Is far more than this.
The question which must be left T. tho
public verdict Is whether the good things which it
has can make II q In spite Of the
absence Of the desirable things which IT lacks
There is nothing startlngly new about the story. NO
ore who had heard Ofenbach's The Bricand>' could
fail to be reminded of that earlier work ana thrrc
are also suggestions Of Er1nlnc.' which W." not
itself original in the points where Tie Robbcr Of
the Rhine resembles ii. But IT IS not 20 important
that an operctta should be that it should be
good as long as actual plagiarism IS avoided.
The story Is indeed better than its expression.
The dialogue does little more than tell the story. and
the several good actors In the cast often find them
selves with nothing to do. The conversation seldom
sparcs and in the hands Of less artistic aud tactnl
players IL would probably become actually dull In his
lyrics Mr. barrymore has succeeded better lie writes
verc much more cleverly than prose. The lines have
q meaning well as sOnnd-a rare thing In recent
comic opera-thcy frT smoothly and the RHYMES are
inceniously turned The song Of the Princes Hide
garde Miss Marion Man,aJ "Once a Maiden in
Palace" Is especially poetic pretty and graceful. The
music Of the piece discoses extremely little that calls
for remark and is seldom than adequate - tho
requirements Of the situations.
In the Performance Of the opera there Is much, IN
deed almo. everything. to commend. As Interpreter
OF comedy parts in Opeleta J. II. Rylty he~ few
equal, In this country. His methods are 50 clear ana
apprccativc refined aud free from the prevailing
hunooncry that his r-nppoarGncc /, refreshing aud
grateful. William f. owen /, no less gratifying. lie
has been here lately in shah'spcaIian play an
old comedy and a modern farce and Is adding comic
opera b this already somcN hat varied list he add
aDother to tho plcasurabc impressions which be has
long been wont 10 make this public. Pcr'ap, the
Bhincgrave Bumsterlauacn does not differ
splcu0aSly from his Sir Toby nclch, but j. not I'm
pleasant 70 be reminded OF 80 charming perform ncc
rs That in which Mr.. owen IL familiar. The lead
Ing tenor OF the company c. Hayden Coffin proved TO
he Of striking presence, and hi, costume
work Of art. His New England accent however.
was somewhat less In cor,sonancc with the character
Of a br! ,,and Of the Rhine.
Miss Manola added nothing 10 such rcpnta-
ton as she has already gained. She is
I'm good voice and warmly welcomed.
but she did nothing that she has not done before.
Miss Edith Kcnward does add 10 her reputation
she has a fascinating vivaclty and good artistic
sense She ftOllc without intruding fivolty
whore II is inappropriate. ami she can brighten the
scene without holding the middle Of the stage
The dressing and stag1Dg II the new opera is Il
feast and a delight 10 the eye The scenes are richly
ard handsomely painted ana elaboratcly built. with
much local effect and color Tic dressing OF the
characters IL full Of Pleasing surprises. soft ana
harmonious hucs with effective designs sc"n every
where 1t IS not too much ~ say that 10 stage
production OF the last two seasons hae been more
apraifvlng in these respects than the present one
Tho credit for the scenery is dne to luGhson liawl'y
md william Scha"fer and for the costumes u Perry
Anderson OF London and Edward Hamilton Ben
After the first the composer and writer were called
before the curtain and Mr. Barrymore appeared IN Inc
drcss Of ono Of the brgands OF the chorus which he
had assumed that h" might go Oh the stage and direct
the performance IN person