The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
kMUSEyfENIS.
.The Robber or the Rhine"

Tho new opera with which the rebuilt FIFTH
| Avenue started it's career lie called Tho Rob
Der of the Rhine and 1t is the work OF Maurice
| Herbert Blythe barrymore who wrote the
libretto and Charles Puerner who composed
| the music. The story aims to DO romantic
| and the God and tho action were presumably
| designed to be comic. But Mr.. Barrymore. the
cayest wit OF tho cafes. the prince OF American
buulerardiers. the brilliant actor and jovial
Bohemian has never before so bitterly dis.
appointed his followers rs In the libretto Of
this opera. There had been hopes. based upon
this clever fellows reputation Tor bright say
inss and phenomenal pungency OF satire.
that Tho Robber OF the Rhine would be
masterwork Of airy comicality and absolutely
unconventional wit. Never were hopes nj ore
cruelty dispellel. Laughs in the progress oil
tho performance were so rare that when they
did occur the actors seemed to be startled.
Dizziness. verbosencss. and righteousness OF
dialogue, unoriginality of thome and conven-
tionaiity in characters were the CHIEF weak
nesses in Mr.. Barrymore's sharc OF the work.
He made It plain that he had by no means
adapted him. elf to tho nice requirements OF a
skilled litre.tist. His lyrics were better than
his prose. but in both the fault was alike OF
redundancy and clumsiness Of expression. A
disposition to initiate W. 5. Gilbert was mani.
tested in u frequent uso Of ALTERNATIVES. but
the effort was not successful.
The story follows the career OF Nn!demdr. a
brigand Chief Of the Rhine. who. having cap
turcd wealthy baron. assumes that noble
mans attire and name and weds his own true
love in the person Of Il Khnegrave's daughter.
In this masuurrudins excursion PC Is accom-
pnnet 10y his band Of rob, ers Will, the cap.
Only in location is this, plot new. The
move Is de1 %ids ina" and rss
writers evolved II decades ago. and in a score
Of comic operas. vaudnNilles. and comedies It
Fnclish borrowers. As Mr. barrymore has
IF bSri dcn spge:ts vfay nna a
mtnic. %' and ten Or twelve otsr ors or ess
lamented works, 1t is certain that l. last
verdict Ss # had the
may Be a profound shock to the. followers Of
Mr. RsrTymHrH + hut it is nevertheless stern
~ rsal ,a l haa some m sG
liancy: but it sat least soothing. graceful: pc
casionally admirable. and now and then rather
Ss wors bears s the i marks Of s"rs and finish
The score is on tho whole distinct IMPROVE,
wSinh u was 's pndrniF rs
Madonna. u chorus Of the hrigands and
DO anG are sSnEns M
style. aud most of them werc cncored. The
ensemi IL music was not always effective. ana
less. Though the scene Of the opera is laid in The
middle ages. there is little attemlt toy either
the
Tho failure on MI Puerncr''s part is. however.
less observable than on Mr. Harrymorc's. \
Of CockaiGne is an example OF tho intended
humor which failed to produce any reponse;
repu. 81 eas sinseps 10 fever than six Well
nown comedians We're employed. and one OF
H. yey had neysr Et%Ee iaied to
But neither tho usually drnll Ryley. the unctu-
ons John lnee. the auaipt TemIle or the ex:
he mpressien that Su there Was snythns
augh ABOUT They were comp etely enveiored
IN the fog. Of Mr.. Barrymore's text. Mr.. Ryley
and despatch. but aside from that brief eni-
'oda he was not much in evidence. The role
( oIn. Ia a ,laine boy who went to ondon and
became famous as a baritone in light orera.
asst night he made hi; debut IL his own
lean cut. and rather attractive. features. a
sGIsee'nI st I dsmsan nf1s and sGht KNOW
Client eli" Win viz al an u as S raHss Great
ny sympathstie expression. He was desery
principal solo. and hi; success as vocalist is
12t to be dspyteii He was very uncertain in
us reading or tne text. however, ana IN hlS
owe scenes he lacked sincerity and force. |
Marion Manola: Mason sang the .principa!
soprano music with her usual earnestness and |
,are. and Edith kenwurd gave The chapter of
-ockney dialect rs no other actress could give |
t. but Miss Rewards dancing; to the sur
Prise Of those who remem bere1 her "karGa-
90 dance. was quite conventional and not |
'ery agile
The opera was handsomely staged. Tho |
hree scenes were picturesque and artistic. |
md all the costumes were varied and rich in |
'olors and in designs Indeed. there were
many evidences that a generous expenditure |
II time and money had been made by young |
md wealthy Mr.. Pratt, who is responsible for |
he venture.