New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-15
MUSIC.
FIN BY FRANCIS WILSON.

III likelihood the medley Of farce and music
=. ~ Mr. Francis Wilson produced at the Knck-
"-..r Theatre last night under the title Half a
,'N~. vas called an opera boufe In its original
NJ" ,h form IL II had the same quantity Of music
y. ,na, has been injected into its English adap-
nj, for which believe. Mr.. Wilson and Mr.
'a"s n smith are responsible. Almost any piece
..aus,ic extravaganza tricked out with piquant
" Lac can be called an opera bouffe nowadays
! ,,s does not jutfy calling the piece In Its
itch form a comic opera. Ii would save many
srsnchng OF the smiable prejudices of people
-, wish to retain a respect for time-honorcd
WIS Wv n a name could be invented for the amor
80 thing which has driven real opera bouffe
~. ~ our playhouses and barred their doors
,,s, real comic opera. Those who enjoy the
,,cs Of fun-makers like Wilson. Hopper and De
s,,is are legion. but 1t is scarcely fair to try to
.rsuade them that grotesoue tumblings. slang
-ud profanity and speeches only half remove
som vugarity. not to call it indecency. are lifted
. che dignity Of comedy they be strung upon
Moi and mixed with music OF n pattern derived
,,her from the English music hall or the Wen
% oneretta stage. Better give them no name
:, all and let them go for what they are-pro-
o,ers Of rude fun such the careless enjoy.
NJ Wilson won his way into the hearts of the
..,t who like this sort of thing by his amusing
,oracterizaton in "Erminie," which clever
narversion of dramatic conceit that has sufficient
foundation In human nature TO keep II alive from
generation TO generation the world over Nobody
ill blame him for having sought to find something
.,oueh like the old farce to revive the old enjoy
,snt but the advantage thus gained was bound
"a hc offset by the outcome of a comparison which
was inevitable Mr.. Wilson is to be congratulated
cha, the net result is good the reception of
,,s new piece last night indicated ii to be. The
story Of Half a King" with or without music,
might have been developed into an entertaining
comedy with the part which he plays omitted. but
,hs would not have sutiiced for Mr.. Wilson. and
a. We have another entertainment in which every
thing revolves around him. and he lavishes his
oon,caIes until his admirers. who only cease
Laughing when the fall of the curtain gives them
an opportunty vote that he is one of the most
oropsine OF all the fun makers on the stage. AS
tor the music il is not what might have been eX-
reced from Mr. Highlander in view of what he
has done on less pretentious occasions. His formu
las have long been approved. those which come
from Vienna as well those which come from
Paris and London, but the melodc flow is not re-
freshing and bassdrum and cymbals may become
no persistent even in a season largely given up
10 a political canvass. OF Mr.. Wilson's associates
Miss Lulu CHASER is the greatest favorte, and in
Inc second act last night II pleasing thing
10 observe that she has acquired new notions Of
her profession and new capa abilities. Others whose
names are known and whose talents are respected
are John Brand Peter Lang J. c. Miron and Gin
ton Elder