The evening times., 1898-04-19
AT THE TBEATERS.
Lafa, ette-"The Highwayms..s =

Joseph O'Mara, Jerome .syEes. camille
d'Arville, Van Rensselaer, Wheeler, Mel
lie Braggins. Harry Marlborough and a
host of other noted entertainers present
ed De Koven and Smiths latest opera,
THE Highwayman." last night at the
Lafayette Square Opera House. A large
and apparently well satisfied audience
was present in spite of heat and the
amount of competition, political and
theatrical
Had the opera come 10 this city mere
ly as an ordinary product one could not
have helped liking 1T, even though he
saw and understood IFS faults. But as
an assured metropolitan success 1t
promised much more than il fulfilled and
the result was disappointment. Only
the capability of the Broadway Theater
Opera Company saved It.
In the libretto of the piece Harry b.
Smith has done what is undoubtedly his
most inferior work. The story is lily
constructed, devoid OF witty lines or
bright speeches and conventional in the
extreme Interest hangs on two issues
and each Of these has been used time
and time again by farceurs and lbret-
fists The tale of a man robbing anoth-
er and then appearing i'm his clothing 20
claim a bride is so old that il should
he retired on pension. In the entire
book there is one laughable characteriza-
tion, a mixture of Sherlock Holmes, the
Sheriff of Nottingham and the sleuih
personated by Willie Collier, i'm Little
Christopher" all rolled together and ce-
mented with true operate license. This
part capably played by Mr.. Sykes. is
the single worthy bit of comedy i'm an
entire opera. The lyrics are much bet
ter and. in cases ascend TO the leye!
Of poetry.
Mr.. De Koven's music is less reminis-
cent than is usually the case. and. there
fore, less brilliant While several of the
numbers are pleasing there is little that
can he carried away, even the infantile
simplicity of the airs not enhancing their
value as whistlng products. Bread and
| Cheese and Kisses" 1.-The Constables'
Chorus" Society in London Town, "
Rodney's "Sea Song" and one or two
others are extremely pretty. though stray
notes and occasional bars in each remind
one of other bits. either by Mr.. De koven
or someone else, that have been heard
before.
The production is on wonderfully
elaborate scale, scenery. costumes, and
effect. The choruses are pretty and well
trained and the entire presentation
smooth and even,1so far as the people are
concerned.
OF the cast little but praise can be
spoken. The best work by far is done
! by Joseph OMara and Jerome Sykes.
Mr.. O'Mara acts well and sings with a
! full, rich voice that fills the house with
combined strength and fneness of quail
/ ity. Mr.. Sykes is a unique and excellent
comedian. who viii be best remembered
/ for his cleKer impersonation OF the fat
! boy in An American Beauty" Camille
D'Arville did not come up to expecta-
tions. though a severe cold was proba-
J bly, to blame for this, and Nellie Braggins
pleased with her dainty brightness.
George O'Donnen. Maud Williams. Van
Rensselaer, Wheeler. Harry MacDonough.
William Corliss. Charles Powell, and
Reginald Roberts were. for the most part,
excellent Great enthusiasm was evoked.
during the evening. by the rendering OF
The Star Spangled Banner by the
chorus and principals of the company.