New-York tribune., 1900-09-14
WHAT DO | HEAR ;"
MUSIC.

FRANCIS WILSON'S NEW OPERETTA-
Very little indeed have the monks Of MaIabar TO
do with the whimsical musical entertainment which
Messrs. J. Cheever Goodwin and Ludwig Eng
lander. aided and abetted by Mr.. Francis Wilson
and his company. brought forward at the Knicker-
booker Theatre last night The monks are por-
ton OF the male contingent in the chorus They
sing bit at intervals, dance a bit, gesticuate
much, and Mr.. Wilson joins their ranks in the sec
ond act in order TO undo the knot in very meagre
plot which he ties IN the first. Why monks IS
inquiry it were useless TO pursue; why Maabar,
costumer. scene painter and after them composer
could explain It's for the sake OF what Mr. VII
SON in his character Of BooIboorn. and his fond
ness for French, would call "couleur locale" The
story, spread out over three acts, tells Of how
merchant of Malabar compelled by q fascina ting
Paris milliner to marry her, seeks 70 escape from
her vxenlsh temper by pretending 70 have been
devoured by a tiger He conhdes his secret to q
friend, who is the NabOb OF Khari Kali, in the
hope that he Will send the supposed widow back
TO France and thus save her from Article 21S OF
the laws Of Aalabar, which prescribes suttee-that
is, that widows must be burned with the bodies
OF their dead husbands. But the Nabob is in love
with the charming Partsenne. and plans TO rescue
her at the critical moment thus winning her graf
ttude and hoping that it VIII rtpen into love His
plans are changed by BOoIboom. who returns 70
his home just in time 70 avert the fate Of the
woman whom he loves, and whose only
fault is a disposition TO disarrange his solar
plexus whenever her temper gets the better
OF her auliabity He dares not betray his identity
because OF another section OF the law which would
make him take the place OF the woman. so. in the
Euise OF a monk, ne proposes to the MaharaJah
that the supposed widow sold az auction for the
benefit OF the Maharajahs prtvy purse. The Nabob
outbids the merchant-monk. who now adopts a
new alias, and in the guse Of the Nabob's barber
works out the solution OF the story Tawdry
enough all this, and not at all brilliant from au
Intellectual point Of view but story and dialogue
! bring out Mr. Wilson's diverttng foOlery most ad-
mirably, and his companions have enough to do 70
prevent them from becoming tiresome,
At a first performance on hot night the oper-
only held the interest OF the audience but
won its genuine and hearty expressions OF en-
thusiasm. There were dull moments. and Mr..
Engander's music was as bright and varied as the
pictures the stage Much OF the score is posi-
lively charming. especially at the opening, when
the composers fancy was freshly filed with the
plays environment and had not become tagged
with the demands fer conventional numbers. But
ever and anon there were pretty Inventions pretty
dashes OF languorous Oreutalisn in melody. har-
mony and orchestration and graceful dance meas
ures In exploiting the last Nj Wilson has formed
a delightful partner in Miss Madge Lessing-arch.
winsome, the personidcaton Of ease and grace in
movement and Jump-decidedIy jump There is not
much to be said for her singing. but IT does not
offend good taste and she speaks her lines
il she knew their meaung-a virtue which
cannot be TOO highly commended even IN such
light wasted literature Mr. Gocdwtn's
She has gracious companions too in Miss
Maud Hollins and Miss Edith Bradford. With
Hallen Mostyn and Van Rensselaer, Wheeler 10
help ou- M. Wilson in the mems part the en-
semble OF the company is good and The Monks
OF MaIabar'' achieved a decided success. How
couical Mr. Wilson was can easily be imagined.
since his fun was the lines which a part
Of his individuality. The whole performance
which went OF with surprising snoothness con-
sidering that it was a real first performance one
without preparation in other towns, reflected
credit on stage manager scene painter and Siguor
MorealH, conductor.