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

THE DEVILS DEPUTY"
To n comedian as LUMINOSITY popular
as Francis Wilson, who has but to
exclaim "E-owv' to call forth an ava
lanche OF almost hysterical laughter
the play is not the thing. It's n sec.
ondary consideration, the stumpy little
comedian himself being the primary
1t Is therefore all the more surprising
to see Mr.. Wilson, presenting with inn.
mite pains. and at extreme cost. a comic
opera OF such merit as The Devils
Deputy" produced last night at Abbeys
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
deoade-burlettas, aperettas. olla-podri-
das, trash-ettas, rubbish-ettas. and so
forth. ]. Cheever Goodwin. who. when
ever he has n moment to spare, writes
a libretto. Is father OF the book In
question, and Jakabowski, who loomed
upon the horizon with "Erminie." and
has been valnly endeavoring to loom
again ever since. composed the music.
Mr.. Wilson insinuated that he himself
helped with the book. Bless his heart,
we know II. Who but Wilson could
construct such appallingly marrow
disturbing jokes, such funereal. Premier
No. 1 humor7
Yet, in spite Of Mr.. Wilson'S rebelllous
interpretations. "The DEVILS Deputy"
tells good story of superstitious
I,,.i H., IaIi
existence of good devil. He is visited
by Lorenzo. comic opera singer, who
has just come from the theatre in the
costume OF Mephstopheles. The Prin-
cess Mirane is in love with Lorenzo
and has sent a 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 compiled lions.
which are finally settled, when the inn
keeper is forced to sing alone, and the
truth Is discovered.
Too much OF this story. It may be
added. is told on the programme The
actors themselves could not make 1t
uDphitHt WitHOut tHt dlu Vi Tue pTlHteu
explanations. They, one and all, suffer
from an inability to speak distinctly.
even when they are not singing. and 1t
would be a good thing II this defect
could be remedied. Mr.. Wilson added
so much low slang and irrelevant jocu-
larity that at times It was difficult to
feel appreciative. Even WIlsonianisn
has It's limits. Here are one or two
instances of his ghastly humor, culled
at haphazard:
"Do you feel weak"
"oh, feel six weeks, with two Sun.
days in each OF them
Then again:
1T is to be 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 grin
silence, furtively wishing that you coulc
| legitimately utter a feeble "Ha! Hal
One more:
ut was a success d'estime."
steam? No. II was a hardwood fire.'
| However. all that sort of thing Sc
cured laughs. so 1t Is not worth Will,
bothering about II. RELATIONSHIPS music
is exceedingly bright and agreeable, tn,
orchestration being admirable. Their,
are several songs that can be hcarc
more than once. Wilson's Suffering
Girl solo is capital the Sweet Six
teen" song is distinctly pretty and harm
/ less. and Mine, All Mine" is charming
Cheever Goodwin's lyrics are wonder
( fully clever--I say wonderfully" be
=
ordinary people, at hts pace would hav,
written themselves out Goodwin. how
ever Is never slovenly and never unin
teresting. He Is n marvel, and the bes
| libretts. to be found to-day. No well
appointed star can do without him. IL
is " always good alike"-like the tea.
/ The stage settings and costumes o
The Devils Deputy" are superb, an,
! the cast-well, II doesn't contain man!
singers. Miss Adele Richie did fairl!
we'll with her tremolo-riddled voice
! The dramatic action OF one OF her hand
was somewhat obstructed by the mum
Der OF rings she wore. Miss Lulu Glase
made the most of slightly debilitate,
| voice. Miss Maud Bliss brought to he
work a cackle with which II was i'm
possible to cope. Rhys Thomas new
conner, sang very we'll and will he al
| acquisition to Mr.. Wilson's company
and II was a pleasure to listen TO ]. C
Mron. Wilson himself worked like
trooper. and made a speech, too. In thi
speech he Joined the Comic Opera Mu
tual Admiration Society, the member
OF which are forced to throw bouquet
at each other. Wilson uttered his ADM
ration for Miss Fox and Mr.. Hopper. /,
return for that which they had uttere'
for him. Oh. the sweet, ingenious, sim
pie. sympathetic and unselfish peopl
OF the foo;lights. ALAN DALE.
wORLDLINGs.