The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-10
The Bostonians at EngIish's.

The classic comic opera company, the
Bostonians, presented splendidly at Eng
lshs Opera House last night a new work by
reginald De Koven and Harry 3. Smith
Maid Marian" a sequel To their Robin
Hood" The latter opera. when it was pro-
duced by the Bostonians. a considerable
number OF years ago. found great favor
and the demand for it has survived the
years i'm such measure that the Bostonians
carry it in their reportory still. Until Vic
tor Herberts THE Fortune Teller" with
its virile originality. was presented to the
public it Was generally considered that
Robin Hood" was the best OF the Amer
lean comic operas. For a long time Mr. De
koven has been guyed for his lack of indie
pendence and his habit of borrowing mu-
steal ideas. A great deal of fun has been
made. too, of Mr.. Smiths childish librettos.
However this may be, both are skilled
craftsmen; they know how to display voices
and an easy sort of comedy in an amusing
way.
So. Maid Marian" with it's inspidly told
and fragmentary story and music of little
individuality. remains an entertainment
tull OF interest because good voices blend in
the singing of tuneful songs, the stage
SHOWS several gorgeous pictures and there
Is great deal of the good sort of humor
that Henry Clay Barnabee, the Joseph JEFF
IersOn or comic opera, and George Is.
rockingham. his lOng-experienced assist
ant, nave been dealing for so many years.
Mr.. Studley, the conductor of the company,
last night had an orchestra of eighteen in
struments under his baton and a large
chorus of well-trained voices in front Of
MN, and together they attained some fine
effects
Maid Marian" takes up the story of
Robin Hood and his friends where Robin
continued his efforts to swindle Robin out
OF his property, the estate of Huntington,
ana his hancee, Marian. In this effort he
followed Robin to the Orient. where the
one-time outlaw was leading good Britons
against the Saracens. The sheriff betrayed
the followers of the cross of st. George
and they were taken prisoners by the inf
dels. The sheriff returned TO England and
usurped Robins place at Huntington, but
on Christmas day the rightful owner and
his comrades returned and Robin claimed
his cattle and his bride Little John also
won wife in the pretty person of Belle
Harper as Lady Vivian. Miss Harper sang
charmingly ballad of the mistletoe in
the final act of the opera. Miss Van Stud
diford as Maid Marian trilled fascinatingly
and Adele Rafter Alan o. Dale also was
conspicuous for the beauty of her voice
Among the men Allen c. Hinckley. in the
part of Will Scarlet. showed the best voice
and it was fresh and musical. His song of
the cellarer in the first act will be remem-
bered with Miss Harper's story of the
mistletoe.
The performance was a return to the
days when light opera had a dignity it has
lost for the most part now, merged as it is
in the bufoonery of musical comedy"
The acting and the singing had a pleasant
dignity, legitimacy that the audience
was grateful for. 1t is to be hoped that the
BostOnians will long continue in this work
If they lost any prestige in the past two
or three years they now regain it and
more.
The cast of Maid Marian and it's
scenes:
Sheriff of Nottingham