New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-06
A ROMANTIC IRISH OPERA.

II would be interesting thing. and not de-
void OF poetic proprety. II Irish composers with
Irish music should point the way back to poetica
beauty. dramatic sanity and musical virtue for that
mongrel thing called comic opera II only last
Saturday that the walls OF the Broadway ceased to
echo to the strains Of Brian Boru' which had been
ringing in them for eleven weeks. Last night they
sent back for the first time tho measures OF Shamus
O'Brien." a much ambitious effort in some
spects than Its predecessor. and that In its ser
Gus workmanship. its avoidance OF all farce and
vulgar horseplay and its logical development Of a
story. fully merited the designation given to 1t by
its authors. and which accepted the title
OF this review II is the first time In a long while
that comedy with music has been brought forward
In New-York which merited the definition
The play OF "Shamus o Brien' is not a master
piece 1t follows poem written by Sheridan lie
Fanu. which plainly deals with incident that
could only be expanded into play by the enlist
ment Of many elements from the patriotic melo-
drama 50 familiar to stage but the play SUI
feed the composer and the work Is one which a
lover of clean comedy and respecter Of the art
Of music hail with genuine enthusiasm. In
all things 1t is Irish. no less In Its employment
of Irish idioms in It's than in that intimate
association Of smiles and tears which the world
has learned to expect in all delineatons Of Irish
life. No happier illustration Of Irish music and
Irish story has ever been conceived than that OF
a Scotch clergyman who bodied forth their spirit
when he said that once he had seen a shipload Of
Irish emigrants leaving their native land for Amer
ica dancing on deck and crying their eyes out.
Professor G. Nilers Stanford is a musician or
broad culture who Ike Dr. Dvorak believes that
1t is good to go TO the springs Of nationaism FOR
artistic inspiration. His compositions are known
here only to the studious few. but he had most
favorable introduction to the musc-,overs of New
York just eight years ago. when his Irish Sym
phony was brought forward by Mr.. Walter Dam
~ he Syn N
that symphony he made Of Irish folks
among them that celebrated the glorics of the
hero Of the oparetta which preceded his opera at
the Broadway Theatre. In 'Shamus O. Br!en' he
has copied the manner Of Irish melody capitally
in several instances but has utilized direct quota
ton for Irish foksong only and then only for
the purpose Of dramatic delineaton.
he overture opens WIN strains from the
the rollicking song. Father o'Fynn." and the
play and get into his mouth for fow minutes min in
me irst act N the same spirit he
TO which number of songs were sung in the sew
enIeenth cen,urS and which cPIlectors know as
r. and THE Prince of Orange" Blu; Professor
Stanfords music has more interest for the anna
brisk and breezy. II is in the lyrical portions OF
the work that he is happiest in his melodic inven-
fascinating throughout. There is scene in he
first act in which story Of the banshee is inter:
here. as in the last. scene: where the chorus give
voice 10 a 'Keenn over Shamus supposedly going
TO his death In cart. the music is thrillingly dra-
matte. There is also dance to the music OF a real
Irish bagppe. afterward taken up by the orches-
ira; in which local color IS admirably preserved.
The company which Messrs G,owdery and Duff
have brought over from London to perform the
opera is eXcellenly trained and Ing some adj
mirable material Miss Shaw. carries the
comedy element on the feminine side, has win
some way with her. and sings tastefuly, but with
little voice. Where she Is lacking Miss Annie Rob
erts Is strong. and she Is helped In her pa thetc
scenes by extremely sympathetic face. Mr..
Joseph OMara. who plays ti1e' part OF the villain.
Is equally admirable as singer and actor. and Mr..
picturesque a meodramatic- figure as one could
wish TO see and hear AS for the chorus. II sings
in n manner to put all local rivals to shame and is
made up OF character actors. No scene goes
tamely In which the chorus is concerned IL
"Shamus o Brien' does not achieve marked sue
cess II will at leas. deserve II.