The evening world., 1893-10-27
THE ALGERIAN"

with Reginald DE Koven's music and
Marie Tempest's chic, such n word as
failure In an i~mpogsibility, as far as
New York audiences are concerned. The
good people who focked into the Gar
den Theatre last night to hear THE
Algerian were, moreover, charmed
to know that Boston did not APP
p%rcciate the work. 1t was so refresh
ing to hear that. Boston's approval
would have given THE Algerian" a
dreadful black eye. Boston liked THE
Golden Wedding" though. IND Boston
can keep 1t and gloat over 1t.
The new opera will not be mother
robin Hood" by any means, but 1t Is
filled from start to finish with delight
fully catchy solos. tr!os and choruses.
Mr.. De Kovcn's charm seems to lie in
the fact that he takes conventional
themes such as the uneducated muJi-
clan can understand without looking up
Bannister on 'thorough-bass'-and then
works them up with quaint, piquant
phrases. coy and tlckllsh suggestions,
dainty Interruptions and frequent sur
prlses. He appears to lack the object
that apparently directs Sir Arthur Sui
livan's compositions. but II De Koven
ever captures n Gllbert-as Sullivan was
lucky enough to do-he will be displayed
far more advantageousiy. The good
librcttlst means go much, and De
Koven's music cries for a worthy set
ting.
The Algerian" is positively an mum
dalton of melody-captivating and desir-
able. one or two OF the number have
been heard before In 1.-The Fencing Mas
ter" but that is not a very grave com
plant. The opera Is DE Kovcn
throughout, for 1t Is saturated in music.
The libretto intervals are few and far
between. with a less melodious COM
poser this would be annoying. for you
near perpetually. Now, I'll sing you a
song" or, well, you sing me a song"
and the number succeed each other 50
rapidly that before you have had time
to grasp the significance of one you are
launched into the comprehension OF
another. Yet this sort OF music is sin
gularly fascinating. 1t brightens a
mans perception, 1t removes angles and
cobwebs. 1t cheers.
The book OF "The Algerian is the
work of Glen Marlborough. 1t will not
make this young man famous. for 1t Is
leaden and unamusing. Yet 1t has neg
alive value, for 1t contains neither
horse play nor gags. That is a fact at
which to rejoice. Mr.. MacDonough ap-
pears to be n reverent youth. and II he
be put into a glass case, and kept there
until mature, he will succeed. The story
"f the opera deals with the adventures
of a President of the Society for the
PRESERVATION nf tho piptnraapne Ea at -
This gentleman establishes a spurious
harem for the delectation Of tourists. He
stocks 1t with the members of u stranded
Comic-opera company, and 1t Is there
hat the hero. Col. Lagrange, is lured.
Lagrange is In love with Suzette. who
hears hat he has an appointment at
the harem, and poses as Baya, the siren
who has been writing him letters. The
idea Is not very thoroughly worked out,
and the interest flags. There is mate
rial for a highly amusing story, but
this has not been furnished.
Marie Tempest. when she first ap-
peared last night was very husky; her
voice seemed 20 be yelled by a sort OF
throaty muslin. but this wore of, and
she was her " charming self In the
second act, as fascinating as ever and
rs dramatically excellent. Miss Tempest
has no rival on the comic-opera stag OF
England or America. Her methods are
completely artistic. and her personality
refreshing. Juliu Steger Is not an agree
able acquisition. by any means. His
work was not as bad as 1t might have
been, but his voice Is unreinei. and he
has no method whatsoever. He appears
to appreciate himself. however, and that
Is something. Miss Adele Richie, who
tainted SO oddly In the first act, that
everybody thought 1t was a clever bit
Of stage business, san very well indeed,
and good work was lone by Joseph He
bert. Frank David and Ben Lodge.
The o~pera-which the programme
called The Algeria THE Algerian"
and THE Algerians' you pays our
money and you takes your choice)-was
beautifully mounte and gorgeous!y cos
TUNED. ALAN DALE.