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

fHE DSNbb DEEtlb
To n comedian as LUMINOSITY popular
as Francis Wilson. who has but to
exclaim "E-owr' 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 inf
mite pains, and at extreme cost. n 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
decade-burlettas. aperettas. olla-podri-
das. trash-ettas, rubbish-ettas. and so
forth. J. Cheever Goodwin, who, when
ever he has a moment to spare. writes
a libretto, Ia father 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
helped with the book. Bless his heart,
| we know It, Who but Wilson could
construct such appallingly marrow
disturbing Jokes, such funeral, Premier
No. 1 humor7
Yet, in spite Of Mr.. Wilson's rebellious
interpretations. THE DEVILS Deputy"
| tells a good story of a superstitious
little innkeeper. who believes in the
existence of good devil. He Is visited
by Lorenzo, a comic opera singer, who
has Just come from the theatre in the
costume OF Mephistopheles. 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 complicatio
which are finally settled, when the inn
keeper In 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
apparent without the aid OF the printed
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
80 much low slang and irrelevant tocu-
larity that at times 1t was difiicult to
feel appreciative. Even Wilsonianlsm
has Its limits. Here are one or two
instances of his CHASTITY humor. culled
ut haphazard:
| "Do you feel weak"
"Oh. feel six weeks, with two Sun
days In each Of them
Then again:
ut is to be hoped that the good de-
mon didn't take offense."
He took lots of them-and bitches.
too"
To which you Gun but listen in grim
silence, furtively Wishing that you could
legitimately utter a feeble "Ha! Ha"'
One more:
| 1T was a success d'estime"
steam? No. II was hardwood fire."
However, all that sort of thing Sc
cured laughs. so 1t Is not worth while
bothering about 1t. JakabowskrA music
is exceedingly bright and agreeable. the
| pciiib hti
are several songs that can be heard
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-
cause Mr. Goodwin writes so much that
ordinary people, at his pace. would have
written themselves out. Goodwin. how
ever. Is never slovenly and never unin-
teresting. He is a marvel. and the best
librettist to be found to-day. No we'll
appointed star can do without him. He
is always good alike"-like the tea.
The stage settings and costumes OF
4" The Devils Deputy" are superb and
the cast-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 hands
was somewhat obstructed by the num-
Der of rings she wore. Miss Lulu Chaser
made the most OF slightly debilitat ed
voice. Miss Maud Bliss brought to her
work n cackle with which II was i'm
possible to cope Rhys Thomas, a new
conner, sang very we'll, and will be an
acquisition to Mr.. Wilson's company,
and II was n pleasure to listen to j. c.
Mlron. Wilson himself worked like a
trooper. and made n speech, too In this
speech he Joined the Comic Opera Mu-
tual Admiration Society, the members
of which are forced 10 throw bouquets
at each other wilson uttered his admit
ration for Miss Fox and Mr.. Hopper, in
return for that which they had uttered
for him. oh. the sweet, ingenious. sim
pie, sympathetic and unselish people