New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-20
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
A NEW OPERETTA.

We fear that II will be the verdict OF the New York
public that all the wichery in the new operetm
entitled Puritana.' Is the subject of the story
The piece brought foIword at the Fifth Avenue
Theatre last night with no little sumptuousness IN
the matter OF costumes and stage decorations, and
most obvious and sincere effort Of Miss Pauline Han
and her associates TO entertain the public That the
public remained rather fgd nevertheless, s scarcely
70 be wondered at. In the matter OF such diversion
the authors OF the operetta attempted TO provide
honesty OF effort, excellence OF aim and beauty OF
intention DO not win unless they are associated also
with fair measure Of success. II would be a
pleasanter task than usually falls TO the chronicer
Of the doings of operetta companies to write words
Of hearty praise of "Puritana." Mr. c. NJ. $.
Mcclellan, who constructed the piece and wrote It's
words and Mr.. Edgar S. Kelley, who composed lis
music, were evidently actuated by praiseworthy
ambition They strove for something distinctly higher
and better than the vulgar farce-cOnedy which,
when mixed up with trashy music, parades Itself
nowadays as "comic OPERA In the case OF the
composer the striving was particularly noticeable ano
It would be entitled to greater commentator II 1t
had not manifested itself In that creaking Of
machinery and righteousness Of movement which &C
company severe labor. Yet 1t was something TO try
for worthy ideal. II was something to appeal even
mildly TO the taste and intelligence OF the public. In
stead Of insulting both. The unhappy feature In the
proceeding was the incOngruity OF the elements on
Which the appeal was Ascu' ruItNt 6i"hPoS' VI
the ghost Of comedy could be caught now and then In
the play, but the music was haunted by the spi'h
of the serious lyric drama.
The essentials OF operetta music are simple meio'
diousness, rhythmical pquancy, brisk movement ana
consistency with the action Ingenuity OF form has
also value. but learning for learnlngs sake. or
the affectation OF learning In the handling OF the
materials OF composition, Is wasted. Mr. kelleys
invention In the score OF "Purtanla' shows fself
on,v In the treatment OF his ideasnot in the ideas
themselves. The music Is not attractive, because
Of Its melodies, though sometimes interesting De-
cause Of the manner OF utterance. In the hreV ac'
there is a duet in which matter and manner are In
harmony and this duet IS the one really STRIKING ana
pretty piece Of music IN the whole opereta
The secondary title OF the operetta Is "Ihe Earl
and the Maid of Salem" and this gives hint OF the
dramatic idea underlying It. pretty girl is accused
OF witchcraft condemned by the townspeople on her
confession that she practices "maldens art Vi
making men love her, and rescued ny a gallant ni"
much bedizened young noblemap, who taxes her u
England in his vessel along with two OF her acouss
and the Witch. Finder General who seek 10 have her
condemned by Charles ii. The King rails III love
with her. bnt eventually virtue trumphs and Innocence
&c ocou,tsed There is also n conspiracy episode
which serves as stalking horse for the usual
ingredient Of burlesque. Pictures OF salem anu
the frivolous court OF the last OF thestauar are Drought
Into effective contrast That is all that need DC ST."
Of the play, which has vastly more dialogue Nali ~.
ton and two well-conceved characters IN tho witch
Finder General and the Chief Conspirator These
parts. played by Fred solomon and Harry McDohousn
respectively. afforded the bulk Of the diversion pro
vided by last nights representation. Miss Hall was
gorge ,usly arrayed and Miss Louise Beaudet sang anu
acted archy though with facial contorions tha "ere
AT times excrcating to the spectators. Mr. Brand
was graceful and tlnefl King. For the sake Oh 'Hc
rccord the list of the characters is appended:
Vivian George Treveyan, Earl Of Barrenlands Hall
,-,,-,.A -. x.,a ~ soIeno Miss Louise Beeudet
t1iIseeh 'n so Maa Hater Eva Davenport
Jonathan Blaze. Chief Justice Of the sae y.rcer
Charlee IL King Of England MI Johh n'"'a
Kilisn Burgess conSp"a'O' '> Nj, Harry McDonough
u. -. cA.uho,,.,, Miss helen Dunbar
s sRS MIX sofsIy' Uhief Of the PraSffal FL
plos.onists ss.;; sylvia Thorne
smith the Witch Finder General MI breu S''o'"