The evening world., 1894-03-07
.rhs faINcnss 81 rsrBlsoxDn...

offsnpach'e dsiishtfui Princes u
Trsbfsoudss was great savorits ysafr
ago. when the term comic opera was not
synonymous with horsepiay and variety.
Its music swaksns "reminiscences In
many. although its bsishtnsss and pi-
qunncy have been dimmed. AZ any rate.
the old offenbach OPENS are worthy Of
respect. II seems irreverent 70 tamper
with them. and the idea Of making them
''up to date'--as the contsmptibis phrase
goes-is simply Inconsistent with DELI
cacy.
The version now being done at Har-
nsan's Theatre by Miss Pauline Hall
and hsr COMPANY 10 therefore inconsist-
ent with delicacy. II 10 simply riddied
with 'sl-isms Of the most vulgar and
slanEy type. Tie fact that the scenes
are rupposed to take place in France In
the period lkso makes no difference.
The gags" OF the variety hall Of to-day,
the allusions that are popular In bar
rooms and the jssts Of the Bowery are
all iugsed In by most aggressive Com
sdians," who are allowed to do exactly
~ they like and to monopolise every
thing. The action u delayed for the sake
Of thess ''gags." the probabilities are
scattered to the winds, . genuine appre-
citation Of Oftsnbach ID rendered impossi-
blt. everything n chaotically irreverent.
Thsrs must b soms people who have
never heard ''rhs Princess OF Trebi-
sonde." what win their impressions Of
II b. II they make It's acquaintahcs at
Herrigan's Thsstref They will ask
themselves II this was the opera that
convulssd and delighted England and
France twenty years ago. They should
certainly BE- informed that II IL not.
while not undertaking more modern
works." says IN ostentauous note on
the programme, Pauline Hall has Q
grsat deal Of faith In the enduring popu-
larity Of OfIsnbach's operas. and be-
iisv.s that II they arc presented in q
manner adequate to their worth they
will meet with a. much favor from the
prevent generation Of theatre -goers a
thsy. rscsivsd from those Of twenty ysaru
ago" ',jt$R
Why then docs not she present them
In . manner adequate to their worth
ard try the effect Of her alleged belief I
There 10 Undoubtedly wisdom In It. 1.-THE
Princess Of Trebisonde" has not bssn
heard here for . long time. II might
meat with much success, Let Niles Hall
try II.
The most Questionable feature Of the
present production II Richard Golden.
whose gass and jests are most tire.
some. There are some people who laugh
at them, but there would be more to ap.
prsciats . consintset and rsverAnt per
formancs. Mr.. Golden has fun scope.
He does ~ he likes. He II, believe.
"fsatursd"--to use the jasgon Of the
agency. Miss Hall. herself. II stili
comsly. Her voice 10 dsvsioping . tire,
molo. but u II not very much in evidences
- yet. she h dashing, bright and not
lacking In paeuaucy. although the laugh
that she turns on at every occasion h
wsarisoms. Fred solomon u not allowed
fnll scopss and b consequently not ~ Do.
tsstabls ~ hs would like TO bs. For he
b not Featured" ana the public a.
capes him at his worst. John Brand
sang very well indeed. and Miss Jo-
sspAins Knapp b tolsrahly good. Miss
IVA Davsnport. . very clever actress,
, triis TO loud. but she 10 certainly
~ most leGitiuats membsy Of the con,
pauy. 4 ALAN DALN.