The morning times., 1896-12-29
AT THE PLAYHOUSES.

The Bostonians presented Reginald De
Koyen and Harry B. Smiths beautiful
opera, Robin Hood,' at the New Ma
tional Theater, last night, for the 2,100th
performance. The occasion was not made
eventful by any conspicuous effort.
The cast included those familiar and
popular singers, who have made this
organization IL thepet all music 10 vers, and
the theaLcr was crowded by an en-
thusiastic audience, the usual one In point
of quantity and quality with the Bos-
tonians.
The singers seem to become better with
increasing years of acquaintance, for they
not only maintain an established excel
lence, but their coming stimulates the
affectionate regard in which the public
holds them, as it does no others.
Judgment and sentiment confirm their
title as the best producers Of light opera,
Well sung and legitiInately presented, off
and ON the stage. There S always an
assurance that what they do will be done
az veil as possible and that the proprieties
will not be offended by cheap stage de-
vices or clowning, which Is not huInor.
Robin Hood retains the charm which
has endeared it to generation, as an
approximately eal piece Of operate
composition. It's pastoral atmosphere
and medieval simplicity are reflected
in the stage pictures and the score of the
intelligent and facile, but not always sue
cessful. Mr.. De koven. With the sweet
and true melodies, of Robin Hood still
ringing in the ear, forgiveness is easily
and graciously written for the composer OF
The Mandarin for the indiscretions of
the latter are but the shadows of the
formers brilliancy.
The opera was alno st thrice given last
night in the pleased, but scarcely pleas
ing, persi stence OF the audience.
None Of the familiar airs was permitted to
pass unchalienged, and the last curtain was
| rung only long after the usual hour OF theater
closing. The hits, as before, were the sher
iff's song the Brown October ale song, the
Armorer's song, and the interpolated 20
Promise Me-
At the head OF the cast was Mr.. Barnabee,
honorable in years and achievement and
| rich In a quiet bumor which melIows with
| maturity. Jessie Bartlett avis shares with
him the regency Of the company. Her
| seniority is established on many years Of
! admirable service as leading contrelto
| Her singing OF the Chime Bells and 20
| Promise Me- Were the two especial fea-
| tures Of attractive performance OF the boy
f, Alan-a ale. George rockingham was
| deliciously comic as Friar Tuck, who stirred
the stew and led the song. Eugene CowIes
| was encored repeatedly for his matchless
| singing OF the forge song, and earlier for
1T Takes Nine Tailors to Make Man.
| Josephine Bartlett was as happy as usual
| in her familiar assumption OF the comic
| Dame burden.
Hilda Clarke is not entirely new to the
| Bostonian cast, but she is still in her
| apprenticeship for a position among the
| old favorites. She sings Maid Marion as
| no one has before her. The only soprano
| to approach her was Camille d Arville, but
| Miss Clarke has viyacity and vocal strength
| without the rasping quality which marred
| the yigor OF d'Arville's voice. Another
| soprano, i'll no way second TO Miss Clarke
| except for her position in the cast, is Miss
| Graria Quive, now spending her first sea
| son on the stage and also her first within
| tile BOstonian fold. Miss Quive sang Anna
| bel last night. She possesses a rich and
| meludious voice OF even excellence at all
| points of a broad range. Her singing was
| always excellent, often it was brilliant,
| especially in her pretty solo i'll the last
| act. Miss Quive untcs TO the charms Of
| fine natural and technical vocal accom-
| plishments u magnetic personality, a beau
| tifuI face and a dramatic intelligence
which Will elevate her to eninence in
| her profession.
| Two others in this splendid cast call for
| individual commendation. Mr.. Cha rles
| r. Hawley sang Little john in place OF
| Mr.. Mac Donald, who was taken i'll last
night and decided to rest until this even
ing. Mr. Hawley sang well and did not
| permit Mr.. Mac Donalds absence to be-
| come a matter of unusual regret. Mr.
! Philip in the title role displayed manly
| physique and tenor voice of many good
| points. The choruses were sung with
| Bostonian perfection and the scenery was
| correct.
One OF Charles Frohman's companies OF
players presented the farce, The Gay
Parisians," from the French of Feydeau
and Desvailliere, at the Lafayette last
| night. 1t is the second engagement o
this entertaining comedy in this city. II
was last year given by the present com
pany except for the substitution this
season OF Miss Sadie Martinot for Miss
Odette Tyler.
The piece, on IT'S former presentation