The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-16

Longfeow's poem. The Courtship Of Miles
Standish." was treated with amusing disre-
spect at the Broadway Theatre last evening hy
means % n comic opera entitled " The Maid OF
plymouth" OF which Clay VI. Greene had
written the words and Thomas 7. Thorne the
music The performers were the Bostoninns.
The courtship OF T''iScUlt BY JOin Alden as a
proxy for his friend Niles Sdndisb. was
not. OF itself violently distorted from the
story as the poet told It but there was a Puri-
tan old maiden who loved and pursued stand
ish an Indian girl whose heart was also at his
disposal, belle from Lon Ion TO bewitch tho
| colony's seiate elder and 40 many CAV por-
sons Of frivolous conduct a. to quite upset the
usual gloomy gravity OF the Pilgrim Fathers.
| 1t may be said at once that tho niece
| was much above the average Of American
| made musical plays. Tint Is qualified praise.
| OF course. but It means that Messrs. Greens
! and Thorne had advanced beyond mediocrity
and made n near approach to genuine
success. Indeed. furthered by the abili-
ties and popularity OF the Bostonians
| their work was received by an extremely
| friendly audience with as much applause
| as though It were q masterpiece by Gil
| bert and sullivan. Every song had to
| be repeated some OF them several times
apiece an unusually interruptive quantity Of
| flowers was passed over the footlights. and
Mr.. Barnabes was compelled to make speech
OF thanks on behalf OF Mr.. Thorne. who re-
sponded to hearty call, and OF Mr. Greene,
who was in Europe.
The most praiseworthv portion Of The Maid
OF plymouth" was the Versincation. which was
nearly all felictous and some OF It was real
poetry. The spoken lines were less COM
mendable. there being grabs at Long
fellows lines. alternating with filings OF
current slang, and not much that was bold
or strong in original humor But Mr.. Greene's
libretto was quite good enough to impel him
to write another more carefully and am
bitiousy. Mr.. Thorne's music was very
pleasant. but not deeply impressive. IL will
never be played sung much without
the notes in sight II Is unlikely that
IN his head; yet the sentimental airs were
spfsh n OF there ns '0 wGT. nss
cut o,Is,r. e something Ike msmor
tabiished himself last night as a' composer Of
much facility and greater promise. He and |
Greede sn9 1tn by all means i, Sos6SrHte
u better achievement
In the mean time the first Greene, Thorne |
S$S !,,1 viii seer &C. i well A,Tsssis sssis
s r$S Mr f e i%s 4fT1fs R.s
but Mr.. Barnabee as the elder and Mr. Froth- |
ingham as bprlesque Indian chief need to |
action. which they will hardly fail to do. Mr.. |
Cowrs was admirable in singing and acting |
equally satisfactory Alien IL his voice had not |
suffered from Dad cold.
Old material without any efrectunl conceal |
mont OF its age and rustiness was used almost |
entirely in Doris" a new play by Robert |
Drouet and played last night at Miners Peo- |
Pies Theatre Those critically inclined. and |
It should not be forgotten by the ambitious |
playwright that Bowery audiences are critical. |
found trying the familiarity OF incident and |
characters introduced in the first act BY the |
middle OF the following act the secondary
villain had been introduced. and all
that was missing to make complete the
list OF personages usually employed in
such plays were lady's maid and a
few villagers These turnedup The synopsis
Of Of hc shoe t
Eass Ae stnfs rnwecSIs ys'pE ,
the following three acts were iorecast By The The
81. the storm n The EP'G n, Il 1h
brightness, and Flle Elsier the leading per-
ea Ts to
s sS .D SHk SSar The S:S
fault OF theirs .sis or the snpportinG pert0rmers
heroine and chief villain confronted each
3s@sd % intent sEs s With uPFsSHd eys.d
Woman and gunpoTder prevailed and al was
that lack ed IN that desirable element 1t took
scenes founded on unreasonable motives, and
which showed too plainly their ultimate out
come.
Luckily the portions Of coplcality we're fire.
S Gnent and In SOmpetent hand, The enc
rom the two PLAYED ~ Miss filsIer and Mr.
Couldoek. was that OF Joyisl and witty
&S.ton He TH soo onT made P''S Sim.s ff fsa
thhor%IghIy and mslntaTeh hif PGPppIarty to
iy doctor was not SO bright as the name iriGn
GNei warranted. but Il was delivered with
Aids Ais in crsatins laughter, and very "A snS
seHHisinI II BIT, by crude %, pRsthhods were tive
Xnns Ath fEs & Sy sacd
OF Hmasculine meddler. and the latter a con-
Tst SSf was RSndsoms dne sna t6s o OF
were interior scenes, with no call for elabora-
ton.
LES E1ront6s" a comedy by Emile Angler.
is one OF the least interesting OF all the plays
in the Coquelin Hading repertoire. and its
representation At Abbey's Theatre last night
attracted an audience which. in point Of en-
thusiasm as we'll as OF size. fell far short OF that
which assembled on Friday night to see
Tartune" and Les Precieuses Ridicples."
Last nights performance was remarkable
chiefly because OF NJ. CoJuelin. who assumed
the role OF l,hOysr. and. although on the stage
hut n very short time. invested IL with as much
individuality and interest as il Il were the one
part in the play. His appearance
was to some reminder Of the pictures
which ThackerAy drew. In his own illustrl-
tions OF The Newcomes" OF some OF Give |
bohemian friends. while there were
others in the audience who profeSsed to see in |
his long hair and beard and quantity fashioned |
silk hat distinct resemblance 10 Alphonse
Daudet,
Nine. Hading assumed a role Of much
greater dramatic importance that DlRyel !
ny her associate. She WAS the uIrqH So Riu-
her're, and the part was one which gave some |
scope H. her talents. Her acting was satisfac-
tory throughout, and at times ioTceiul and ef-
fectiye.
VI. Jean Coquein. made IN with so much |
skill that he vas scarcely recognizable. gave "A |
capital portrayal OF the character OF IrrgomHe- |
Both OF the CoIuelins deserve the highest |
for tho distinctness OF their
enmnclAtLon a mAlLer Of no small lmpOItAnca