The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-11
THE DEVILS DEPUTY 4"


---..-.---
TO comedian as LUMINOSITY popular
AS Francis Wilson, who has but to
exclaim "E-ow!" to call forth an ava
lnnch" of almost hysterical laughter
the play is not the thing. It's soc.
| ondary consideration. the stumpy little
| comedian himself being the primary.
1t Is therefore all the more surprising
to see Mr. Wilson. presenting with inf
| mite pains, and at extreme cost, a comic
opera Of such merit az THE Devil' 5
Deputy" produced last night at Abbcy's
| Theatre.
| Yes, THE Devils Deputy" Is genuine
comic opera, such as those we were
| accustomed to see in those supposedly
good old days. before we were afflicted
with the conglomerations OF the last
decade-burlettas, aperettas. olla-podri-
das, trash-ettas, rubbish-ettas. and so
forth. j. Cheever Goodwin, who, when
| ever he has moment TO spare. writes
| "A libretto, is fathe" Of the book In
question. and Jakabowski, who doomed
upon the horizon with "Erminie," and
has been Vainly endeavoring TO loom
again ever since. composed the music
Mr. Wilson insinlated that he himself
helped with the book. Bless his heart
we know It, Who but Wilson could
| construct such appallingly marrow
No 1 humor?
Yet. In spite Of Mr.. Wilson's rebellious
interpretations. THE Devils Deputy"
tells a good story OF superstitious
little innkeeper. who believes In the
| existence of "A good devil. lie is visited
by Lorenzo, "A comic opera singer, who
has just come from the theatre in the
costume of Mephistopheles. The Prn-
cess Mirane Is in love with Lorenzo,
and has sent General to fetch him.
Lorenzo is afraid OF her intentions, so
he allows the innkeeper to don his
clothes and go in his stead. The inn
keeper Is unable to sing, but Lorenzo
accompanies him. and sings for him. OF
course, there are endless complications.
which are finally settled, when the inn
keeper is forced to sing alone, and the
truth is discovered.
Too much of this story, II may be
added. is told on the programme. The
actors themselves could not make It
apparent without the aid of the printed
explanations They, one and all, suffer
from an inability to speak distinctly,
even when they are not singing, and 1t
would be good thing II this defect
could be remedied. Mr.. Wilson added
10 much low slang and irrelevant iocu-
larity that at times It was difficult to
feel appreciative Even Wilsonianism
has It's limits. Here are one or two
instances of his CHASTITY humor culled
at haphazard:
apo you feel weak"
"Oh. | feel six weeks, with two Sun
days in each of them
Then again:
at is to he hoped that the good de-
mon didn't take offense."
He took lots of them-and bitches,
too"
To which YOU can but listen In grim
silence, furtively wishing that you could
| legitimately utter a feeble Hal Ha!
one more:
"It was n success d'estime."
Steam? No. IT was a hardwood fire..
However, all that sort OF thing So
cured laughs. so It Is not worth while
bothering about 1t, .Iakabowski's music
IL exceedingly bright and agreeable, the
| btlIE hulllll hDlts ltlt
are several songs that can he heard
more than once. Wilson's StutterinG
Glrl' solo Is capital, the Sweet Six
teen song is distinctly pretty and harm
less, and Mine, All Mine" is charming
Cheever Goodwins lyrics are wonder
fully clever say " wonderfully" he
cause Mr.. Goodwin writes so much tina
ordinary people, at his pace. would have
written themselves out. Goodwin, how
ever. is never slovenly and never unin
teresting. He Is n marvel. and the hes
lihrettist to he found to-day. No well
appointed star can do without him. II.
is always good a,ike"-like the tea
The stage settings and costumes o.
" The Devils Deputy" are superb, anc
the ast-well, II doesn't contain many
singers. Miss Adele Richie did fairly
well with her tremolo-riddled voice
The dramatic action Of one OF her hBndl
was somewhat obstructed by the mum
hCr of rings she wore. Miss Lulu Glasel
made the most of slightly dehiltatec
voice. Miss Maud Bliss brought to he
work \ Cackle with which II was i'm
possible To cope. Rhys Thomas y new
conner. sang very well. and viii he AZ
acquisition TO Mr. Wilson'S company
and It was pleasure 10 listen to !. G
Mirou Wilson himself worked like
trooper, and made a speech, too. In thi
speech he joined the Comic Opera Mn
tual Admiration Society. the member
of which are forced 10 throw bouquets
at each other Nilsson uttsred his admi
ration for Miss Fox and Mr. Hopper il
return for that which they had uttered