New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-27
MUSIC.
TIIE AIGERIAN.

~. ,,r- o,ore,,a OF AIr. De Koven, for which
80, c,on NacDonough wrote the book and whch
-. co,n through more vicissituGes than were
nec.ssarv since II was launched in PhiiadeIph" .
few weeks ago. was brought forward idst me-"
,b. Garden Theatre. Il is called Ihe Alse''S"
why Il is difficult to say, unless II pe "'
everything ought to have name. and IN coi''o
..o,.a ono name Is as good another. II not
he.,er Here the authors seem to have proceer''
an the olucus n non lucendo' principle. Ne'thei
mo hero nor the heroine is Algerian. Not one
of the characters who signify is an Algerian Du'
nerhaps that Is one Of the humcrs OF the piece
and as every bit Of humor Of any kind is most
highly 70 be appreciated in a comic operetta now
.davs there is no cause for quarrel in the title.
II THE Algerian" IS good name for the opere''a'
tho opereta is better than its name. and II IL the
operetta that the public are called upon TO Judge
and not the taste and fancy OF the authors IN
nar,inC IT, The writer Of the book acknowl-
edges his obligation to Daudets "Tartarin OF lar
ascon" for the incident which suggested the
Mot and this was gracious Of him. and. IL may De-
an exhibition of conscience that was not inpeid
lively demanded. But If here can be no quarre
over the title. neither can there be here IL Is
true also. that the fundamental incident OF 'he
comedy is more familiar to the police records IMAM
to musical or dramatic criticism. 1t turns on
something very closely akin to what the police CAL
the panel game; but as everything is supposed u
be fit for the stage in the present era OF ensh'eh-
Ynent. and the panel game is played with most
amusing variations, criticism is dumb AGAIN Let
/, suffice that what Mr.. MacDonough ana MI lie
Koven have done in this instance is TO provide very
clever entertainment for the lovers OF musical
comedy.
With all due respect to the ingenious skill and
the artfuness of Miss Marie Tempest (and 1t may
be said in connection with this that she Is WITH
out "A peer on the operetta stage AT the present
time in spite Of the inadequacy Of her voice., 1t
l.. rf,v hot, should have made IL
Sc. m that The Algerian was dependent upon her
foI existence. 1t deserves to live for It's own sake
for it is dverJing and insenously conceived. Inc
conception, indeed. is more ingenious IMAM the
execution. for though il has been overhaued II
might still be abridged with advantage to the
essential thing. which in this case happens 10 be
the action. Judging by the little that could be
understood Of the lyrical portion last night very
little it was) and all of the dialogue except the
supposedly humorous. it is cleverly written
comedy which would almost pass muster with
chronic faulthnder II it were not bur
dtned with the comedians part. The con-
ceit at the bottom of it. according TO
which an impecunious and Gisinherited prince
makes living by engaging members of French
comic opera company to masquerade as inmates
of harem for the entertainment OF tourists, who
ieeced by the manager, Is amusing, ana IL Is
handled with a great deal of skill. Mr.. de Koven,
knowing the province in which he is most at home
has given the sentimental music ana that which
offered opportunities for Oriental color there Is
something too much Of the Muezzin's Call to
Prayer undue prominence, but he has maintainei
himself on higher plane than n b ms las1 rMe
song. which exquistely sung by Miss
Tempest. he has most laUdably striven Tor the
goal set by no less person than De-
ibes. Why after showing SO much apprecia-
ton for the characteristic note Of Oriental music
he should often drop into the triple rhythm OF
the Viennese IS Of those things no fellow can
find cut On the whole. however. the collabOrators
have created operetta which il is pleasure 10
hear the management have dressed ii sumpiuousy
and the company is talented enough 10 do II entire
justice 1t is only in Acknowledgement OF special
of skill that mention is particularly
made of Miss Tempest. Miss Adele Richie. Miss
Rose Figman, Joseph Herbert and Ben Lodge. or
Julius SteCer the barytone. who through MISS lem
nests kind services has received plentitude OF the
kind of advertising supposed TO be peculiarly en-
cacous in these cases. II may suffice to say that
the Judgment Of the audience last night seemed 10
be at odds that OF the winsome soubrette.