The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-17
HOWARD ON HAWAII.
MORE FROM THE AMERICAN
PLAYWRIGHT.
He Finds Plenty Of Opera Bouffe on the
Islands All a Joke to the
Natives.

lnGle, SdIu bronson Howard, most sue
cessful of American dramatists, upon
his return from Hawaii. "Topsytur
veydom is the demesne distinCtivelv
ruled by Gilbert in all his light opera
work with Sullivan. The term is ap-
pied to his faculty for developing peo-
pie in impossible situations. But there
is nothing more seemingly impossible
in the 'Mlkado,' 'Pinafore' or Patience
than the relations Of people in Hawaii
1t is all opera boufe there and the field
for Gilbert is unbounded.
"The situation arises from the abso-
lutte lack of earnestness on the part Of
one side of the great question there.
The Provisional Government is earnest
enough-thoroughly SO; but with the
natives there is no such thing as earnest
ness. Why, when you talk of revou-
ton with a government overturned and
queen deposed, you naturally expect
fierce strifes, bubbling passions and
rival leaders glaring at each other and
ready to cut Threats. But there is no
such thing in Hawaii The rival
leaders there are like contesting lawyers
in a court. On the outside they fra,
ternize, drink together and smoke to
gether. You expect that of lawyers;
but where, outside Of Topsyturveydom,
will you find it in the leaders of strug.
Cling revolutionary iactions9
"lhink of this incident for opera
bouhe: One Of the principal support
crs of the Queen, in complaining of
the situation said;
"'Why, the other side has all the
arms. What can they expect2 Why
don't they give us one-half the arms,
and then we'd see what the outcome
would be-
"Ihe proposition was seemingly
made in all seriousness. But fancy the
deposed power in a kingdom thinking
that the party which had overturned
the Government should make a fair
division Of the munitions of war and
then fight it out on the fair.
"The members of the Provisional
Government feel that their property,
their families and their happiness are
hanging in this balance, and 50 there is
no question as to their seriousness.
But this very fact when brought into
contradistinCtion with the lack of scT-
BUSINESS on the part Of the natives
brings the opera bouffe features of the
revolution into still stronger relief.
"The natives are the kindliest, love
leSt people in the world, and it is
this very kindness and lovdbleness
which makes them incapable of serious
ness. can fancy no relation in which
a native was involved that would not
conclude with a smile and the offer of
a cigar In this volatile nature, how
ever lies the one danger of the Provis-
ional Government. They cannot tell
what the natives will be moved to do at
any time. The men at the head of af.
fairs do not care to perpetuate their
power. They wish to be rid of it as
soon as their interests are protected.
They do not relish their roles in the
opera bouffe."
"Do you intend to do anything in
the nature of libretto with the Hawai-
ian situation as a theme ?"
81 never have done anything in that
line. In all my plays there is no YER
slhCltion and there are no puns which
seem to drift so much into light opera.
If attempted anything in the nature
of libretto it would necessarily be in
collaboration with some one else.
have not written anything metrical.
My forte or meter is the drama, but
there is plenty of opera boufe material
right to the hand of any one who can
use it, and | may attempt it,"
"Have you gathered anything on
your trip for comedy if you do not
try an opera ~
81 have not travelled with any such
intention, though of course | may have
picked up bits here and there which |
might use upon occasion. But | am
not thinking of work. Pm off on a
matchmaking a rest. Pm going to
see San Francisco, Oakland, Monterey,
San Jose and some other California
cities. Then I'll go to the Yosemite,
which | expect to like very much.
After that intend making the trip to
Alaska"
Give been about the city some.
They tell me Edinburgh is the most
beautiful city in the world. | never
have seen it, but cannot conceive that
it is more beautiful than San Francisco.
| find it impossible to believe that this
city has been built in forty years. The
mastery of the hills is a marvel to me
the immense amount OF masonry
and energy required in the cable roads.
And as for the views upon those hills,
they are beautiful beyond expression.
| can't see why the people Of the East
do not know more of what you have
here,
Have you returned from Hawaii
an anneXationist?'
81 believe annexation would be bet.
ter for the people there, and feel that
the question should now be looked at
entirely from this side DO we want a
little opera boufe in ours?"