The morning times., 1896-12-08

At the Columbia last night was presented
FOR the first time in Washington The
Mandarin This is the new opera by
Harry b. Smith ana Reginald Dckoven.
whose united talents have given us The
Begun, Rob Roy" and Robin Hood -
MIR Smith is the author of the "HaIr
King DC Ok, and those who are fond OF
comparisons at close range may THIS week
study his librettocS in two houses. II is
seldom one author has two productions
pitted against each other the same week
III the same city But it is Fortunate
s. ate of affairs and t'eSpeakS popularity and
royalties. 1t recently happened TO the
nilese but brainy Mr.. Klein in Chicago
The American Gilbcr; and Sullivan. in
tlielr nternati9nai percgrinations In search
IN China. The Cpl ortUGIty for cOlOr and
2rotesquc costume was extensive. The
Chinese idea Of muslc presented the COM
poser with some droiieries ami the strange
customs or the country practically gave the
lIbrettlst carte blanche on ImpTohability
the total result of their seizure of the
opportunity is The Mandarin" IL is a
happy combination OF color, melody and
run.
Thestory is more consistent farcicalthan
many others which have appealed for
popularity, A transfer OF Identities be-
ween a Chinese vaGabond and the mandarin
OF FoO-ChOw lead the characters into a
perple King maze through whchthe audience
follow them with much relish. The lines
are frequently genuinely witty and the
words of such lyrics and dOggerel as could
be distinguished ran with facile rhythm.
Mr.. Dekoven's music is not distinguished.
lie has written heretofore to a dignified
standard. In Robin Hood he was appre-
ciated.- Though only shade less fine,
Of bad mana cement. His Algerian was
conceededly delightful. But he seems to
have become discouraged. He has de-
parted from high standards in THE Man
DARN and evidently with fnrethought.
he has written down to public taste. In
doing tins he has been flippant instead of
SPARKLING and tuney instead of melotlious.
Yet, though it falls below the DeKOyen
standard. it is still well up in merit COM
pared with the colorless drivel received
from other sources.
The company is admirable in its entirety.
The chorus OF girls disnla we'd anexceutionaI
line of beauty and freshness. In Adele
titchie and f4-ftlr' Waitzlnger were heard
IL light sopra no and a prima donna OF de-
Cided merit. In George Honey and George
Boniface, jr., the audience found brace
OF comedy dromios of many laughter pro-
yoking devices. Mr.. Boniface, however, has
an unfortunate habit OF throwing himself
upon the stage at intervals. It's as hard
on the audience as 1T is on him, and The
stage. Joseph Sheehan is a tenor Of
sweetness and strength OF voice unequdiled
by any other light opera tenor, and Mr.
Norman unites melodious baritone W it'll
4 distinetness or enunciation when IS u
Height to all who liste n to his songs. Miss
Rarnetis Comedienne who uses legitimate
devices for the Dropa cation of run, and her
Ling-Lo was discreetly amusing.
Ine scenery ana COStuDling were hand
some and expensive, but the consistency
or the incosuuming was the one persist
emily weak point of the production. 1t
was supposed to be Chinese, but when the
gentlemen of the legation come down to
see 1.-The Mandarin they will not rec
ognize as their countrywomen single
one OF the pretty girls OF the company
row of the chorus. Was it pride or an
oversi ght? The girls all wore high heel
shoes and dresses that didn't suggest any
81, ~ NJ fui ,Ir- 9TH,
Chinese. Their hair was braided and
friZZed like any old soubrette, and one
girl in cherry pink tights Knocked the rolor
details attended to would assist the ION
Sistency OF the production immensely
and the enjoyment of the audience pro-
portionately.
The audience last night crowded the Co
iuInbia to It's capacity. 1t was handsome
audience, too. Many prominent society
people were present, including representa-