The times., 1899-10-31
AT THE THEATRES.
NationaI-"Chris and the Wonderful
Lnnnn.'i

Inc tenn j FrOme Sykes
Chris Nagstaf .....,...... Edna Wallace Hopper
Scutty Jones John Page
Lovemoney :...,-.........
The Grand NIzier. .............i randolph Curry
Al hhizlr- r-..................... ,, l.
fettinglil. ....-....... i'e''S'' N'''''
Selwel Charles H. Drew
Fanny Virgins .......-...... Ethel Irene Stewart
Aladdin Observation-Disclosures. Em ia Beaupre
Miss Prlsms .........-.............M .Mabella Baker
Katie Clancy. >-.,,. -.
ANIME .....-............A -'N'i'e A'"'"
mainly masculine audience of generous
proportions and tendencies assembled yes
ter-eveuing at the National for the pur-
puose of learning what John Philip Sousa.
Glen Marlborough, Klaw & Erlanger. B. D.
Stevens, Ben Teal, Jerome Sykes, and Edna
Wallaee-H Hopper had done, were doing, OF
are likely to do with Aladdin, the friend
of its youth. To be sure, the first OF the
expected changes had been wrought before
the curtain rose, and the piece early was
dubbed Chris and the Wonderful Lamp"
but no person of reasonable intelligence
doubted for an instant that the tale was to
COncern-no matter how remotely-the gen.
tleman who has been of such inestimable
service to individuals so diversified as the
merry Munchausen of the Arabian
venturesome David Henderson. These folk
were not disappointed, for, if Aladdin was
all but absent, his wonder worker had been
rubbed to such purpose as to procure deal
Of enjoyable music, reasonably amusing
book, and a magnificent equipment-this
last probably at the expense OF much of the
gold on the sides of the aforesaid wonder
worker.
OF course the performance was marked
by ths attribute one would most confidently
anticipate of an inspiration risen from a
lamp-it is light. None concerned has put
forth the slightest effort to reach either the
dignity of a comic opera or even the legiti-
macy of a musical farce. This is particu-
larly true of Mr.. Marlborough, whose ma
chine made lyrics and lines often bear the
imprint of puerillity. Mr.. MacDonough's
work, briefly, proved to be the weak point
of the entire affair. The most captious
auditor could not require too much wit or
humor in an extravaganza, but the least
captious would be apt TO ask for something
more than scenery and songs. From
theme brimful of opportunities the writer
of Chris and the Wonderful Lamp has
been able to exc only a few labored jests,
series of ideas that might honestly be
claimed by such men as Harry Norris Or
Ludwig Englander, and not single situa-
Joe Miller, of the joke book. In a pro-
duction as gorgeous and glittering as rapid
and as rushing as this the dearth is hardly
noticed during the evening. One marvels
| that Jerome Sykes is not funny, that Ma
bella Baker is stupid and that he is forced
to wait for Johnny Pages handsprlngs tc
laugh-no more. But today the spectator
who takes a retrospective view of the re-
markable presentation will be inclined To
feel that Messrs. Klaw, Erlauger and Ste
| vens have wasted an ivory PROV on a coal
barge, dress suit on a scarecTOw, an ice
! bucket and napkins on a bottle OF milk.
Though often commonplace, Sousa' 's-no
one ever says Mr.. SOusa's-music is gen
/ orally charming. Little pretence is made
| to the scholarliness that characterized at
| least two numbers in "EI Captain" and
! even larger portions of THE Bride-Elect," "
/ but the melodies are catchy, graceful, ard
/ often dainty. The orchestratiCn. too. is
| harmonious and frequently odd The much
| advertised march, The Man Behind the
/ Gun has a swing and rhythm that are ir-
resistible. while only praise can be spoken
| Of The Patter of the Single" which fell
/ to the lot of Mrs Hopper; a High-Tonsd
| Genh, - which Mr. Sykes rendered in a
/ voice that proved him to be a very low
/ toned GeRH; "Ths C-llege OF Hoop-de-d o, .
/ In Posterland," "Etheria," The Doll
| Song" and trio and a quartette, both in
| the second act.
The costumes. scenery, chorus-the en-
/ tire production is lavish in the extreme.
| No better painted settings have followed
! one another, no better-blended color
/ schemes have been noted, no better trained
! ensemb bles have been seen here in a long
| time. The presentation recalls to mind
| the days in which David Henderson held
| forth in Chicago or those in which Jarrett
| and Palmer ruled in New York. Since a
I story is Of minor Importance in an ex
! travaganza, these, with the music and the
| cast, probably will take Chris to success
! The aforesaid cast is much more able
| than it need have been. Jerome Sykes
! have learned the essentials of comedy. yet
/ not long enough to have grown world
weary. Last night he had little to do but
! did that well. Edna Wallace-HoppeT con-
| tinues to make up in vivacity what she
| lacks in voice. Johnny Page-he has be-
! come John" on the programmes-scored
| the hit of the evening with few of the
| falls he first displayed when with Ward
! and Yokes while Nellie Lynch proved
! a capable assistant. Ethel Irene Stewart
! pleased in two or three songs; Emile
! Beaupre is very ordinary Aladdin; Ma
! bella Baker does her best with anything
| but a fertile part. and the remainder Of
| the company is adequate.
! During the performance an augmented
| orchestra iscoursed-sometimes disputed
the score Of the piece, an electric ballet
! danced. and an unusually youthful chorus
! oh