The times., 1898-02-22

set in an environment of careful orcheS-
tration and we'll calculated effects that
more than doubles their value as music
al productions There was q complete
opera whistled on the street after the
performance yesterday evening. and the
echoes will probably sound for many
months after joYial Frank Daniels his
comedians and his pretty and we'll train
ed chorus have left US.
Mr.. Danielss first song,"I Just Dropped
In" and his Captain Charley Chumley,
OF the Guards have a characteristic
swing that reminds one forcibly of kerk-
ers best work, while Fairy Tales.
companion to Starlight. Star Bright,
from The Wizard of the Nile, a catchy
waltz, and a parasol chorus in the first
act are dainty in the extreme and of
nature To cling TO ones memory like ivy
to dead wall. Then, going TO still light
er melodies one reaches THE Rabbits
Foot song in the last act, bit of excel
lent rag time. with an odd chorus ef-
feet. as well as a half dozen sparkling
choruses placed here and there in the
score.
In the libretto Harry B. Smith has in
troduced three or four characters with
a dozen catch lines that would make
the chief mourner at a funeral disgrace
himself. While like the music, occa-
siOnally reminiscent. his situations are ir
resistibly funny. his lines decidedly witty.
and the jngles written to Mr.. Herbert's
topical music almost Gilbertesque in the
ingenuity OF their rhymes. The chorus of
THE Tattooed Man will be remembered
by nearly everyone who heard II. The
story OF the aeronaut, who, by saving
kfeptomanac from suicide. finds himself
doomed to be responsible for that char
acter for the rest of their lives, is genu-
iDely funny. and gives chances for work
fSIT,, -..iza
The locale of the opera is in India, one
of the settings being the interior of a
Hindoo temple, and the other the exterior
of the barracks of a British regiment
Both are remarkable examples of the
scene painters art, and both enable
lavish amount of costuming. The cho-
rus is especially well dressed and so pref
" that Managers Luckett and Dwyer are
seriously contemplating having the oscu-
latory passages. with which the piece is
filed. take place behind a wire netting.
of the cast nothing but what is good
can be said. Frank Daniels has not
changed materially since he was last seen
here in THE Wizard Of the Nile His
lines are intelligently spoken, with stud
led and yet apparently careless humor
that doubles their power as laugh pro-
vokers. Things that would not be funny
from the lips of anyone else are ridicu-
lOusly so from him, and his horseplay Is
brought out In so refined a manner as to
be simply dramatized wit. Next to the
star comes Alf C. Wheelan whose wee
bit kleptomaniac' is one of the best bits
of gymuastic comedy ever seen in this
city VIII Danforth is out of the Ordi-
nary run of fiery Cubans, and looks as
well as acts the part. while Maurice Dar-
cy is no better and no worse than the
usual fanneI-suited tenor. Arthur Garlic
ton Lee Latta and Wensley Thompson
are good as the searchers for the ruby.
OF the ladies', Norma Kopp is easily the
most charming-charm being. after all.
the main thing In the feminine portion of
a comic opera cast. She dances and sings
well and invests a small role with bright
ness peculiarly her own. Helen Redmond
and Claudia Carlstadt are both clever, and
a dozen smaller parts are we'll filled.
Altogether more pleasing production
of a light opera has never been seen here.
and, from the applause last night. Wash
ington will remember the engagement
quite as we'll as. judging by the advance
sale, the comedian himself will.