Evening star., 1896-12-08
ADJUSTMENTS.

Columbia Theater.-when 1.-THE Man.
DARN was produced in New York there
were some critics who called the music
reminiscent, and undertook to slate the
work on that account. But the public
crowded the Herald Square Theater as
long as the opera remained there. This
work of De koven and Smith had its first
representation in this city at the Columbia
Theater last night. and the interest that
was felt in the production was testified by
the fact that the capacity of this attractive
playhouse was fully tested. The audience
was distinguished one, too. being largely
composed of persons prominent in 1iplo-
matte. social and official circles, and the
abundance of the applause and the fire.
quency with which encores wera demanded
demonstrated in the most empAotic manner
the pleasure which authors and performers
afforded. THE Mandarin rs d production
is one of the most gorgeous that has been
seen here. It's stage pictures are rich and
elaborate. With each rise of the curtain
there was a spontaneous nulburst of ap-
plause at the beauty of the view presented.
The costumes are rich in texture, elaborate
In embroidery and effectively fashioned. so
as to heighten the beauty of the wearers,
although they are not strictly accurate in
detail. 1t may be said thsI there has not
In long time been seen such II collection
OF pretty young women as danced and
principal performers are all well.known
people, and one may naturally believe the
statement that they were especially select
ed with reference to their adaptability to
the parts they now sustain. Popular Bertha
Waltzinger, dainty Adele Ruchle and Alice
Barnet, who is a comedienne of exceptional
ability, take the leading female parts.
while Geo. c. Boniface and George Honey
furnish q great amount of fun, JOS Shee-
han displays his clear and melodious tenor
in several attractive numbers, and Henry
Norman sings with richness of tone and
distinctness Of enunciation.
Mr.. Smith has written a book that con-
tains some very witty lines, and the play
ers bring out fully all the best points of
the dialogue. In this opera Mr.. De Koven
has done some of the most original orches-
tration in his career. 1t is distinct ad-
vance in musical construction upon s;ny Of
his previous work. and shows the result of
much thought and study. The melodies
have color and form. and he ballad sung
by Mr.. Sheehan. several Of the duets. the
waltz song first sung by Miss Waltzinger-
and charmingly sung. too-and then worked
into big chorus, and much Of the con-
certed music are all bright and catchy.
Sig. de Novellis had his orchestra well un
der control. and the Introduction of real
tom-toms, Chinese cymbals and bells made
some unique effects. The Mandarin evil
IDENTIFY was a success last night, and will
probably do big business during the week.
Mr.. De Koven watched the performance
from a box. and 1t is understood that he
will conduct In person Thursday night.
New National Theater.-Francis Wilson
pays off old scores very handsomely by his
production of Half King this week at
the New National Theater. Last season
his opera was not a happy vehicle for the
comedian. The piece which he brings for
ward now leaves all this a mere remem-
brance. and the polysyllabic epithet. the
tion of bogus dignity. and all the other
Wilsonian wiles were hailed last night with
the old-time hilarity. Half King Is one
Of the best specimens Of a modern type in
tration of the efforts Of many people, each
a specialist In his line. with the costumer
and scene painter fully holding their own
in Importance; with the Htterateur and the
musician. 1t is a shock to Anglo+Saxon
pride to find that when a particularly
clever theatric inspiration manifests itself,
he who would give credit where 1t Is due
must so frequently seek the Frenchman.
Half King was adapted from the
French Of Leterrier and Van Loo. 1t has a
clever conceit as a basis and wealth of
humorous and romantic complications.
Henry Hoyt and Richard Marston have
furnished some beautiful stage settings,
and nothing has been spared to make the
costumng attractive Considered as a
business venture the production impreSses
itself at once as being heavily capitalized.
The chorus Is large and pleasing to the
eye, and everybody on the stage sings and
acts with that animation which comes
when popular approval lends Its potent en-
couragement. Mr.. Harry b. Smith, who is
the adapter of the piece, has shown much
ingenuity in the rhymes. MIR. Ludwig Eng
lander's music Is full of rhythmic energy
without being strikingly novel or forcefui
in its appeals to an ear for melody. 1t fills
something of the same function in the per-
formance that brass band does at con-
vention. 1t serves to keep up the enthusi-
asm whenever there is no talking in PROF.
ress. That the lines are for the most part
original with the gentlemen concerned in
the preparation of the piece for the Ameri-
can stage is evidenced by their colloquial
flavor. Mr.. Wilson has realized that
breadth of humor is demanded by the audi
ence whom he has to face, and as prac-
tical man who desires to keep on good
terms with the world has acted on that
realization. But the feeling cannot be es-
capped that he has in one or two instances
been more generous than was necessary
in his concessions to the element which
wants its fun unrefined and allopathic. The
company is made up of efficient people.
Since the public first made her acquaint-
ance, Miss Lulu Glaser has never been
tresome, and in Half King she seems
more winsome and girlishly attractive than
ever Miss Glaser dances. but there is no
ballet in the piece. excepting MIR. Wilson,
whose silk-cased limbs are supple and un-
firing. Miss Chrystie Macdonald is
charming young woman whose presence In
the cast Is continual pleasure to the
spectators. 1t would be almost as difficult
to enumerate the various merits OF the per-
formers as it would to point out the epi-
sodes of the piece, which the audience
found to their liking. The topical song
brought forth encore after encore, and Mr..
Wilson responded with wonderful fund of
clever verses. Half a King may be re-
garded as one of the best, if not the best,
piece Mr.. Wilson has had since THE Merry
Monarch" and Is a convincing proof of
Mr. Wilson's determination to offer the
best that can be obtained. The per-
formance is longer than usual. although
the audience does not realize 1t, for the ad-
ditional time is made up by beginning pre-
cisely at o'clock. The early numbers are
we'll worth hearing and 1t Is desirable that
the audience should during this engage
ment arrive in time to be seated before
that hour
Lafayette Square Opera House.-"Mrs
Ponderbury's Past" Mr.. Stuart Robson's
chief attraction this season, was given